By Eddie Arnet
As the 4th NORBA endurance race of the year, Schweitzer Mountain in Sandpoint, Idaho concluded the first half of the nationwide cross-country, short track and marathon series. It was also the 3rd Super D, as well as the 2nd downhill and mountaincross of the NORBA National Series. While there are 8 cross-country and short track events, there are 7 marathon, Super D and mountaincross races, and only 6 downhills this year.
THE BIGGEST NEWS AT SCHWEITZER
The biggest news in Idaho was the return of Eric Carter after ankle and wrist injuries. Claiming only to be 50% healthy is half enough of an Eric to finish 2nd and to beat the next year's 4X World Cup Champion while doing it. (After Angel Fire Greg Minnaar has enough points to lock up the World Cup 4x series with 2 rounds remaining.)
WEEKEND CHEAT NOTES
*A Friday night wind and hailstorm did it's best to ruin the weekend. The sun popped out Saturday morning for the Super D before the rain returned and dumped on the cross-country. Yes, it was muddy.
*The men did three 10 mile circuits while the women did two.
*NORBA and U.S. National XC & ST Champ Jeremy Horgan Kobelski could've and would've been a contender, but lost a top finish when he flatted while running second in the XC. He recovered for a sixth place finish 3:47 behind Killeen. That flat had to of cost more than 3:47.
*Adam Craig was the real aggressor in the cross-country. For two laps Craig was the man to beat. Starting into the third and final lap Craig's body ground to a halt. Craig nursed it in for the last podium spot while Liam Killeen wheelied into the sunset.
*Just like the men's event, the outcome of the women's cross-country was decided up the first climb off the start. The long climb immediately splintered the men's and women's starts. In minutes the race turned into a group of five or so front runners...and everyone else way off the back.
*Roland Green's 3rd place finish was very popular. Green was an integral part of the lead group and took it all the way to a strong podium finish. This finish alone could jettison the 2-time World Champ to many more good things. Great to see you back in the hunt, Rollie.
*Here's one for Ripley's. While building up for Saturday, Specialized factory rider Sid Taberly was doing a morning warmup on a road ride. Everything was going fine until he centerpunched a big, ugly, mean black bear that was running across the road. The result was a very scared black bear, a ruined road bike and a lucky to escape with only bumps and bruises Taberly. That bear is still probably hiding today.
*At 642 points each, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski is tied with Geoff Kabush at the halfway point of the XC series. In the women's race Sue Haywood leads with 665 points, Willow Koerber sits second with 614 and Heather Irmiger third with 609.
*Not to take anything away from first time downhill winner Andrew Neethling, he did receive some help when a crash cost South African compatriot Greg Minnaar the top podium step.
*Don't feel too bad for Greg. After the points are tallied from the two NORBA downhills, Minnaar still holds a 2 point lead over Jared Graves in the overall standings (381 to 379). Joel Panozzo is third with 330, and by winning Anderew Neethling has jumped to fourth with 324 points. Jared Rando is fifth with 319.
*What happened to Jill Kintner? The Yeti sensation "spidered" hard through the rock garden and dinged her head good during Friday qualifying. Although it ended her weekend, she's okay.
*Both the finishing order of the men's and women's mountaincross events were decided in the very final corner. U.S. Mountaincross champ Tara Llanes and Katrina Miller were running one-two before slamming together in the last turn. Miller went down, Llanes won. A similar thing happened between Eric Carter and hero in the making Cody Warren. Warren went down and Carter didn't.
*Check out the Super D finish times. After nine miles of mostly downhill racing, it came down to a finish sprint between SoCal hot shot Amon Pease and Boulder, Colorado's Mike West.
*By flatting and DNF'ing the Short Track, GT-Hyundai rider Todd Wells handed the series lead to Schweitzer ST winner Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski. JHK didn't have it easy though. The men's race came down to an all out last lap war between Liam Killeen, Geof Kabush and JHK. It was a confidence-boosting win for Jeremy.
*JHK's short track points total is 610. Last year's champ Geoff Kabush sits second with 590. For the women, Katerina Hanusova's 3rd at Schweitzer was enough to retain the points lead. But Sue Haywood has closed in, with 665 points to Katerina's 689.
CROSS-COUNTRY RESULTS
1. Liam Killeen (GBr)...Specialized...2:03:46
2. Ryan Trebon...Kona-Les Gets...at 1:20
3. Roland Green (Can)...Kona-Les Gets...1:36
4. Geoff Kabush (Can)...Maxxis...2:33
5. Adam Craig...Giant...3:28
6. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski...Subaru-Gary Fisher...3:47
7. Chris Sheppard (Can)...Haro...5:08
8. Michael Broderick...Seven-Kenda...6:50
9. Todd Wells...GT-Hyundai...7:08
10. Sid Taberlay (Aus)...Specialized...at 7:38
WOMEN
1. Shonny Vanlandingham...Luna Chix...1:37:15
2. Dara Marks-Marino...Ford...at 0:44
3. Heather Irmiger...Tokyo Joes...1:17
4. Kiara Bisaro (Can)...Gearsracing.com...1:27
5. Susan Haywood...Trek-VW...1:33
6. Willow Koerber...Subaru-Gary Fisher...1:41
7. Alison Dunlap...Luna Chix...4:03
8. Georgia Gould...Tamarack...4:45
9. Kelli Emmett...Ford...6:20
10. Kerry Barnholt...Subaru-Gary Fisher...at 8:13
DOWNHILL RESULTS
1 Andrew Neethling (RSA)...Turner Honda4.19.83
2 Greg Minnaar (RSA)...G Cross Honda...4.19.9
3 Jared Graves (Aus)...Yeti...4.20.1
4 Joel Panozzo (Aus)...WTB-Fox Shox-Intense...4.20.5
5 Warren Cody...Haro...4.21.0
6 Jared Rando (Aus)...Giant/Michelin...4.21.0
7 Mick Hannah (Aus)...Haro...4.22.4
8 Chris Van Dine...Go Ride...4.22.5
9 Justin Havukainen (Aus)...Madcatz Iron Horse...4.24.5
10 Curtis Keene...WTB-Fox Shox...4.27.6
WOMEN
1 Bernardita Pizarro Lazo (Chi)...5.00.75
2 Kathy Pruitt...Luna Chix
MOUNTAINCROSS RESULTS
1. Jared Graves (Aus)...Yeti
2. Eric Carter...GT-Mongoose
3. Greg Minnaar (RSA)...G-Cross Honda
4. Cody Warren...Haro
5. Brian Schmith...Mongoose-Hyundai
6. Mick Hannah...Haro-Adidas
7. Kyle Strait...Specialized
8. Sean McClendon...Advent Cycles-Bombshell-Smith
9. Rich Houseman...Yeti
10. Christopher Herndon...Specialized-Cane Creek
WOMEN
1. Tara Llanes...Giant
2. Melissa Buhl...KHS
3. Michelle Dumaresq...Santa Cruz
4. Katrina Miller...Jamis
5. Kathy Pruitt...Luna chix
6. Leana Gerrard...Cannondale
7. Joanna Petterson...Morewood Bikes
8. Katie Holden...Turner-Sombrio-Smith
SHORT TRACK
1 Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski...Subaru-Gary Fisher
2 Liam Killeen (GBr)...Specialized
3 Geoff Kabush (Can)...Maxxis
WOMEN
1 Sue Haywood...Trek-VW
2 Dara Marks-Marino...Ford
3 Katerina Hanusova (Cze)...Luna Chix
MARATHON RESULTS
1. Jay Henry
2. Chris Eatough...Trek-VW
WOMEN
1. Monique Sawicki...Headmethod-Warrior's Society
SUPER D RESULTS
1. Mike West...Maverick...16:22.33
2. Amon Pease...Intense...16:22:67
3. Chris Eatough...Trek-VW...16:52.39
4. Bryan Fawley...Wheelsinmotion...16:59.14
5. Osvaoldo Olmos...Team Corin...18:10.48
6. Christopher Filipiak...Kona Midwest...18:25.69
7. Michael Valach...Vic's Tree...18:39.40
WOMEN
1. Jennifer Whalen...WTB...21:16.99
2. Leana Gerrard...Canondale...32:31.03
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