Kamikaze Bike Games 2016, Day 2
Day 2 of the 2016 Kamikaze Bike Games was the first to get started with some genuine down and dirty racing. Down. Dirty. In all meanings of the words. Pure gravity action was on the docket for Friday, all of it in the most atmospherically and topographically gritty conditions this side of the Moon. Mammoth Mountain is unique in the world of mountain bike racing, primarily due to its volcanic nature. As such, most of the surface of this venue is covered in pumice. Pumice is supposedly awesome as an ingredient for soap, but not so much for lungs, bearings or camera gear. Trust me on that one.
This seemed to have very little effect on the event's entertainment value, especially for the competitors. And boy did they competitor the hide off this mountain. Under idyllic weather conditions (if you don't mind humidity levels in negative digits), virtually every type of gravity wrangling was to be had, including the namesake of the KBG. The Kamikaze Downhill is the stuff of legend, one of the truly unique and historical disciplines in the MTB world. In the olden days, the Kamikaze was run in one long swoop from the top of the 11,053-foot mountain to the bottom. Since the KBG was revived from an extended hibernation four years ago, it's now broken into two chunks with a bit of a respite near the original Mammoth Resort. Elapsed times from the two slices are now added together to rack up the final results. It's a little out of the ordinary to say the least, but no one ever said the KBG was ordinary.
Along with the running of the Kamikaze, another event with plenty of history at Mammoth—the Dual Slalom—also grabbed some headlines. Add to the the Cat 2/3 Downhill finals and seeding qualification runs for the Pros and Junior Experts, and it was a full Friday.
So without further pontification, let's allow the photos to do the talking for today, and see how everything melds together for the next two days to come.
DUAL SLALOM
Janea Perry (Nor Pac Power Systems), on the right, would take the pro women's win over Leslie Slagle in dual slalom.
Cody Johnson (Chainline Bikes) would take 3rd place in the pro men's dual slalom, leaving Cam Zink (Monster/YT/Mammoth/TLD) with a 4th on the day.
The racers got a lift back to the top for the finals.
Austin Warren, on the left, would edge out Devin Kjaer for the win in Dual Slalom. This was Devin's first pro race!
Austin Warren on his way to the top of the box!
The Jr. Men 14 and under dual slalom category saw Chainline Bikes rider, Dante Silva taking the top spot over National Champ, Myrie Metzger, riding for Metzger World Bikes. These kids are crazy fast!!!
Austin Warren, on the left, would edge out Devin Kjaer for the win in Dual Slalom. This was Devin's first pro race!
Jr. World Championship downhill silver medalist Samantha Kingshill (College Cyclery/O'Neal Racing) beat out GT rider Rachel Throop for 3rd in the pro women's dual slalom.
Give a hand to the Pro Women's Dual Slalom podium: 1) Janea Perry, 2) Leslie Slagle, 3) Samantha Kingshill, 4) Rachel Throop.
The Pro Men's Dual Slalom podium was topped by Austin Warren, flanked by Devin Kjaer, Cody Johnson and Cam Zink.
CAT 2/3 DOWNHILL FINALS
Keanu Smith (Foes Racing) captured the Cat 2 15-18 DH race and set the quickest time of the Cat 2/3 event with a 5:07.095.
Alexis Vitale, shining through during Friday morning's Cat 2/3 DH race.
Andrew Doud searches for the perfect line near the end of Follow Me.
Did we mention that it's dusty at Mammoth? Low sun and "heavy air" make for challenging vision. Kaden Pankow might agree.
The Cat 2 19-29 DH race fell to Dylan Price (Specialized).
Twelve-year-old Nathan Luna (Chainline Bikes/TLD) is one to watch.
Myrie Metzger (Metzger World Bikes) breaks out of the shadows on the way to the Cat 2 0-14 DH final.
Full results here.
PRO GRT QUALIFYING
Signs, signs, everywhere there are signs...
The World Cup Champ, Aaron Gwin was spotted on the DH course today. Although he didn't race, he was the first one down the hill for the qualifying runs.
It's difficult to describe how unnerving the final "Elevator Shaft" drop to the finish really is, compounded by the deep pumice/kitty litter surface.
Apparently Aaron Gwin is not familiar with the word "vacation." Despite having just clinched the overall UCI World Cup Series two weekends ago, the YT Mobster showed up once again at the KBG. Caveat: he was simply here to support his sponsors and kick back with friends. He's not competing at Mammoth this time around, but he did serve as official course forerunner ahead of qualifying.
Steven Walton (Palmer Project/Intense) was first down the hill in Junior Expert qualifying, and proceeded to set a time that could not be matched.
Keanu Smith (Foes Racing) captured the Cat 2 15-18 DH race and set the quickest time of the Cat 2/3 event with a 5:07.095.
Alexis Vitale, shining through during Friday morning's Cat 2/3 DH race.
Rising star Samantha Kingshill (College Cyclery/O'Neal) was fastest in Friday's Pro Women's DH qualifying, and is looking to close out the USA Cycling Pro GRT series title on Saturday.
Kiran MacKinnon (Santa Cruz) will start last in the Pro Men's field in Saturday's USA Cycling Pro GRT series finale, having topped qualifying with a 3:29.658 run.
Robert Naughton (at right) was the defending champion of the Legends of the Kamikaze race. On the left is Todd Snider, who snatched the crown away by less than one second.
Mountain bike racing in the western U.S. would not be the same without these two. On the left is Tom Spiegle, head honcho of Team Big Bear, which does much of the timing, scoring and course management at the KBG (and many other MTB events). Of course you know the gent on the right, Mammoth's Bill Cockroft, the originator of the Kamikaze.
Big Bear Lake's Myrie Metzger showed incredible poise while on course during the Cat 2 0-14 DH race.
The lift line for Enduro practice grew to monumental proportions as soon as the courses were opened on Friday afternoon. The next two days of Enduro racing are apparently going to go ballistic.
Full results here.
THE KAMIKAZE DOWNHILL
Triple Threat Racing's Greg Turner rode like a youngster on his way to the Cat 1 50-59 class victory.
Braaap. Courtesy of Mammoth's own Josh Smith.
Li'l ripper Gavin Nogosek captured the Junior 14 and Under class at the Kamikaze Downhill.
The Kamikaze Downhill is now run in two segments. Bakersfield, California's, Todd Snider rested in second place after the upper section, but nipped ahead on the bottom to punch the 40-year-old's winning ticket in 2016.
It probably goes against the laws of nature to have as much fun on a mountain bike as Kamikaze Legend Leigh Donovan.
Not many riders would choose to tackle the Kamikaze Downhill on a tandem. Perhaps that's why it's not an official class. These guys show up every year though.
One of the most exotic pieces of machinery at this event was piloted by Aaron Baker (C.O.R.E. Centers) in the Adaptive division. His was a popular win.
The Monster Girls helped Aaron Baker celebrate his Adaptive class performance.
The two ladies, Penny Lundgren (nee Davidson) on the left and Leigh Donovan at right, were instrumental in the development of mountain biking in America. Donovan captured the Pro Women's Legends race for the fourth time in as many years.
One of the rightful highlights of the Kamakaze Bike Games is the staging of the Legends of the Kamikaze Downhill. They know how to throw a podium party!
Full results here.
Photos and words by pbcreativephoto.com and cleghornphotography.com.
www.kamikazebikegames.com
MENTIONS: @MammothMountain / @pbcreative / @cleghornphotography
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16 Comments
- 35 1
weebleswobbles
(Sep 17, 2016 at 8:57)
Let's hear it for the monster girls winning 5th and 6th spots!
- 4 1
Rubberelli
(Sep 17, 2016 at 22:14)
Is it really necessary that they pose with the women's field?
- 4 0
weebleswobbles
(Sep 18, 2016 at 18:39)
@Rubberelli: I don't mind
- 2 0
FarmerJohn
(Sep 19, 2016 at 6:59)
@Rubberelli: Is it really necessary at all? Just seems in poor taste but I so does the Monster brand in general
- 1 0
DaySleep3r
(Sep 20, 2016 at 8:51)
@Rubberelli: Would you rather have Monster Boys there instead?
- 2 0
Rubberelli
(Sep 21, 2016 at 12:27)
@DaySleep3r: If it means a job for my 47 yr old ass, you bet!
- 9 3
dtm1
(Sep 17, 2016 at 9:39)
Monster girls > Red Bull girls
- 7 6
matthewemay
(Sep 17, 2016 at 11:23)
Epic fail Pinkbike...not posting the actual Kimikaze Z downhill race in which Brian Lopes' course record was broken by Matt Guntert, the winner by a wide margin. Learn to report.
- 1 0
weebleswobbles
(Sep 20, 2016 at 16:01)
I too, Would love to see Lopes' course record get smashed! Sounds like a race run to watch
- 1 0
sipma02
(Sep 18, 2016 at 19:49)
It would be interesting to see the actual time difference between the Jr men 14 and the Pros, men and women. Any place I can find that?
- 2 0
conv3rt
(Sep 17, 2016 at 10:47)
Is that Eric Carter in the blue?
- 4 3
nfa2005
FL (Sep 18, 2016 at 6:53)
FK the monster girls! true girls are the racers, they would beat them down anytime.
- 2 4
polarproton
(Sep 17, 2016 at 9:09)
The sit down position is to more easily shit your pants when you tackle the downhill on that trike I guess. I'd feel soo exposed. Hats off to Aaron.
- 2 3
weebleswobbles
(Sep 17, 2016 at 8:52)
Braapp!!
- 4 6
Beez177
(Sep 17, 2016 at 11:58)
The Monster girls could definitely help me straighten out my longfellow!
- 2 1
weebleswobbles
(Sep 18, 2016 at 18:39)
Wow rough crowd man I laughed
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