2013 SoCal High School Mountain Bike Racing Series ROUND TWO
Carving Canyons, Riverside, CA
By Phil Beckman, PB Creative
Contact: Matt Gunnell, matt@socaldirt.org, (818) 415-1133, www.socaldirt.org
Full Results
Race report photo gallery with captions
Complete photo gallery from all races
Riverside, Calif. — The second round of the 2013 SoCal High School Cycling League season saw more slicing and dicing than Benihana’s on a Saturday night. “Carving Canyons” took place for the first time at Sycamore Canyon Park, where the nature of the course and perfect weather inspired some of the closest and fastest mountain bike racing ever witnessed at this level. Lap times were quick and the depth of the competition was unparalleled.
A new SoCal League rider attendance record was set for the second event in a row. A total of 355 student-athletes representing 36 teams took to the flowing, scenic trails at Sycamore, which were dust free and tacky thanks to a rainstorm just days before. With snow on the nearby mountaintops and springtime flowers blooming, the atmosphere was both electrified and idyllic.
“Feedback on the venue has been very positive and with panoramic views like that how could it not be,” stated Matt Gunnell, the Executive Director of the SoCal League.
“The level and depth of competition up and down every field this year is really incredible,” continued Gunnell. “There is no such thing as a ‘slow’ or ‘weak’ rider in the League. Regardless of where a rider finishes in their field it’s crystal clear that all teams have been working hard and that dedication and great coaching is paying off. These kids are all really strong!
“One thing I’ve started hearing more frequently from parents is that they have participated in other sports with their children and that high school mountain biking is the best experience they’ve had. I can’t say that is a universal feeling but there is something about mountain biking blended with the culture established many years ago in the NorCal League (which our program is based on) that just works. Our aim is to keep that culture alive and continue to build on it so that an ever increasing number of future high schoolers and their families will be able to tap into that magic,” Gunnell concluded.
Teams
After going winless during the first four years of the SoCal League, Yucaipa High School has now scored its second consecutive victory in the passionate Division 1 team competition (for squads with 12 or more riders). “We knew that the other teams were going to be gunning for us, and they did,” said Head Coach Mike Bagg. “But what’s really heartwarming is when the other coaches, who had seen our struggle during the last couple of years, come up and tell us it couldn’t happen to a better group. It’s just amazing. It shows how the D1 teams have such an intense respect for each other. It’s a fond admiration but also fiercely competitive.”
Woodcrest Christian and Murrieta Valley rounded out the top three in D1. The results at Sycamore reflect the 2013 season standings after two of five rounds, with Yucaipa leading Woodcrest and Murrieta Valley.
In Division 2, South Orange County Composite stepped up to claim its first win in the SoCal League, followed by round one winner Crescenta Valley and then Corona del Mar.
South OC Head Coach Brian Emter said, “Everybody is doing better and better each race. The riders are doing well and as a team we’re having a lot of fun.” Jamie Carrillo, the former Head Coach who is now assisting the team, added, “Basically all of our racers did exactly what their coaches asked, which was to do their best and have fun doing it. Winning just happened.”
In the D2 standings, Crescenta Valley is currently in front of South OC and Corona del Mar.
Varsity Boys
Much of the four-lap Varsity Boys race was a nose-to-tail free-for-all with up to a dozen riders in contention. Due to a bit of wind and the depth of talent in this field, it proved to be a tactical race. As eventual winner Shane Skelton (Independent) described it, “I pushed it pretty hard at the start and looked back and we had a group of nine or ten. Because of the wind it was really easy to catch a guy’s wheel and hold onto it.”
Skelton spent most of the first lap in front, Sean Bird (St. Francis) pulled much of the second, then Jarred Jordan (Murrieta) took over for the third lap. About halfway around Skelton decided it was time to break things up. An attack on a climb did just that. “On the last lap it was just me, Jarred [Jordan] and Lucas [Rowton],” said Skelton. “I attacked again on the last long climb and got a gap and held it steady. It was a solid day.” His fourth lap was the fastest of the event, at 18:30.
As Jordan put it, “It was the same as the last race. I knew Shane was going to put in a big effort, and he did. I was just trying to hold onto it.”
Alex Bagg (Yucaipa) came from behind to record his best Varsity finish yet in third place, followed by Wyatt Myers (Victor Valley) and Sammy Bello (Independent).
In the points, Skelton leads Jordan, Bagg, Rowton and Bello.
Varsity Girls
Hannah Rae Finchamp (Maranatha), who had won at the prestigious Escape from Alcatraz triathlon the weekend before, was again the top of this class. “It was a great race on a really fun course,” the reigning champion stated. “I felt good, got out fast and got a gap early. I just kept praying that I’d stay upright and strong; I think God was definitely with me today. I’m happy to be here. Each race I develop better and better friendships with all these girls, which is really fun.”
Enjoying her best finish ever was Morgan Zurborg (Woodcrest), who put in a strong last lap to come out on top of a race-long duel for second place with Emma Klingaman (Hemet). “This is our home course so we get to ride the trails here a lot,” said Zurborg. “My strategy for this race was a little different, to try to conserve more during the first two laps so I can really put it on for the third.”
Klingaman, who was fighting a cold, rounded out the top three, with Dalma Felenyi (Rim of the World) and Camila Fernandez (Eastlake) following.
Finchamp leads the standings ahead of Klingaman and Zurborg.
JV Boys Division 1
This was a nail-biter, with the top three duking it out all the way to a sprint finish. Michael Lansing (Woodcrest) was triumphant, just ahead of first round winner Imeh Nsek (Independent) and Randy Graham (Murrieta Valley). Reported Lansing: “We all took turns leading and it was close at the finish. Imeh put up a great fight towards the end, but he got caught in a little bit of lapped traffic going into the last turn. The inside line opened up and I took it. I got lucky. We’ve been training sprint finishes in practice but I’ve never put it into play in a race. I’m very excited about my first JV win.”
Lansing and Nsek are now tied at the top of the points table, with Brian Messner (Woodcrest), fourth today, rounding out the top three.
JV Boys Division 2
Did we mention there was close racing at Carving Canyons? This class was also a race-long three-way battle that went right down to the line. Sean Bell (El Toro) attacked on the last climb on the third and final lap, forcing Daniel Johnson (South OC) and James Pflughaupt (Corona del Mar) to chase. The capture was made within sight of the finish. Pflughaupt prevailed over Johnson and Bell, then stated, “I’m actually a sprinter in road cycling, so that’s my job; that’s where I excel. It was the three of us on the last lap at the last race too, and it’ll probably be this way the whole season.” This was the largest class of the day, with 67 competitors.
Pflughaupt holds the Leader Jersey, with Bell and Johnson tied for second in points.
JV Girls
Ema Suarez (Independent) is now two-for-two in her short high school mountain bike racing history, again winning JV Girls with a strong showing. And again it was three Hemet High riders in her wake: Alexis Marques, Hayleigh Kirkham and Arcelia Mercado finished 2-3-4.
“It was fun. I liked this course because it had more hills. It was more technical, and that’s good for me. Thanks to everyone again for making this happen,” said Suarez.
She remains on top of the points, while Kirkham and Marques share second place.
Sophomore Boys Division 1
Three consistently rapid laps gave Hayden Ramsey (Yucaipa) his second win of the year, but it wasn’t without some pressure. As he explained, “On the second lap I wasn’t too confident. Some of the other riders were looking strong and catching up, but I had the endurance and was able to pull ahead again. My teammate Dillon [Gamache] had a fantastic race too for second place. The whole team, we’re a family here. We all push each other and the coaches are so supportive.”
Evan Christenson-Meyer (Independent) completed the top three. The finishing order of this trio at Sycamore Canyon is their current order in series points as well.
Sophomore Boys Division 2
Caden Gruber (Corona del Mar) was somewhat bewildered with his performance at this event — even though he won for the first time in SoCal League racing. “It was pretty surprising, actually,” he commented. “I got fifth at the last race so I didn’t come into this one expecting too much. But things worked out, I guess. I had a little heavier warmup and got in with the front pack early, then eventually spaced myself out from everyone else.”
Gruber won by almost a minute ahead of first-round victor Alexander DeRoche (Crescenta); Oliver Stubbs (South OC) was third.
DeRoche keeps the Leader Jersey on his shoulders while Gruber moves up to second in points. Parker Maccianti (Santa Ynez), fifth at Sycamore, currently sits in third place.
Sophomore Girls
Despite a bout with the flu, Christina Mann (Yucaipa) was again a winner in Sophomore Girls. “I almost decided that I couldn’t race, but I got over it enough to where I could make it out here,” she said. “It affected me just a little on the uphills, but not too much.”
Kaitlin Washburn (Eastlake) rode off with the runner-up position again and maintains second place in points. Tia Moore had a notable ride for Yucaipa to finish in third place. Third in points is Dee-Anna Lopez (Crescenta), who finished fourth at Carving Canyons.
Freshman Boys Division 1
Jacob Jordan (Murrieta) has a perfect season going, but had to work for it this day. He and Kyle Legge (Newbury Park) went at it down the finishing stretch in yet another sprint finish, with Jordan getting the nod by just two seconds. “I grabbed a good gear and took off,” said Jordan. “That was my first sprint finish. It feels pretty good.”
Likewise, Patrick Liddy (Independent) went side-by-side with Bo Knickman (Newbury Park) in the final moments to claim third place.
In the point standings, it’s Jordan leading Liddy and Legge.
Freshman Boys Division 2
It’s now two straight for Jack Tucker (Corona del Mar) as well. “It was pretty good. I tried to suck wheel till the first climb, then put in a little effort and got a gap and took it from there.” He leads the point standings after two races, but says he’ll miss the next event in two weeks. A rider’s best four out of five results count for the championship, so he’s still in contention.
Evan Williams from the new Big Bear Composite team was second behind Tucker at this race and Mikael Rodgers (South OC) third.
Tucker is leading in points, followed by Nicolas Padilla (South OC) and Rodgers.
Freshman Girls
The result is the same, but the story is something completely different. Hannah Eckvahl (San Gabriel Valley) again won the Freshman Girls class, but this time had to come from way behind. As she tells it, “Right at the start I locked handlebars with the girl next to me and I fell. I was able to catch everybody and got back up front just past the halfway point of the first lap. It was hard. I had Rebecca Israel chasing me for the rest of the race but managed to make a gap by the end.” Eckvahl even had enough momentum to overtake the Sophomore Girls winner, who started five minutes ahead.
Eckvahl and Israel are 1-2 in the standings, followed by third place finisher at Sycamore, Brenna Pratt (Crescenta).
Upcoming series events:
March 24: Beach to Boulders, Lake Perris State Recreation Area, Perris
April 14: Cruise the Keys, Keyesville Special Recreation Management Area, Lake Isabella
May 5: Cow Pie Classic, SG Dirt Club, Los Olivos
May 19: State Championships, Stafford Lake Park, Marin County
About the SoCal High School Cycling League
The SoCal High School Cycling League was organized to provide a well-defined race season for youth racers and to promote the formation of teams at public and private high schools. With the cooperation of local race promoters and our sponsors, the League organizes a first class series of races designed for high school aged riders and is the easiest way for youth to get involved in the challenging and exciting world of competitive cycling. The League exists by virtue of a range of fundraising activities, as well as generous donors, and League sponsors including Jeep, Felt Bicycles founding national sponsor Specialized Bicycle Components; as well as establishing sponsors Easton Foundations, SRAM, and Trek Bicycles; major sponsors Sho-Air, JEEP, Clif Bar and Company, Primal Wear, QBP, Simplicity Bank, Kayo Clothing, Rock N’ Road Cyclery, Turner Bikes, Jax Bicycle Center, CamelBak, GU Sports, Kinetic, Maxxis, Orange Seal Cycling, Feedback Sports, Ft. Lewis College, Fox Racing Shox, and Ritchey Designs; and media partners Mountain Bike Action, Dirt Rag, and Cyclingnews. For more information on the League, visit www.socaldirt.org or contact Matt Gunnell at matt@socaldirt.org or (818) 415-1133.
