With the grand finale of the Jeep 48STRAIGHT Mountain Bike Series just two weeks away, American riders are in control of the standings, holding five of the six men's and women's podium spots toward the season championship.
Heading into the dual slalom event, set for Oct. 24-25 in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Fionn Griffiths of Great Britain is the lone international athlete in the mix, but no less than a half dozen of the world's elite racers have the opportunity to shake up the standings with an upset in this cycling haven.
Leading the pack in the men's standings is U.S. National Champion Cody Warren of Alpine, Calif., who has a win at the first race of the season in New Jersey and a fourth place finish in Utah under his belt. Tied for second behind him are 18-year veteran Eric Carter of Temecula, Calif., a former World Champion and three-time World Cup titlist, and Czech Republic transplant Petr Hanak of Winter Park, Colo., a champion of the NORBA National Mountain Bike Series.
In the women’s standings, reigning World Champion and U.S. National Champion Melissa Buhl of Chandler, Ariz., has earned a second place finish in New Jersey and a title in Utah to earn the top spot. Despite her brilliance on the dirt, she holds only a slight lead over former U.S. National Champion Kathy Pruitt of Santa Cruz, Calif., who won in New Jersey and placed third in Utah. Griffiths, thanks to her impressive second place finish in Utah, rounds out the bunch, with U.S. Open Champion Lisa Myklak of Boulder, Colo., right on her heels.
A number of exceptional American and foreign athletes would be happy to break their way into contention, led by none other than Greg Minnaar, who won in his first-ever Jeep mountain bike competition in Utah proceeded to bring home a title. The South African has earned an astounding 35 World Cup titles, a World Championship and two World Cup Championships, yet he’s just one of many outside contenders. Also making the list include Brian Lopes of Laguna Beach, Calif., the four-time World Champion and nine-time U.S. National Champion, and Jared Rando, the always-dangerous four-time Australian National Champion. A new name on the Jeep mountain bike scene to keep an eye on is Olympian Adam Craig of Bend, Ore., the reigning U.S. National Champion in Cross-Country and Super D disciplines. Others gunning for the title include U.S. National Champion Rich Houseman of Temecula, Calif.; U.S. National Team member Cam Zink of Costa Mesa, Calif.; 2008 Crankworx Champion, J.D. Swanguen of San Diego; 2007 Crankworx Champion Cam McCaul of Santa Cruz, Calif.; Kyle Strait of Redlands, Calif., a Sea Otter Classic titlist with several Red Bull cycling wins under his belt; and two of America’s fastest downhill racers, Duncan Riffle of Santa Barbara and Chris Van Dine of Park City. Rounding out the pack is Shaun Palmer, perhaps the most noteworthy extreme sports athlete, who has captured a mountain biking World Championship to go along with five snowboarding World Championships and countless X Games medals under his belt. He also happened to capture the Jeep 48STRAIGHT snowboarding championship earlier this spring after winning two of the three event titles.
Local professionals and semi-pros will also have a chance to earn a spot in the dual slalom interested in competing in the Dual Slalom may take part in an Open Qualifier on Friday, Oct. 24. The event is capped at 75 men and 25 women, with registration available at
www.Jeep48Straight.com.
