Race Report: Perfect Conditions for the Downhill Southeast Series at Windrock
Just a few weeks after kicking off the North American DH race season at The Tennessee National for the first stop of the ProGRT Series, the Downhill Southeast Series is back for its 4th year and its first stop at Windrock. Not only were riders treated to a totally different track, on Reach Around, with primed berms and more turns than you can count but polar opposite conditions than the weeks prior. Instead of axle deep ruts and peanut butter mud it was 80 degree's, sunny skies and fast dry conditions.
One of the coolest things about being at Windrock for races is that even if it's a local race, it's home to a slew of international racers. Riding the same track as some of the pros you watch race around the world in a low key setting is a pretty good example of how to progress your skills.
The start was a fresh cut section that wasted no time dropping you into the fast section, of the top section. Caroline Washam dropping in.
Dakota going high into the first switchback of many.
Walker Shaw rollin' around in the dust.
Dakota and Neko haulin' the mail
Neko winding through Reach Around.
With three shuttles running there was no shortage of practice laps.
Young Talent
Luca & Jolanda talking lines
There's more than one way to skin a cat...
Neko taking the committing skip-the-corner rock line
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Seth Hansen hitting the inside line
Party laps for practice
The track played favorably to those who were comfortable cornering
Ben Calhoun getting back in the mix
Early spring at Windrock makes for some awesome visibility
Logan Mulally cornering through the rocks
Rain on Saturday night tamped down the dust and made for some mildly slick morning practice
Local ripper Chris Grice laying it over in the raw coal turns on Reach Around
Jolanda Neff making her downhill debut
Watching from the shuttle going up as racers come down
Bergen Khare making shapes
Costa Rica's Conrad Haehner butterin' up the final few features of the track
Shaving precious time on the step up. Dakota Norton
Susan Curtain sending the Ravine on her way to second place Open Women.
Colin Mulally taking his first ever win.
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Logan Mulally throwing down the back flip on his race run
Question is - did he also hit the committed rock corner in his race run?
Friends on and off the track
Single Crown Class
Amateur Ladies
Amateur Men
Junior Men 14 & under
Junior Men 18 & Under
Masters 40 & up
Good ole Tennessee white lighting for the winners
Open/Pro Women
Open/Pro Men
Big Thanks to everyone that made the event come together and everyone who raced. Until next time - cheers!
Mentions:
@Windrockbikepark
@Downhillsoutheast
@Burkelawrencephoto
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She beat 2nd place lady by 16sec though. Look out WC DH or the EWS after 2020 olympics maybe?
And yeah, being that guy, Dak and Luca faffing around on their preview lap on Vital were 20 seconds faster than Jolanda in her race run so maybe don't start talking about her as the next Jill Kitner. Faster than me? For sure. World Tour fast? No, not yet.
I was at the race and the announcer was joking that the back flip was good for a -20 second bonus...haha...so...yeah I am thinking that is why they put an * next to his name. Pretty rad to witness that in a race run...and still with a pretty smokin' fast time.