Diablo Freeride park played host again to the US Open of Mountain Biking for another year (I honestly lost count, maybe 6th?). Some of last years masses were off at Angelfire to scoop up some UCI points, but those in attendance were in for another gem of a race.
I had teetered on the idea of not going this year due to being broke as a joke, but some last minute video work made my decision quite easy.
Rolled into town Thurs just in time to catch up with Todd Seplavy and Steve Smith and we hiked up the mountain for a course walk!
US Open Course Walk - Presented by Evil Bikes from Lucent Productions on Vimeo.
In typical US Open fashion, Friday was a hot and sticky 90 degree day, followed by some showers for Sat's practice and qualifiers.
Last year's dual slalom event had been replaced with a Giant Slalom event this year. The berm ridden woods from 08 were now improved and groomed for 09, providing an amazing display of berm exploding by the likes of Lopes, Fairclough, and good ol Sam Hill (thats not a knife....this is a knife). Brendon took home the win, with Sam right in tow. According to Specialized team manager Sean Heimdel, Brendon gave Sam part of the winnings so that they can remain facebook friends.
Mother nature decided to eff with Pros on Sunday by rolling in an apocalyptic storm during Amateur finals which meant Pro Men and Women's race runs would be delayed a good hr and a half. Riders were succumed to a blind crapshoot run a course that hadnt been ridden all weekend in the slop. Most managed a folly here and there, along with some the top guys making it through most of the course only to eat a face full of mud on the open grass corners at the finish. Sammy Hill redeemed himself with a win after being eeked out by Steve Smith last year, and a flat bonanza the year before.
So enough jibbah jabbah, here's the recap video:
2009 US Open Downhill and Giant Slalom - Presented by Lucent Productions from Litter Mag on Vimeo.
Check back later in the week (most likely friday) for the Evil Bikes US Open vid.
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