Six Penn State mountain bikers ventured to Charlemont, MA,
for MIT’s Sliderule Shredfest. Heavy
rain on Saturday night and Sunday morning lead ECCC officials to alter the
downhill course. The revised course put
Penn State riders into uncharted territory, but they were nonetheless able to
excel. The XC and short track races took
riders across root-covered trails, tight singletrack, and slick loamy-silt. Despite the muddy weekend, Penn State riders
racked up points and earned 8th in the ECCC omnium.
Downhill Dan doing what he does best
Downhill Dan Lewis:
Dan took a break from crushing Strava descents at Rothrock
to test his mettle in New England. True
to his nickname, he barreled downhill to a 10th place finish in
Men’s A’s. Needless to say, the only
thing going up is his position in the ECCC leaderboards.
President Hazlett:
Though well known for his speechcraft and rucking prowess,
President Hazlett proved a force to be reckoned with in cat C downhill. He rode his Specialized (named Air Force 1)
to a 14th place finish.
Will Vickerman:
Will Vickerman, luxury kit enthusiast, eschewed the
beginners’ C category and went straight to B’s to race XC. Nearly half the field DNF’d the race, but
Will persevered, earning a 6th place finish.
#teamhansum
“Handsome” Rob Shurer
Rob Shurer, Pinkbike celebrity, competed in his first
collegiate race. He likewise started in
B’s and finished 12th in Men’s B downhill.
Avi takes flight
Avi Moore:
Avi took 5th in the men's B's dual slalom event. The course was tight, and other riders found it difficult to maintain speed. Not to be outdone, he also got 15th in the downhill race.
Kirsten Pearsons:
Women’s B’s wasn’t ready for Kirsten’s return. Kirsten competed in both the short track and
XC races, and earned 2nd and 3rd. Though a technical trail rider at heart,
Kirsten is considering racing a downhill event next week.
BONUS:
Steve Clayton, notable A rider, is still nursing his broken
ankle. His doctor has put him on a strict
regimen of road riding, and Steve is often seen pedaling up Black Mo at speeds that
rival PSU roadies. The rest of the
Mtber’s await his glorious return to downhill, and the restoration of balance
to the Force.