Fontana, California, is about 60 miles directly east of downtown Los Angeles, and for the past 16 years has played host to numerous successful race series. Southridge Park will never be confused for Whistler Mountain Bike Park, but what it lacks in dynamic terrain and chairlifts, it makes up for in hundreds of dedicated mountain bike racers happy to battle the L.A. traffic to share a good time on the mountain with their friends.


The Athertons, visiting from the U.K., are spending some time training in Southern California. From left to right: Gee, Rachel, and Dan. Photo by Ryan Cleek

    Round two of the Southridge USA’s Shimano Winter Race Series saw five gravity racing World Champions in attendance: Eric Carter (2003), Melissa Buhl (2008), Leigh Donovan (1995), and the biggest surprise of the weekend was the appearance of 2008 World Champions Gee and Rachel Atherton. The entire Atherton crew: Dan, Gee and Rachel, are a couple weeks into a six-week stay in Newport Beach, California, and came out to Fontana to check out the local race series.
    Official results are not yet available, but 24-year-old Gee Atherton edged out 39-year-old Eric Carter by about .5 seconds for the pro men downhill win, with Waylon Smith taking the third spot on the box.

Southridge Winter Series #2, 1/24/2010: Downhill mountain bike from RyanCleek on Vimeo.