Jeep 48STRAIGHT Round Two Preview

Heading into the first race of the Jeep 48STRAIGHT Mountain Bike Series last month in New Jersey, one would have been hard pressed to pick fellow Californians Cody Warren and Kathy Pruitt as favorites to bring home a title. After taking down one renowned racer after another to earn the win and a share of the $100,000-plus cash purse, the pair will no longer have the element of surprise on their side heading into the second leg of the series, taking place Sept. 19-20 at The Canyons in Park City, Utah. For Warren, the challengers will be arriving from near and far, led by fellow U.S. National Champions Eric Carter and Rich Houseman, both from Temecula, Calif., as well as 2008 Crankworx Champion, J.D. Swanguen of San Diego. Also in the mix from the American contingent are Kyle Strait of Redlands, Calif., a Sea Otter Classic titlist with several Red Bull cycling wins and a World Junior Downhill Championship podium under his belt, and Cam Zink of Costa Mesa, Calif. a member of the U.S. National Team who has been racing for more than half his life and dominating for most of it, including a win at Crankworx. No one will be overlooking local favorite Chris Van Dine of Park City, a rider with over 20 titles spanning all disciplines of mountain bike racing. The foreign contingent is equally as daunting, with commitments to attend from Great Britain’s Steve Peat, Australia’s Nathan Rennie and South Africa’s Greg Minnaar. Peat is a three-time World Cup Champion, with 15 World Cup titles, eight British National Championships and two European Championships to his name. Rennie, the 2008 Australian National Champion, is a former overall World Cup Champion and Junior World Champion. Then there’s Minnaar, with an astounding 35 World Cup titles, a World Championship and two World Cup Championships, who happens to be leading the current World Cup season with one race to go. Pruitt will have her work cut out for her as well, led by reigning World Champion and U.S. National Champion Melissa Buhl of Chandler, Ariz. Buhl lost to Pruitt in the finals in New Jersey, and will be seeking to turn the tables on the U.S. National Champion in Utah. Another top name to keep an eye on is Fionn Griffiths of Great Britain, a three-time World Cup winner who can bring home a title on any given day. As was the case in New Jersey, Jeep 48STRAIGHT will hold an Open Qualifier for local professionals and semi-professionals, with the racers battling against the clock to try and earn a coveted spot in the dual slalom championship. The Open Qualifier, which will be capped at 75 men and 25 women, will take place on Friday, Sept. 19. Additional details can be found at www.48straight.com.