source: The Kona Bicycle Co

We’re giving everyone three extra days to finish their entries or shoot, edit, and upload if you haven’t started yet. Videos are now due by the end of the day on Sunday, August 3, 2008. You could probably get away with submitting them until we arrive at work Monday morning to judge them though.

Official Greenfish Video Contest Website: http://greenfishsports.com/videocontest/index.html

All you’ve gotta do:

1. Film it
2. Download pre approved music and required sponsor logos to include from the contest site: http://greenfishsports.com/videocontest/downloads.html
3. Edit (don’t forget to use our copyright free music, and include sponsor logos)
4. Upload to YouTube and submit.

source: Dylan Tucker

Milwaukee, WI – GEARGRINDER, a new cycling-inspired apparel company created by four avid cyclists, has officially launched its new e-commerce site at www.gear-grinder.com . While the GEARGRINDER “Cycling Inspired Apparel for Your Active Lifestyle” brand draws its inspiration from the cycling culture, the offerings on the website appeal to cyclists and non-cyclists alike as the clothing line is intended for “off the bike” wear.

“My partners and I all share a common passion for cycling, and we wanted to create a brand that’s an extension of that “sun on your face, wind at your back” vibe you get when you’re riding. GEARGRINDER cycling-inspired apparel evokes that same feeling…even when you’re off the bike,” says GEARGRINDER co-founder Paul Weaver.

Continues Weaver, “We design cycling-inspired active apparel, not cycling jerseys, but our GEARGRINDER garments are performance-based so you could hop on the bike for a quick ride to the office, take off your helmet, and continue your day in the clothes you rode in on.”

GEARGRINDER garments combine the best of comfort, durability and weight. Using the GEARGRINDER Carbon Polo as an example of the unique cycling-inspired design, the recycled polyester microfiber garment is embedded with carbon to trap odor, transport moisture, provide evaporative cooling and thermal regulation, and offer UV protection.

GEARGRINDER base layers, outer layers, shirts, jackets, hats and accessories have similar cycling related origins including being performance based in nature or possessing moisture-wicking, anti-microbial properties, longer tails or discreet pockets. The GEARGRINDER line also incorporates many eco-friendly items. GEARGRINDER products with the GEARGRINDER-created ENVIRODE stamp meet the company’s highest standards of environmental stewardship through use of ecologically-sensitive materials (such as bamboo) fair trade manufacturing, sustainable practices and social responsibility. Even GEARGRINDER messenger bags, wallets and bags are made from recycled bike tubes. The fairly traded GEARGRINDER Big Gear Blend coffee beans are a great jump start to any day.

GEARGRINDER also donates a portion of the proceeds from each online sale to organizations that use the bicycle as a way to improve the health, welfare and safety of people and the planet. From a list of select organizations, customers are empowered to select the one to which they want GEARGRINDER to make the donation

“Our Give Back initiative stems from the GEARGRINDER founders’ desire to give back to the cycling community,” says Weaver. “These organizations all use the bicycle to promote safe bike routes, protect the environment, fight childhood obesity, and more…incredible programs that we want to help promote and sustain,”

GEARGRINDER is a major sponsor of the ABD/GEARGRINDER Pro Development Team and Team GEARGRINDER, one of Wisconsin’s longest-running and largest multi-sport clubs comprised of road, mountain bike and triathlon teams.

www.gear-grinder.com

source: Lisa Downey

- Avid Mountain Biker And Pro Freeskier Shawn “Smiley” Nesbitt Joins Team At Bike Company -

KONAWORLD (July 29, 2008) – Riding bikes equals fun – that’s what Kona Bicycle Company’s new Sports Marketing Guy Shawn “Smiley” Nesbitt says. And, soon Smiley will find out that working at Kona is fun too.

A sponsored pro freeskier for 10 years, Smiley lived in Whistler, British Columbia for 18 years and cut his teeth nagging and tagging along talented skiers at the local hill. “The nickname Smiley was derogatory at first because I was this new kid at Whistler bugging everyone about where to go,” says Smiley. “It got to the point where people would be like ‘Oh f#@k, here comes that smiley guy – let’s get out of here.’”

During the off-seasons from time in front of the camera, Smiley spent the summers hanging out with numerous riders involved in the freeride mountain biking scene – including freeride pioneer Richie Schley and Derek Westerlund of Freeride Entertainment who plugged Smiley into the world of mountain biking.

Besides years of pimping himself to sponsors and media outlets as a professional athlete, Smiley spent a year as team manager at Sombrio and assisted with team management at Helly-Hansen. He also holds a marketing certificate from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

“I wanted to take the knowledge I gained from my ski career and work for a more forward thinking company,” says Smiley. “Kona is there. They were there from the beginning.”

As the new Sports Marketing Guy, Smiley will handle the management of all Kona’s bike teams, while overseeing team contracts and media partnerships. Through these efforts, the goal is to build solid working relationships to accelerate the teams to a new level.

“Through my years of skiing I’ve learned how to value yourself as an athlete and understand the in’s and out’s of being an action sports athlete and their relationships with media and product development,” says Smiley. “To me, Kona’s all about riding bikes and supporting the scene and it’s lifestyle from every angle.”

For any questions, comments and concerns about Kona’s teams or sports marketing contact Smiley at: smiley@konaworld.com or 604-805-5662.

source: Keith Cozzens

The Bicycle Product Suppliers Association announces new dates, location and
conference director for the 12th annual BLC event

MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa. - July 29, 2008 - In an effort to better leverage networking opportunities and industry leadership attendance, the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association (BPSA) today announced it signed a three-year agreement with the Sea Otter Classic to host its annual Bicycle Leadership Conference (BLC) in conjunction with the cycling festival through 2011.

The 2009 BLC will be held April 15-17, 2009 at the Sea Otter host hotel, the Embassy Suites in Seaside, Calif. The 2009 Sea Otter Classic will be held April 16-19 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey Calif., and is considered the world’s largest cycling festival.

“Aligning ourselves with the Sea Otter Classic, a well-attended and highly relevant cycling-focused event, is one way we can further support our attending membership and improve the effectiveness of our conference,” said John Nedeau, president of the BPSA and vice president of global sales for SRAM. “Because many of our members also attend the Sea Otter Classic, we are confident that by combining the two events we will boost attendance from manufacturers and suppliers alike.”

This year’s conference topics will further expand on last year’s BPSA Research Project - “Opportunities and Challenges in the Bicycle Industry - Strategic Growth, Retail Execution, and Collaboration”- specifically focusing on opportunities to improve industry awareness, distribution and product portfolios.

Event discussions during BLC 2009 will also focus on improving communication about the growing number of industry organizations and advocacy groups, their individual missions and how manufacturers can better work with these groups to support the broader goals of the industry.

In addition to research results, panel discussions, breakout groups and networking opportunities, the conference will again offer improved bike rides and the industry’s most prestigious golf tournament. The BLC will again host the BRAINy awards dinner presentation.

“The Bicycle Leadership Conference is important to the future of our industry,” said Frank Yohannan, president and CEO of the Sea Otter Classic. “Only through strong leadership can we identify our challenges and plan a strategy of growth and expansion. All of us at the Sea Otter Classic welcome the opportunity to support this event and further grow the sport of cycling.”

While the BPSA will continue to determine the conference topic and content, the Sea Otter Classic has retained the services of Lifeboat Solutions’ Lance Camisasca as conference director for the event. Camisasca’s experience in the cycling industry as Interbike show director for ten years and his industry contacts will be invaluable in managing the registration, logistics and marketing for the conference.

“The idea for Sea Otter to host the 2009 BLC is brilliant,” Camisasca said. “I look forward to helping shape a memorable and purposeful BLC event by integrating the conference components with Sea Otter Classic’s activities and events.”

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, event agenda or registration for the 2009 Bicycle Leadership Conference, please contact Lance Camisasca at lance@lifeboatsolutions.com.

About the Bicycle Leadership Conference
In addition to hosting the annual Bicycle Leadership Conference, the Bicycle Products Suppliers Association (BPSA) is an association of suppliers of bicycles, parts, accessories and service providers that serve specialty bicycle retailers. The association provides a networking and educational forum for members, spearheads industry initiatives in advocacy and safety and is the leading resource for bicycle statistical data. For more information visit www.bpsa.org.

About Sea Otter Classic, Inc.
The 19th Annual Sea Otter Classic will be held April 16-19, 2009 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, Calif. The four-day “Celebration of Sport” is considered the world’s largest cycling festival, hosting nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and 50,000 fans. More information can be found at www.seaotterclassic.com or by calling 800.218.8411.

source: Chip Smith, SOAR Communications

Breckenridge, Colo.– The Colorado State Championships is coming to Granby Ranch, SolVista Ski Basin and SolVista Bike Park August 1-3. 2008 brings a whole new venue with purpose-built courses for DH, SD, DS and XC, and a sneak peek at some of terrain that will be a part of the 2009 National Mountain Bike Championships. This is the weekend where champions will be crowned in all events including The Momentum Trail Concepts Moustache Cup, The Dale’s Pale Ale Beer Crit, and the unofficial Pump Track World Championships.
Registration deadlines will be strongly abided to so we can ensure races start on time. Please make sure you show up to registration with more than an hour before your start time. DH and SD practice will be open Thursday and Friday and on-site registration and packet pickup begins Friday at 9 a.m.

What to expect for courses?

The DH course will have two tracks, one for Sport and Beginner and another for Expert and Pro, so there will be double the practice and new sections to highlight the best sections of the new downhill trails the folks at SolVista have diligently built and improved over the past few years. The crew is proud to also present the best Dual Slalom track in North America, and this year the show will be extended into the night with lights crowning the winner.
The XC course will consist of 5-7 miles and approximately 1000 feet of elevation gain per lap. With a end-of-lap parade ‘mini-loop’ and riders coming through about every half and our, this will be the best XC spectator race of the season. The Super D course will be a mix of singletrack and double track scattered through the course, which winds its way down to the bottom of the DH course for the last whoops, berms and table top to the finish line.

The Moustache Cup?

The Moustache Cup will be the prime event of the week as participants have been training for weeks. Classes include senior men (17+); junior men (16 and under) and women. Points will be awarded for fullness, style, creativity and creepyness and awards will take place with the Dual Slalom awards on Saturday at 8 p.m. A live band, Beer Crit and super-raffle will keep it rolling into the night. The Pump Track World Championships will commence Saturday afternoon prior to Dual Slalom State Championships.

Lodging Available

There will be camping available adjacent to the base area. It will cost $10/car for the entire weekend and include potable water, a wash station, portable toilets and trash facilities, however no RV hookups. RV Campgrounds are available nearby in Granby. SolVista has plenty of accommodations on site and great deals available all weekend. Call 80-926-4386 for Resort Management Group and 888-878-3077 for The Inn at Silver Creek.

State Championships and Series Championships Gear Program

We’ve got a whole new MSC Series and Colorado State Champions gear program up and running. The good folks at Primalwear have designed a complete line for all you knuckleheads. If you win a series or state title at either Sol Vista (DH, XC, SD, DS & SS) or Eldora (STXC) you get to order a jersey of your choice at no cost and are also eligible to order additional championship gear (thermal jackets, arm warmers, leg warmers, feather boas, skinsuits, wonder bras, etc) from Primal.
Each winner will receive an order packet detailing the program. There are more details posted on the homepage at www.racemsc.com. Several other series sponsors will be participating in the Mountain States Cup Champions Gear Program and will be slipping their proforms into your order packets at the conclusion of the season. We’ll even make some proforms available to folks who make the podium.

Mountain States Cup Photo Contest
Presented by Devon Balet Photo and Mountain Flyer

Image capture is a huge part of cycling’s culture. From the lines of suffering and 1000-yard stare etched on a cross-country rider’s face to the roost of dirt kicked out the back as a DH’er exits a turn, people with cameras always seem to be there to record the essence of our movement, grace, vitality and yes, suffering of our sport. Digital cameras have made a journeyman of the rank and file. Some of the stuff we’ve seen from your lenses has ignited our passion, both for the bike and for the camera. Now we’re asking you to let us see the MSC through your eyes.

Categories:
- Action: DH, DS/MX, SD and XC
- Lifestyle: capturing the lifestyle/vibe of mountain bike racing
- Photoshopped/Photochopped: get your digital freak on

Rules:
- Minimal to no post production. We want to see what your camera captured. For those who love their Photoshop there is a category for you
- Contestants don’t get photo credentials. Please stay off the courses and be conscious of racers, especially when using flashes.
- Work with other photographers, media personal, event staff and spectators. We’re all here to have fun.
- Contestants must submit their images no later than 12am midnight Monday, September 8th

Judging:
Winners will be judged on the following criteria: exposure, focus, cropping and capturing the moment. Mountain Flyer’s staff and Devon Balet will judge the submissions and select the winners.

Fee:
$25 gets you six images, ONE for each category. Fee is set, no matter if you enter one or all six categories.

Prizes:
We’ve got a JBL Ipod dock plus a generous grab bag of goodies from MSC sponsors like Yeti, Crank Brothers, Santa Cruz and more. Winners will also receive a lifetime subscription to the Rocky Mountains finest MTB publication, “Mountain Flyer”. Winners from each category will be featured in the December issue of Mountain Flyer.

Image Submission:
File transmission details to follow. Submission guidelines are as follows:
- We will accept digital images only. If you shoot slide or print film, you will need to provide a low-resolution scan for judging and a high resolution scan of the image for print if your image is selected.
- Original Photos must be shot at high resolution. 5 mega pixel minimum at high quality jpeg or RAW setting.
- First round image submissions must be submitted as follows: Jpeg 300dpi, reduced to no more than 600 pixels in the longest dimension OR max file size of 3MB, whichever is smaller.
- Winners will need to submit full resolution images for publication.
- Please do not “save for web” as it will create loss of image quality.
- Your submissions are judged as submitted

Terms and Conditions:
- Photo files should be titled in a way that briefly describes the content of the image.
- You must properly credit the actual photographer.
- Contestants agree to submit only photos they themselves have taken.
- Submission of plagiarized material will result in a contestant being banned from further contests. And the MSC. And Valhalla. And Candyland.
- Decisions of the judges are final. You big dummy.
- By submitting a photo, contestants agree to grant one-time rights to Mountain Flyer Magazine, Secret Agent Publishing LLC, Mountain States Cup, and Big Foot Productions for the publishing of the image in Mountain Flyer Magazine and/or display of photos in web galleries on racemsc.com and/or mountainflyer.com. Web galleries may remain posted for as long as contest organizers deems appropriate.
- All other ownership rights remain the property of the photographer.

source: Sarah Rawley

The problem of front derailleur position for full suspension bikes is as old as full suspension itself. Instead of concentrating on geometry, ride characteristics, optimum pivot placement and system integration, engineers have been forced to design frames around the front derailleur and its chainrings.

Nicolai and Bionicon, the new generation of innovators in drive trains and variable suspension, have also faced these problems since their very beginnings. As a result, an intensive exchange of ideas began after Eurobike 2003 with the aim of finally eliminating the troublesome front derailleur.

Kalle Nicolai’s company, UNIVERSAL TRANSMISSIONS GmbH (g-boxx.com), holds numerous patents covering alternative transmission systems for bicycle frames. BIONICON’s founder Andi Felsl has been a fan of his drivetrain concepts since their introduction in 2000, so it was a natural step to begin collaboration in 2004.

BIONICON’s (bionicon.com) aim was to create a fully adjustable and comfortable enduro chassis with a bottom bracket based drivetrain which is accessible to the broad public by utilizing Nicolai’s G-BOXX-2 technology.

Initially BIONICON’s task was to find an industrial partner outside the frame building industry to produce the G-BOXX. The first prototype from this co-operation was a Nicolai Nucleon featuring the Bionicon system and the G-BOXX. This bike is still ripping trails in Japan!

However both partners were unhappy about the high weight of the system for “Enduro” and “All-mountain” use. Discussion centered more and more on whether the rear derailleur really had to be replaced, as is the case with the current G-BOXX system, or if similar performance could be achieved by retaining the rear derailleur and cassette. After several heated exchanges Kalle and Andi finally agreed on the key ingredients for our vision of biking:

- Eliminate the front derailleur
- Optimal position of pivot points for all rear suspension systems
- Prevent chain from jumping off
- Lowest gear must correspond to 22 / 34 tooth ratio of a derailleur transmission
- Optimal climbing and highest degree of mechanical efficiency
- Rear derailleur with shortest possible cage
- Ergonomic handlebar shifting
- Target weight 1.2 kg incl. crank arms
- Can be fitted to “normal” frames with ISCG-mount
- Q-Factor (pedal width) same as normal derailleur drivetrain
- Maintain normal chain line

The collaboration fits perfectly to the philosophy of both firms: never define yourself through the components made by other manufacturers, envision the future and solve problems through your own innovations, and don’t wait for or expect others to find solutions.

So what is the B-BOXX all about? The B-BOXX is a fully enclosed, shiftable planetary drivetrain. It is mounted to the right hand side of the bottom bracket using a standard ISCG-fitting. A handlebar mounted push button allows the rider to choose between two gear ratios. The lower gear corresponds to that of a 22-25 tooth chainring; power is directly transferred. The higher gear multiplies every crank rotation by a factor of 1.65 and thus corresponds to a 36-41 tooth chainring. Shifting under power has been given close consideration throughout the development process. As with the G-BOXX-2 a patented magnetic activation of the freewheel teeth keeps B-BOXX shifting as smooth as possible. Those wishing to know more about this principle should look at the following video:

http://www.g-boxx.com/videos/G-Boxx-2-general_function.wmv

Finally, after a long 4 ½ year period of development we can present the B-BOXX at Eurobike 2008. Salvation for bikers and bike developers as well as a daily ride with a completely new dimension will follow in 2010.

source: Mic De Min CEO, BIONICON USA

SAN RAFAEL, CA - July 24, 2008 - After months of riding their bikes to work as part of an employee-led initiative to help reduce their carbon footprint, salesforce.com employees raised $10,000 and chose Trips for Kids (TFK) as their charity of choice.

On July 11, 2008, a group of dedicated salesforce.com employees joined young people from Kung Fu Grocery - an inner-city, low income martial arts school, TFK volunteers, staff and Board members for a ride through the Tennessee Valley area of the Golden Gate Recreation Area to present the generous check. The group absorbed the fanfare and views, as well as showed their appreciation for TFK being selected as the program’s charity beneficiary.

“At a time when fuel costs are soaring, biking to work is an environmentally friendly, cost effective and health promoting activity,” said Marilyn Price, founding director of TFK. “Trips for Kids is thrilled to be the chosen recipient. This money will be used to take underserved youth on mountain bikes rides.”

Salesforce.com, one of the Bay Area’s leading high-tech firms specializing in Software-as-a-Service, found a way to benefit youth, boost employee fitness and make an environmental impact. Forty employees worldwide participated in the community initiative. Utilizing salesforce.com technology to log the miles employees rode, the Salesforce.com Foundation contributed one dollar for each mile. Salesforce.com has been a long-time supporter of Trips for Kids.

“I joined salesforce.com not just because of the company and its products, but also because of the Salesforce.com Foundation’s relationship with the community,” said Perry David Tennyson, a salesforce.com employee. “Growing up in San Francisco and being a cyclist made this the perfect opportunity for me to participate in. That salesforce.com gave one dollar to a non profit for every mile I rode to work each day made me extremely proud.”

Trips for Kids is a 20-year-old national non-profit based in San Rafael, California. Its programs give underserved youth a chance to experience the joy and challenge of mountain biking, while learning valuable life skills and an appreciation for the outdoors. There are currently 64 Trips for Kids chapters across the United Stated and Canada.

For more information on Trips for Kids, please visit www.tripsforkids.org or call founding Director Marilyn Price at (415) 458-2986.

source: Chip Smith

MINNAAR NO LONGER A BRIDESMAID, HE WINS MT. STE ANNE WORLD CUP DOWNHILL

June 26, 2008
Mt. Ste. Anne, Quebec

Santa Cruz Syndicate had a great romp at the UCI World Cup downhill at Mt. Ste. Anne, Quebec today with Greg Minnaar taking the win in the men’s race and becoming the new overall leader. Josh Bryceland took over the overall lead in the junior men and placed 15th overall in elite, and the Syndicate keeps the lead in the overall team classification. Steve Peat has been on every world cup podium this year and stood in 4th position today and Nathan Rennie had a solid run to finish 7th.

The week was short leading up to the race with just two days of practice before Saturday’s race but we managed to squeeze in the time to attend what is sure to be the first of many Freecaster Grand Prix Kart races on Thursday night. Steve “Old School” Peat qualified in the pole position with Greg “White Trash” Minnaar in 5th, and Rennie “The Beast” in 9th. Old School lead the first quarter of the race until he spun himself out, numerous times, and the Beast did the same. White Trash quickly took over the lead and held it for the 20-lap race in the wet for the win. It seems the kart win just got him started on a win streak and he carried it over to the downhill.

After winning the Freecaster Grand Prix Minnaar still had some Talladega Nights on his mind and says, “ ‘Here’s the deal, I’m the best there is, plain and simple. Just remember, if you’re not first you’re last.’” He took this to heart and stood true to his words in the downhill and said of his win, “Winner, winner, chicken dinner! It’s the first time I’ve won here. I’ve come second to Steve a ton of times, and Kovarik and Sam, and I finally got ahead of them. Winning at Mt. Ste. Anne feels great!” Syndicate mechanic “Ricky Bobby” says, “ I think winning the kart race helped. He was definitely shakin’ and bakin’ today. Steve was up there right with him on the podium. Hats off to Greg, he was awesome today.”

Kirt Voreis joined his mates this week to lend race support and film them racing. The boys didn’t let him down and we all enjoyed the reunion with Kirt since we hadn’t seen him since Sea Otter. He enjoyed the local pump track and hanging out with the local kids.

Practice went well for the boys at this classic race venue and proper downhill track. Peat describes the week, “Usually we get a wet day or two at Mt. Ste. Anne but it’s been wet here for the last month I think so the track is a lot different to what we’ve ever raced on. There are a lot of big ruts in the track. It’s quite difficult and it makes it a bit more physical so it’s quite good. Rennie says, “ The track’s very muddy up there. That’s basically self-explanatory. The lines keep changing, but never the less it’s a lot of fun. I’m having a blast as long as my arms can hang on. I just did a full run there and I was pretty buggered to be honest. The track is just awesome.”

Bryceland said, “ There’s a few flat sections which you don’t really notice in practice because you’re just rolling by, but when I did a full run now I thought this is going to be hard. There is so much variation with flat out turns in the open, which are so much fun, and the woods are tight and technical, its an awesome track. I’m having so much fun out there. My pants fell down in my practice run though because there’s so much mud clagged on them. I had to stop and pull them up. They had four runs full of mud stuck to them.

SEMI FINALS:

“When I was up at the top there were clouds coming in and I thought, hmmmm, it could rain at some point so I went a bit steady at the top and got into it and started going really well then I got tired so I backed off a little bit. I just put all my lines together so it felt good.” said Bryceland of his 21st place qualifier. My semi final was pretty cruisey. I’m not really fighting for points in the qualifier so I just wanted to save my arms for the final and it worked pretty well. I’m in the top ten with a 7th place, and my arms feel pretty fresh and I have plenty more in the tank, so I’m right where I want to be,” said Rennie.

Peaty came 5th in the semi and says, “ It went pretty good. I felt tired at the bottom woods, I just felt like I was hitting every hole rather than staying on top of them and riding them smooth. So I’ll just try and stay a little bit smoother in the final and I should have some time in the bag.”

First place qualifier Minnaar said, “ The semi final was hard because the course is faster as it’s drying up. You need to push it hard because of points so I was glad that I managed to put a run together. I did make a couple of mistakes which I know I need to improve and I can improve. I think I was just a bit tense, nervous I think, and hopefully I’ll be more relaxed for the final and smooth things up and be quicker.”

RACE RUNS:

Bryceland’s run started off well, “I was going good through the open turns at the top, I was just carrying my speed. I was going through the woods and got a bit excited and went left on a right-hander into the tape and lost a bit of time then, but I didn’t let it phase me. I was so tired and just hung on and did a big whip for the crowd at the bottom. I got 15th so I’m happy with that and now I’m the junior leader.” Peat said, “We’ve just raced and I got 4th. I made a mistake on track. Gee and Sam only just beat me. I’m pretty pissed off about that, but Greg won so it makes it a little bit better. Wicked for the Syndicate as we won the team overall which we should’ve been doing at ever race all year. Rennie stepped it up.”

Rennie was happy with his result, “I wasn’t expecting a huge result. I’ve been pretty tired on the track all week. I tried to concentrate on not getting arm pump. As it turns out I had a decent run, but two mistakes at the top put me back a little bit, but it’s Mt. Ste. Anne and it’s hard, and for the longest, hardest track it’s not too bad of a finish.”

Up next the Syndicate travels a few hours to the next world cup in Bromont, with high hopes to hang onto all the leader jerseys that we bagged today.

DOWNHILL FINAL RESULTS:

1) GREG MINNAAR (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 4:30.57
2) Sam Hill 4:32.30
3) Gee Atherton 4:32.83
4) STEVE PEAT (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 4:33.53
5) Fabien Barel 4:37.25
6) Sam Blenkinsop 4:38.34
7) NATHAN RENNIE (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 4:40.12
Julien Camellini 4:41.74
9) Justin Leov 4:42.35
10) Aaron Gwin 4:42.64
15) JOSH BRYCELAND (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE 4:48.10

Semi Final Results:

1) GREG MINNAAR (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 4:39.07
2) Sam Hill 4:39.51
3) Gee Atherton 4:40.10
4) Chris Kovarik 4:40.55
5) STEVE PEAT (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 4:41.69
6) Fabien Barel 4:45.76
7) NATHAN RENNIE (SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE) 4:47.22
Julien Camellini 4:47.25
9) Justin Leov 4:47.54
10) Brendan Fairclough 4:47.59

Thanks to the Syndicate Sponsors

Santa Cruz Bicycles
SRAM
RockShox
Truvativ
Avid
Maxxis
DT Swiss
WTB
Crankbrothers
Lizard Skins
Clif Bar
Troy Lee Designs
Chris King
Five Ten

source: Kathy Sessler

Well after great qualifying runs in the morning from all the team Chris 4th, Julien 8th, Matt 18th and Ruaridh 38th with a rear flat towards the end of his run we were looking good for a great final result with hopefully top 20s all round and at least 1 podium if not 2. I haven’t been here since 2001 and the first time being in 1998 for the World Championships. The course hasn’t changed a great deal since then but just a brutal as i remember it back then. Very physical on the riders and tough on the bikes. Many riders suffering from flat tires, but with our great Sun MTX 29 rims with Maxxis tires the only flat we suffered all weekend was Ruaridh’s qualifying run.

As the track dried out a lot from the previous days downpours riders were changing from spikes to dry tires for the mornings qualifying runs and the rain held off for the finals.
Ruaridh was off first and as he hit the split time he was only 1 second off the fastest time so far set by Matti Lehikoinen from the MS Intense team. But Ruaridh had been riding with a mechanical and couldn’t pedal so that was the end of his run.

Matt was off next and he was on a flier. As he hit the split time he was 1 second up and fastest so far but unfortunately caught his rear deraillur on a rock which went into his back wheel and sent him over the bars so his top 15 run was over as he just rolled to the bottom after pulling his deraillure out of his back wheel.

Julien was off next 8th from last and he had an ok run he said but made a lot of mistakes and ended the day in 8th. Still a fantastic result.

Chris was off next and 4th from last and really up for the win. This track suits his style and he always does good here winning twice in the past. He hit the split time just up on leading rider Steve Peat but more disaster as Chris hit his helmet on the bars in the rock garden and and his visor slipped down over his eyes. He had to take his hand off the bars after the rocks on a technical section to move it out the way but hit a rock with his front wheel as he did and had a big crash on a fast section. So that was the end of the teams day. Chris somehow managed 11th place just 12 seconds off the winning time by Greg Minnaar even with his crash and going off the track again on the last berm.

So that was the end of the day for us not the result we were looking for but nobody seriously injured and we are still 5th overall in the team standings with 3 more rounds to go and it is very close with only 10 points between us and 3rd place.

Julien and Chris are still in the hunt for that top 5 overall placing they are in 6th and 7th and very close in points to Fabienne Barel in 5th.

The race was won fair and square by a fantastic run by team Santacruz/Syndicates Greg Minnaar beating Sam Hill and newly crowned World Champion Gee Atherton. Greg also won the bonus prize purse for the fastest rider through the speed trap in the middle of the course. Chris was the 4th fastest through here.

Well we are staying in Canada now and heading off the the next round of the World Cup in Bromont next weekend. So hopefully with a bit of luck we can make it on to that podium and back up to top 3 in the team standings.

Thanks to all our sponsors for helping us have the best bikes and equipment available.

We will have some pictures posted with the report on our website www.crcintense.com as soon as I get them from Victor Lucas.

Mens Downhill results:

1. Greg Minnaar Santacruz/Syndicate 4.30.57
2. Sam Hill Monster Energy 4.32.30
3. Gee Atherton Animal Commencal 4.32.83
4. Steve Peat Santacruz/Syndicate 4.33.53
5. Fabien Barel Subaru/Mondraker 4.37.25
6. Sam Blenkinsop Yeti Fox shox 4.38.34
7. Nathan Rennie Santacruz/Syndicate 4.40.12
8. Julien Camellini Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 4.41.74
9. Justin Leov Yeti Fox shox 4.42.35
10. Aaron Gwin Yeti Fox shox 4.42.65
11. Chris Kovarik Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 4.43.28
50. Dan Critchlow Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 5.00.36
62. Ruaridh Cunnningham Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 5.04.54
78. Matt Simmonds Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 6.38.65

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source: Nigel Page