The third stop of the five-race Pro Gravity Tour took place this past weekend at the Northstar Resort in north Lake Tahoe, California. The GRT is establishing itself as the premiere gravity series in the United States, as riders challenge World-Cup-level terrain in some of the country’s top mountain bike parks. In addition to the U.S.A.’s best pro descenders fighting for the Pro GRT points title, the Gravity Tour has seen several top World Cup riders this season, and Northstar was no different as reigning World Champion Steve Peat, current World Cup leader Greg Minnaar, and World Cup downhill icon Cedric Gracia all contested for the Pro GRT win. The women’s talent pool was not as deep as the men’s side, but did showcase four American World Champions, Melissa Buhl, Jill Kintner, Leigh Donovan and Kathy Pruitt, battling head-to-head.

The Northstar at Tahoe trail crew did an incredible job getting the course ready for the event. Gypsy, an already fun trail, featured several new jumps (including a 35-foot finish line tabletop), drops and terrain features, all joined by numerous sweeping corners. Hopefully, these features remain on Gypsy throughout the summer.

After Friday afternoon’s seeding runs, Brad Benedict was the fastest man on the hill that day with a time of 4:06 and change, with Greg Minnaar on his heels. For the women, Melissa Buhl put down the fastest time, followed by Jill Kintner, Kathy Pruitt and Leigh Donovan. (full results below)

Race Details
- The men’s downhill field saw current World Cup leader Greg Minnaar take the win posting the only time under four minutes, while Jill Kintner celebrated her first Pro GRT victory. 

- All racers shared the same course (Gypsy Trail), except for a pro only section that sent riders off a ladder drop into a high-speed corner, through a rock section and back onto the same course. The amateur course was on average about 8 seconds longer than the pro course, as it went around the pro section on a rocky, and loose sweeping corner.

- Bryn Atkinson’s second place in downhill means he’ll retain the Pro GRT leaders jersey.

- Eighteen-year-old Mitch Ropelato won the junior expert downhill, but also raced separately in the pro downhill field, and finished an amazing fifth place.

- This round of the Pro GRT was a Junior Downhill World Championships qualifier, so look for Ropelato and the second place finisher in junior expert today, Bryson Martin Jr., to represent the U.S.A. this September at the World Champs in Mont Ste Anne, Quebec, Canada.

-  Melissa Buhl entered the Northstar Pro GRT with the downhill leader's jersey, but took a nasty spill in her race. Eventually, she was able to finish under her own power. Kintner takes over the GRT downhill series leader jersey.


Pro Men DH podium from left: Cedric Gracia (4th), Bryn Atkinson (2nd), Greg Minnaar (1st), Steve Peat (3rd), Mitch Ropelato (5th). Photo: Ryan Cleek



Pro Women DH podium from left: Jackie Harmony (4th), Kathy Pruitt (2nd), Jill Kintner (1st), Leigh Donovan (3rd), Rachel Bauer (5th). Photo: Ryan Cleek


Teammates Bryn Atkinson and Jill Kintner both hold the Pro GRT Downhill points lead. Photo: Ryan Cleek


Greg Minnaar en route to the Pro GRT win. He was the only rider to break the four minute barrier.


Brad Benedict was the fastest rider on Friday's seeding run, and came down the mountain last on Sunday. A spill at the bottom ended his hopes of victory.


Jill Kintner switched her from 4-Cross to downhill, and she took her first Pro GRT win at Northstar.


The Gypsy Trail features a variety of jumps, berms and loose rock sections. Michael Town floats over the log landing before a left-hand berm.


Minnaar, Peaty and Cedric on their way to podium finishes.


Nineteen-year-old Kevin Aiello threw down with the big boys at Northstar, and finished in eighth place.


Mike Haderer on his way to 26th in pro downhill.


Eighteen-year-old Mitch Ropelato won the Junior Expert downhill and then in a following race run incredibly finished fifth in the pro men's division.


Semi-retired Leigh Donovan sends off of the pro section on her way to third place.


The Gypsy Trail had a fun mix of jumps throughout the course. It was a playground that required a lot of concentration in the blown-out, loose and rocky corners. Photo: Ryan Cleek


Brad Oien (left) and J.D. Swanguen eye-up a rock section of the course. J.D. held down the hot seat for a majority of the pro race, finishing in eight place, while Oien was off pace in the 39th spot.


Bryson Martin Jr. won the junior expert division at the opening round Pro GRT in Plattekill, New York, and finished second to Ropelato in Northstar.


Team ODI/Intense/X-Fusion rider Sean McClendon keeps it low and fast on the pro gap jump. He finished in 28th place in the finals.


Fourteen-year-old Cierra Smith won the junior women's downhill race, and looked more comfortable on the racecourse than most of the pro women's field.


Good weather and a fun course made the Northstar Pro GRT a great event.


John Hauer takes flight aboard his X-Fusion/Intense 951.


SoCal's Luca Cometti on his way to second place in the 15-18 Cat 2/Sport division.


Ryan Condrashoff races to 21st place.


KHS' Quinton Spalding keeps it low over the finish line tabletop. He finished seventh in the vet pro division.


The themes for the weekend were: dust, rocks, jumps and pedaling.



Pro Men Top 10
1. Greg Minnaar 3.59.9

2. Bryn Atkinson 4.03.3

3. Steve Peat 4.06.5

4. Cedric Gracia 4.07.3

5. Mitch Ropelato 4.07.4

6. Mikey Sylvestri 4.07.4

7. Eliot Jackson 4.10.3

8. Kevin Aiello 4.11.0

9. JD Swanguen 4.11.7

10. Logan Binggeli 4.12.5



Pro Women Top 10
1. Jill Kintner 4.29.7

2. Katy Pruitt 4.37.5

3. Leigh Donovan 4.45.2

4. Jacqueline Harmony 4.45.6

5. Rachel Bauer 4.46.9

6. Joanna Petterson 4.49.2

7. Jennifer Wolf 4.56.1

8. Gabriella Williams 5.01.1

9. Addie Stewart 5.11.8

10. Joy Martin 5.20.5



Junior Expert Top 10
1. Mitch Ropelato 4.13.6

2. Bryson Martin 4.19.2

3. Kyle Warner 4.22.6

4. Brad King 4.24.9

5. Alex Amaral 4.26.1

6. Nate Furbee 4.27.0

7. Ian Keller 4.27.2

8. Trevor Trinking 4.28.1

9. Jake Payne 4.28.4

10. Evan Powell 4.28.7

Vet Pro Top 10


Cat 1/Expert 19-29 Top 10


Cat 1/Expert 30-39 Top 10


Cat 1/Expert 40+ Results







Story and photos by Ryan Cleek