US Open – Diablo Freeride Park, Vernon, NJ – May 22-24, 2009

Arrived in NJ a full week before the US Open so I could ride Lars Tribus’ awesome private mountain bike park.  I met Lars when I was in La Parva, Chile for the Pan Am Continental MTB Championships.  Lars is an old-school Pro DH racer who could have his way with anybody anywhere for years, including consistent podiums and a first at Worlds Masters.   He has a pretty rad setup – huge pump track, mobile starting gate (which I helped build on the back of his truck aptly named “The Death Mobile”), huge doubles, a moto track and DH trails.  I got to stay in his pool house for the whole week, which was pretty sweet, and Ethan Quehl (Jr. Ex National Champ 2008) joined me mid-week.  I spent some time doing trail maintenance after an east coast winter, and then did some rad riding with Lars, Ethan, Sean McClendon, Cody Warren and Kyle Strait.  It was the highlight of the trip.

The day before US Open, I was pioneering a jump that was about 45 feet out, 10 feet down (to where I was supposed to land) and a pretty gnarly left hip, so super techy.  I had run into it a number of times with what I felt was not enough speed and bailed out.  Finally, I had the perfect run and run and just hit it, just like a moto tapping out in the air, I was slowly going OTB – dead sailor style.  Landed on the front wheel completely past the landing and lawn-darted to my left shoulder.  Luckily, after examination, it didn’t seem serious, but I couldn’t ride.  That’s a wrap for Lars’ house – I maintained the tradition of someone getting hurt right before US Open.  Beware daredevils – tread lightly at Lars’ house before US Open!

His two year old – Leif – entertained us all on his strider bike, doing mini-jumps on the pump track.  The only thing touching the ground was his the last millimeter of his rear tire!  Thanks to Lars’ wife Christine and kids Leif and Fin for being excellent hosts!

On to why I went to NJ in the first place – The US Open.  After an emergency visit to an awesome chiropractor near the venue, I walked the course as usual.  Then I made my first attempt to ride it.  I got into the first part of the course feeling like I normally do.  Then, going into the first rocky corner, my left shoulder dropped and I went completely out of control.  Sketchy business.  I tried doing another run after a bit of recovery and same thing.  It became my first race where I had to DNS.

About the race:  hot, humid, off camber rock slabs, roots and a lot of good corners.  It hurt not to ride, but I was in good company – Ryan Condrashoff broke his collar bone and found out that the wrist he had broken the year before was still broken.  It was awesome staying with Kirt Voreis, Evan Turpen, Amado Stachenfeld and Travis Lucas, AllRide Academy’s awesome mechanic.

On race day, the race got postponed due to lightening and torrential downpour.  We all took shelter under the easy-ups and did shifts poking the pools out of the tops.  When the weather broke, the race resumed and AllRide made a great showing.

-GP