PORT ANGELES — More than 500 racers from all over the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia descended on Port Angeles this weekend for the return of the Northwest Cup downhill mountain bike races at Dry Hill just west of the city.
Racers from young novices to professionals took on the steep downhills and banked turns of Dry Hill. This is the opening race of the NW Cup series with the second weekend of races taking place May 17-19 at Dry Hill. The series will move on to bike parks in Idaho and Montana over the rest of the summer and will return to Port Angeles on Sept. 6-8 for the finals.
Some of the racers came from as far away as California, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Tennessee and even Quebec.
Sunday’s pro races were dominated by Canadians with B.C. racers taking nine out of the top 10 spots for the men and the top five spots for the women.
Winning the pro men’s race was Jakob Jewett of Squamish, B.C., in a time of 2 minutes, 26.51 seconds. Winning the pro women’s race was Andréane Lanthier Nadeau of Garibaldi Highland, B.C., in a time of 2:49.1.
There was a Port Angeles winner in the Category 2 (Intermediate) men’s 19-29 race. Ezra Northern won with a time of 2:53.69, just edging Talon Northern, also of Port Angeles, who came in second at 2:56.07.
While there were no local pro racers, a pair of locals raced in expert (Category 1) races. Oscar Ruiz of Port Angeles did well in the Category 1 men’s 19-29 race, coming in ninth in 2:26.36. James Gardner of Port Angeles finished 11th in the Category 1 men’s 20-30 in a time of 3:07.82.
In the Category 2 men’s 60-plus, Will Stevenson of Port Angeles came in third in 3:36.32, and Steve Johnson, also of Port Angeles, came in fourth at 3:38.81.
For full results, people can go online at: www.tinyurl.com/NWCup2024.
Top finishers in each category, with hometown, sponsor and time — plus Olympic Peninsula finishers — include:
Pro Men
Jakob Jewett, Squamish, BC, Pivot Factory Racing, first, 2:26.51; Lucas Cruz, Pemberton, BC, Norco Factory Team, second, 2:29.27; Mark Wallace, Duncan, BC, We Are One Momentum Project, third, 2:29.4.
Pro Women
Andréane Lanthier Nadeau, Garibaldi Highland, BC, Commencal X 7msh, first, 2:49.1; Emmy Land, Comox, BC, Forbidden Synthesis, second, 2:52.61; Miranda Miller, Squamish, BC, SRAM, 2:53.22.
Cat 1 Expert
Men
16 and younger — Luke Mallen, Sandy, Utah, Outlaw MTB/Commencal/Leatt, 2:33.73.
17-18 — Dylan Marino, Whistler, BC, Outlaw United, 2:32.8.
19-29 — Johnny Hunts, Eugene, Ore., Team Scraper, 2:52.46; Oscar Ruiz, PA, ninth, Samox, 2:56.36.
30-39 — Tom Power, Britannia Beach, BC, Rippers Lounge Racing, 2:43.75; James Gardner, PA, 11th, 3:07.82.
40-49 — Rob Davis, Squamish, BC, Rippers Lounge Racing, 2:39.93.
50 and older — Tige Eakin, Tacoma, Eakin Bros., 2:57.85.
Open — Derek Kidd, Lake Oswego, Ore., Cyclepath Gravity, 2:57.33.
Women
18 and younger — Aletha Ostgaard, Selah, 2:50.62.
19-39 — Liz Hildebrandt, Bellingh, Cyclepath Gravity, 3:24.01.
40 and older — Dawn Fidler, Sedro Woolley, SBR DBA Fanatik Hot Flashes, 3:36.93.
Category 2 Intermediate
Men
12 and younger — Skye Greene, North Vancouver, BC, Galbraith Gravity Racing, 2:56.49.
13-14 — Sawyer Mowbray, Enumclaw, Loam Lander/Smith Optics, 2:53.57; Ethan Barbre, PA, 12th, 3:13.39
15-16 — Quinn Warner, Duvall, Parasol Busines Services, 2:45.95; Ronan McGuire, PA, 14th, Sound Bikes & Kayaks, 2:58.82; Isaac Anderson, PA, 21st, 3:07.46.
17-18 — Parker Manzo, Seattle, Sweetlines Gravity Racing, 2:52.20; Win Jones, Sequim, 3:02.54; Finn Thompson, PA, Sound Bikes & Kayaks, 3:06.6.
19-29 — Ezra Northern, Port Angeles, 2:53.69; Talon Northern, PA, second, 2:56.07; Nicolas Rangel, PA, 11th, 3:23.12.
30-39 — Jure Poberaj, White Salmon, 2:52.47; Christian Goodwin, Port Townsend, eighth, 3:14.62; Peter Brazil, Chimacum, ninth, Addictive Adventure, 3:15.23.
40-49 — Kevin Doyle, Bellevue, 3:01.82.
50-59 — Russell Skiver, Bellingham, Cascade Racing Designs/GGR, 3:06.76.
60 and older — Ian Rudd, North Vancouver, BC, 3:30.63; Will Stevenson, PA, third, 3:36.32; Steven Johnson, PA, fourth, 3:38.81.
Women
11-14 — Cleo Brown, Bellingham, Galbraith Gravity, 3:23.12.
15-18 — Lily Artz, Kirland, Sweetlines, 3:10.97.
19-39 — Florence Mayrand, Port Moody, BC, 3:19.3.
40 and older — Brittany McKenna, Cumberland, BC, 3:34.02.
Category 3 Novice
Men
7 and younger — Ryder Goodson, Hood River, Ore., School of Send, 4:31.04.
8-10 — Carter Sinclair, Sweet Home, Ore., 3:56.27.
11-14 — Liam Schultz, Snohomish, Mission6ix Racings, Tim’s Bike Shop, 3:50.01; Isaiah Nevill, PA, fifth, 4:03.69.
15-18 — Jackson Lefler, Spokane, 3:43.85.
19-39 — Kolby Woodward, Marysville, GGR, 3:43.24.; Jan Cagale, PA, 4:07.36.
40-49 — Florian Thil, Seattle, Sweetlines BKR, 3:53.03; Anthony Hernandez, Port Angeles, 16th, 4:46.88.
50 and older — Brian Cromer, Seattle, Sweetlines BKR, 3:58.42.
Women
10 and younger — Millicent Zimmerman, Maple Valley, Commencal Dharco Smith, 4:30.07.
Age 11-14 — Cadence Sinclair, Sweet Home, Ore., 4:21.46.
15-18 — Gwen Pehowski, Leavenworth, 4:24.72.
19-39 — Katie Woodward, Black Diamond, 4:42.03.
40 and older — Judy Klein, Redmond, Sweetlines BKR, 4:32.34.
Cat 1 19-29 rider Jayce Winter of Arlington flies down the course Sunday at the NW Cup held at Dry Hill. More than 500 riders from several states and British Columbia of all ages competed in the three-day event. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
