07-21-12 us grav nationals pr

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For any further information please contact: Jay Schultz,[email protected], 734 787 5794, Media Manager Dirt Passion

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July 21, 2012 Dirt Passion Press Release

Day Three of the Best in the U.S. US Gravity National Championships

Well, day there is the in the books.. just one more day left and well determine who will wear the stars and

stripes on his or her left arm into 2013. The big news of the day (not to many people surprise) was, Aaron Gwin

qualified on top of the Mens field +5.45 secs in front of Luke Strobel. For the ladies it was Jackie Harmony taking

the top seeding position over Melissa Buhl by a blistering 12.54 sec. Of local SE region interest (hey, Dirt Passion is

based out of the Carolinas, we can be proud and let everybody know) local DHer Ethan Quehl of Grayson, GA and

was also the 2010 Junior National Champion, qualified fourth out of a field of 64. Congrats all round! Note: The

final qualified list has not yet been posted to the USAC website).

On to the details. Day Three started out pretty much just like Day Two. Overnight there was a steady rain on the

top of the mountain which lead to what we believe was thicker fog than previously. Riding the lift to the top we

could not see the lift house until, what felt like 50 feet. First up was the Cat 1 group practice which started in the

fog and ended in the sunlight as the fog burned off very quickly. By the time the Pros made the way to the course

for their two hour practice session the sun was a shining. As with Day Two, lots of time was spent dialing in thoselines one last time through the Rock Garden from HELL! Spending any amount of time there, one could tell that

riders did their homework the day before, smoothness and speed where definitely showing their faces today.


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12:45 p.m. rolled around and the current USAC recognized National Champion Logan Binggeli of KHS Factory

Racing was the first down the course, followed by the two TWR riders.. the current fastest man in the World

Aaron Gwin and his young team mate Neko Mullaly. After the field of 64 put in their best efforts, it would be Aaron

Gwin over the field. Ladies followed suite and it was Melissa Buhl smashing the field ahead nearly 13 secs.

With the DH runs done for the day, all attention turned to the old Beech tubing slope and the new/revised/longerDual Slalom course. With almost 6 hours of track time, kicking off with practice, running through amateur race

runs, and proceeding to the Pros race runs, in the end it would be Neko Mullaly of Trek World Racing edging out

Blake Carney for the Best in the US title for Dual Slalom. Congrats Neko!

Tomorrow is the BIG SHOW! First off will be the Juniors, Cat 1 50+ and Ladies 40+ at 10:15a.m., followed by the full

Cat 1 field at 11:15a.m., then the main event kicks off at 2:30p.m. Whos it gonna be? Place your bets!

Last minute addition the rain has again started to fall on the mountain (9:45 p.m.). Once again Beech has

delivered. Should make things interesting on race day.


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07-21-12 us grav nationals pr

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