The 2013 Downieville Classic has come and gone and still remains my favorite race of the year. This year I raced Cross Country at the 13-18 Sport level, and killed it coming in first place four minutes ahead of second place with a time of 2:28:55! For those of you that are not familiar with the Downieville Classic this race is 100% nonstop brutality for 29 miles, this coarse features 4,100 feet of climbing and over 5,000 feet of descending. The Cross Country race starts in Sierra City and climbs 3,000 vertical feet to the top of the Sierra Buttes at Packer Saddle. Known as the "Trail of Tears" this climb is steep and very lose in sections.
Once at the saddle racers descend Sunrise Trail, a "flowy" roller coaster of singletrack that meets Gold Valley Road. This section of the course is the only part I dread although a place to rest it is also an ideal place to embrace the pain and put in some good sprints. Somewhere in the middle I was given a high-five by a guy in a evening jacket wearing a disco ball on his head! After a few miles of rolling dirt road the course goes downhill through the 'baby heads' a lose sketchy descent to Pauley Creek. Unfortunately I was not able to take this section as fast as I did in practice do to other racers holding me back, but at least I made it down safe and mechanical free. After this a 25+ foot creek crossing awaits across Pauley Creek. Then there is Pauley Creek Trail a fast, long, rocky, wet, and root filled downhill with short tricky uphill punches. This trail meets the last section of Butcher Ranch Trail, here I was able to pass a few other racers and was in my element. I took the last section of Butcher fast and made it up the 700ft climb at a good pace and without wasting to much energy. A spectator in a giant bird suit got me stoked to shred Third Divide! I was in luck and had Third Divide Trail all to my self and let the breaks off and had a fast run down this insane piece of singletrack paradise. At the bottom you are greeted with a few miles of fast dirt road to the First Divide Trail. First Divided is never kind at this point in the race, the short uphills seem never ending and the flats are just as painful. After a road crossing the final section of First Divide brings you to the streets of Downieville with one more painful sprint I finally crossed the Cliff Bar arch and was done with the race!
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| IBIS Mojo HD! |
After my race I enjoyed a free spaghetti meal and checked out all the wonderful booths of the sponsors of the Classic. As well as watching the annual river jump contest!!!
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| River Jump! |
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| Liam Ruff, Larry Sussman, and Jet Lowe. |
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| Nate Byrom, Liam Ruff, and Mark Weir. |
Big thanks to Nate Byrom from WTB for getting me some Frequency i23 wheels for the race. They held up awesomely, and were super fast!
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| IBIS Ripley 29er |
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| Santa Cruz V-10 Carbon DH Race Bike |
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A racer starting up the Sunrise Trail in the DH race on Sunday.
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The following day is the Downhill Race on the famous "Downieville Downhill". Racers who want to compete in the downhill race must be part of the All Mountain Category and are required to race the Cross Country Race on the same bike!
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| On the top! |
The Sport 13-18 Men Podium Larry Sussman in forth, in third, Nelson Bedient in second, and Liam Ruff in first! Congratulations to all the racers and thanks to all the wonderful people who make this unique and epic event possible. Looking forward to next year!
