IRVINE, Calif. (February 23, 2013) – Dry conditions challenge Super D competitors with unpredictable loose and slippery conditions. The last two events hit the jackpot with rain leading up to the event and with rain the Wednesday before it was looking like it was going to be a 3 race run of hero dirt but the rain quickly passed and by race day it was back to the typically dry sandy decomposed granite of Fontana. Despite the dicey conditions 100 Super D competitors sliced and diced their way down the two run format. This is the kind of course you can’t over ride or you will find yourself off the trail and in the loose stuff or worse into a boulder field. Conditions like this put a high value on bike handling skills and nerve. Riders that second guess themselves definitely find themselves struggling to keep their momentum.
Speaking of momentum, that is exactly what local Pro Waylon Smith has who made it two-in-a-row taking the Pro Men’s win with a combined time of 7:48.0. The consistent Jon Buckell of Team Incycles took a strong 2nd place only a couple seconds back. Buckell did have a little incident on course that could have costed him the win, but as they say that is racing. 3rd place saw the return of Troy Lee Designs Jeremy Kneisly who is hungry for a win. 4th place went to 19-year-old Mason Bond who was debuting his new Yeti/Shimano ride while and rounding out the podium in 5th was Super D course designer Joe Lawwill of Shimano who was on pace until he managed to throw it away in the second to last turn on the second run. Lawwill was able to get up and salvage fifth place. A few fresh faces were in attendance today including Pro downhiller Art Babcock of the One Ghost Industries team who finished a respectable 8th place. Also top Kona Cross-Country pros Barry Wicks and Kris Sneddon both raced in the Super D. The guys raced the Pro XC earlier in the day where Wicks finished third and Sneddon took the win.
The next race is March 9. Shimano is excited to offer neutral support at each Winter Series event and is proud to help continue the growth of gravity endurance events. Winter Series race promoter Donny Jackson continues to offer the Shimano kid’s races so be sure to bring out the little ones. The kid’s race is usually around 11:30 on Saturdays after the XC and before the Super D event.
For more information about the Shimano Winter Series see www.southridgeusa.com for details.
RESULTS HERE: http://www.southridgeusa.com/results_sd_2_23_13.php
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