Angel Fire MSC #2 Chile Challenge Race Report

The roots crew represented at the MSC #2 Chile Challenge in Angel Fire, NM.  Not only was it an MSC race, but also a stop on the ProGRT Gravity Tour meaning that there was a lot of fast riders.   This race also had the only dual slalom race of the season.

Kevin, Jesse, Eric, Pete & Porter taking a photo with the famous Chris DelBosco (Center).

Our 7 hour trip started out with Myself, Jesse Ruland, Noah Sears, and Amy Knepper in my new “farm truck” which a 99 F250.  We ended up running out of gas 3.3 miles from Angel Fire at 2am because the fuel gauge doesn’t work all that well and still showed we had 1/8 of a tank left.  Luckily Kevin Soller was staying in the condo with us and was only about an hour ahead of us so they were still unpacking at 2am.  He came to our rescue and towed a loaded down F250 with his little Ford Ranger about a mile to the next gas station.  Thanks again Kevin!!!

Pete on the Podium in DS.

Due to the circus the night before, we all slept in a little later than usual on Friday morning, but managed to get some solid runs in on the dual slalom, downhill, and super D courses.  Saturday started out with dual slalom practice and qualifying early in the morning followed by some DH practice.  DS racing started in the afternoon and everyone did really well.  The course was on the old 4x course but ended before the three huge old jumps which made the hike to the top much easier!  This was probably one of the best DS courses I have ridden.  It had a lot of flow and held up very well under heavy racing and.  Jesse Ruland placed 9^th in his first every non-Ranchstyle DS race on CAT 2 30+ men.  He was knocked out in round one (probably because he slept through morning practice... haha).  Curt Clemetson and I raced in the CAT 1 30+ and got 7^th and 3^rd respectively.  Eric was knocked out in round 1 by less than 0.1 seconds but still managed to end up 11^th out of 19 racers.  Everyone threw down some impressive runs and it’s too bad that was the only DS race of the season.

Super D started early on Sunday morning and so did the wind. 

Noah hauling on the big wheeler!

Noah Sears was the only team rider to race SD, and killed it in the pro class with an 11^th fastest over all time. 

Pete soaking up the rough on the DH course.

Eric getting some pedals in.

Pro DH qualifying started at 11am on a brand new course.  Angel Fire originally had a shorter flowier course built, but the MSC came in and vetoed it the week before which led us this monster of a course.  The top section was filled with relentless off camber rocks, roots, and tons of dust, followed by a 2+ minute catwalk pedaling section with a massive headwind before diving back into the old race course which it followed all the way to the bottom.  Times were in the 6-8 minute ranges with the winning pro time of 5:46.14.  Craig Carlson flatted in his qualifier while Eric and I laid down some solid runs with no real issues.  By the time racing started the wind started to howl even harder making the long catwalk pedaling section much more difficult.  Curt Clemetson turned in an awesome time of 6:48.13 in CAT 1 40+ with landed him in 4^th.  Next up was Jesse Ruland in CAT 1 30-39.  He sprinted through the finish with a 7:13.97 trying to make up time for the two crashes he had on course.  That time landed him in 13^th in his first ever CAT 1 race.  With only the Pros left to go and the wind blowing even harder, the pros started rolling through the line with the same or only slightly faster race run times.  Craig Carlson ran first and destroyed the course with a 6:10.69 landing him in a tie for 25^th.  I ran next and had a really solid run with a 6:27.56 placing me in 46^th.  That was only 2 seconds faster than my qualifier due to the wind.  Finally, Eric came down with a 6:18.20 which was within 1 second of his qualifying run giving him a 35^th overall. 

It was hot for Gingers

It was a wicked good time, and we hope to see you all at the next one!  Thanks to all of our sponsors, wifes/girlfriends, and friend who helped us out.  Without you guys, all this would be extremely difficult!

Peter Knepper (Team Racer/Rider)

Resort Season Is Here!!!

With multiple resorts opening this last weekend, we can finally say resort season has started. So far I have gotten to hit SolVista and Winterpark for their opening days and both have been a blast.

If you haven't already heard, James has been working at SolVista building new trails and enhancing the existing. With a fresh addition of flow and some fun new jumps, this place is going off. With the recent opening of Winterpark you should expect to see the crowds here begin to dwindle.

The trail crew at Winterpark has also been busy. Many of the trails have been refreshed and some new ones have been built. The addition of a new road at the bottom of the resort disrupted Boot Camp (lower half is still closed) and Beall Ucanb. Beall Ucanb has seen some major changes on the lower half of the trail. The step up has been moved slightly and now leads into a drop zone. You have the choice of a rollable drop which you can send to make about a 10 footer or you can take a large 15' drop on the left.

The other major change was the addition of the new trail, Cruel and Unusual. This is an advanced trail with multiple features that are back to back.

With the lack of moisture, expect dry and loose conditions.
First Ride: Cruel and Unusual Trail at Trestle Bike Park - More Mountain Bike Videos


-Ian

Another Ranchstyle is done and dusted....

Another fantastic Ranchstyle event is over and done! It was a great weekend - except for the obnoxious wind - and the 'style was the best we've had so far!

I covered the event for VitalMTB check out my galleries:

Best Trick

Slopestyle

Slalom

Pinkbike has had some great coverage here and here.

Before main event on Saturday, I headed out to 18rd and filmed an edit on the new PBR trail with legendary rider Eric Porter. We made the most out of the dusty, dry, and windy conditions and the clip came out great! We've already gotten over 100+ likes on Facebook and it only went live this morning! If you haven't hit up PBR yet - you better get on it!


Trail Check: PBR - More Mountain Bike Videos

Early Season Racing

I love racing...I love racing bicycles more specifically. More specifically than that I prefer on dirt in a gravity assisted manner usually but when that is not available I race anyway. So far in 2012 I have raced CycloCross, BMX, local short track XC, a Road bike hill climb & most recently an XC race at 18 rd.
[Wearing Baggies & giving it on a 15 year old road bike. I took 3rd on the podium in Cat1]

[Me after the Monument Madness Hill Climb road race up to the Ribbon trail head. Of course my wife Sara brought up my new Transition 250 so I could ride down the ribbon:]

At each race I stick out like a soar thumb. I am usually riding equipment not really meant for what I am doing, wearing clothing from my DH race kit that don't really fit in, & attacking the courses with an aggressive DH mentality not traditionally associated with these more tame events. I am usually competitive, get my name & sponsors names announced on the mic & get much recognition for all the great people that support me such as: Grassroots Cycles, Transition Bikes, MTB Strength Training Systems, MRP, White Brothers, DT Swiss, Deity, Kali, Five Ten, All Sound Designs & More.[Using by dropper seat post to get traction on the flat finish line corner in the Rumble at 18 rd XC race, On my way to 2nd]

To be honest I am having a blast. Way more fun than I expected with these disciplines which are not that natural to me. I believe being fit & an all around rider will help me with my DH racing & being in the race mentality before the main season begins will be good also.

A couple years ago when I started working with James Wilson's MTB Strength Training Systems my life was changed. I went from a decent Cat1 to a competitive Pro throughout one winter. I realized that much of the difference from an amateur to a pro is being strong & fit.[Noah Sears, brand manager @MRP/White Brothers, & I still smiling after what was supposed to be a miserable XC race]

Racing the Trestle All Mountain Enduro race last season was an eye opener to what is to come with the future of gravity racing. Enduro style races basically take you down the heart of a full Down Hill course yet zig zagging through the XC trails also. It was all the fun & excitement of a DH race but much longer & there were many more opportunities to pedal so you needed to be super fit & you generally need to be on a smaller bike, which makes the rock garden sections that much more entertaining:)

So far my race calender has more Enduro races than DH not because that is what I am looking for but the fact is in one years time the promoter emphasis has shifted that direction. I am not surprised & I even expected it. For this year I built up new Transition bikes & changed my training early on to prepare for the year of the Enduro.

What I am saying is even though I had a great year racing DH last year & am fully looking forward to crushing that as well, I am having fun cross-training racing all these various events, & hope to be competitive in the diverse Enduro races also. I encourage you to get out there & race for the fun of it. It doesn't matter what you look like or how you do. It is good for you & Grassroots Cycles to support the biking community.

Who knows you might just have a great time too.
Eric Landis

Air Supply Day 1 2012

Prepping the Ranch for the season and events to come. Big shout out to the crew from the RFV coming to lend a hand. Always good to see you guys! Got some Gunnison love today as well. It's all coming together and with as much help as he can gather, James Flatten will get her built and dialed just in time for the Pro's to take it on (oh ya, we can play too). We finished enough of Air Supply today to put some runs together besides the first and last features. Heres a lil vid of the best way I can think of spending a Sunday evening.

Air Supply 2012 on pinkbike.com

Ranch Season 2012

Its that time of year when the Grassroots Crew starts whackin shovels at the Ranch. Under the strict instruction of the founders we will get that place cleaned up, molded up, and dialed for the pros to come in and ride her like she needs to be ripped.

One quick, nearly Strava free, hour of riding up there lifted the mountain bike spirits back to where we like um. Here is a quick teaser of the first tracks we could lay down on Fall Line.

Lots of work ahead of us but the quick rides after make it all worth the while!

Ranch Season Day 1 2012 on pinkbike.com

This was the second ride on my XL Bandit 29. The bike is amazing and the weather was better. I think its supposed to be winter. Oh well, Im not complaining. Here is a little video Kellen Tanner put together of our Saturday ride on Mary's and Horsethief with Andy and Johno.

Keep in mind this was PRE - Strava. Haha