[downhill mike]

The Whiteface Mountain Bike Park will host their 7th Annual 5 K DH on June 16/17, 2012. This years 5K DH race is the 4th stop on the USA Cycling's Pro GRT schedule, and offers a $2,500.00 pro cash purse plus plenty of prizes for all amateur categories. Other gravity races that weekend include: the Bike Fest Dual Slalom ($15.00) and the Open Chainless Downhill race ($10.00).

All this takes place on our opening weekend at the bike park and coincides with the Wilmington/Whiteface Bike Fest. Bike Fest highlights include: The Kyle Ebbett and Friends Jump Jam, the Whiteface 100 (qualifier for the Leadville 100), free kids dual slalom race, Wilmington's Best Calves Contest, live music, Klunker Parade/contest (Brainless not Chainless) and the Whiteface Uphill Road Race.

For more details on the USA Cycling Pro GRT DH and the USA Cycling Bike Fest Dual Slalom race please visit: www.downhillmike.com

For more details on the Wilmington/Whiteface Bike Fest please visit:
http://www.bikewilmingtonny.com/

We hope you can join us for the historical biking weekend in the Adirondacks!

 

[downhill mike]

Here is the direct link for online registration:
http://www.active.com/cycling/wilmington-ny/7th-annual-whiteface-5-k-dh-pro-grt-2012
As of now there are 350 registered for the Whiteface 100 and over 100 for the uphill road race. If we can pull in roughly the same amount of racers as other races at Whiteface, it will show management there is a market for large gravity events too.
How come non gravity events charge so much and attract so many more racers?
Lake Placid Ironman = $600.00 or more.
Whiteface 100 = $175.00.

It would be nice and help our sport if downhill races would become more popular for other cyclists.
It seems as if 200 racers is a good number for a east coast race and maybe 300 or so out west.
Is this just in the U.S.A.? I think Canadian races pull in some good numbers too?

 

[Pegboy]

The amount of disposable income for the triathalete crowd is vastly different than the DHer crowd and when you throw in the Ironman status as well, it is not even as close as a comparison of apples and oranges.

 

[simontac]

DH Mike,

Do you know of lodging deals anywhere for this race?? I know there are some great stay and bike deals during the summer, but with this being a big event I fear these deals might not be available.

Any ideas.

 

[downhill mike]

There will be plenty of lodging deals. I have to wait till after the ski season before I approach every hotel and motel in Lake Placid and Wilmington. Shortly after that and well before the race, our web site will be fully updated with lodging for the downhiler to the triathlete budgets.
Expect budget rooms in the $50.00 neighborhood.
There will be Bike n Stay deals this year too for approx. $69.00 for room, breakfast and lift pass. Since lift passes are $40.00 per day that is quite a deal!

 

[downhill mike]

Okay, If this isn't the final Gravity Itinerary, it's real close!
June 15:
Opening day 9:00 – 3:30
Registration open from 3:00 – 9:00 pm
Kyle Ebbet & Friends Jump Jam from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

June 16:
Dual slalom race starts at noon right after the awards for the Uphill Road Race.
9:00 till 3:00: Open Practice DH
9:00 till 3:30 pm: Open for business
12:00 pm till 3:00 pm: Dual Slalom race
3:30 till 4:00 pm: Pro Seeding Run (dh)
4:15 pm: Dual Slalom Awards Ceremony

June 17:
8:00 till 3:30: Open for business
8:00 till 9:15 am: Open Practice
9:30 till 10:45 am: Category 2 and 3 dh race
11:00 till 2:00 pm: DH course closed for inspection.
(no bikes allowed on the course at this time)
2:00 till 3:00 pm: Category 1 and pros dh race
(any cat 2/3 riders racing in the WW100 will be allowed to race dh before the category 1 racers at approx. 2:00 pm.)
3:30 pm: Open Chainless DH race
4:15pm: Downhill Awards Ceremony

 

[downhill mike]

DS Course construction will start soon. I will post pictures as we build it. Also, look forward to a new 5K DH course never raced on before.

 

[General Lee]

So the Pro GRT and the US Grand Pix of MTB are hosting competing races about 2hrs apart in NY and VT on the same weekend?

 

[Huck Banzai]

So the Pro GRT and the US Grand Pix of MTB are hosting competing races about 2hrs apart in NY and VT on the same weekend?

Not good; GP is going to lose a lot of attendees, esp pro's to the GRT.

Were you racing both/either?

 

[downhill mike]

The Whiteface Pro GRT 5K DH Weekend (Wilmington/Whiteface Bike Fest) will have tons of cool stuff going on besides the big DH race.

Friday night between 6:00 and 8:00 pm is the Kyle Ebbett and Friends Jump Jam. This event takes place approx. 2 miles form Whiteface Mountain at the Wilmington DJ/Skills Park that Kyle built a few years ago.

This will be an open jam but have several featured pro athletes doing what they do best.
Kyle Ebbet: Dirt Jumps
Sam Perkins: Trials
Taylor Wright-Sanson: Mountain Unicylcist (this dude does back flips form his unicyle)!
Evil Elias: Pump Track (hoping for a surprise pro downhiller to chase Elias around for the crowd)

The Brainless not Chainless Race on Saturday night (Klunker Parade) will end at the town beach and have a barabecue and live music!

The Best Calves Contest will take place on Saturday night at Steinhoff's Pub. Judges will be Dave Wiens, last years winner and a few of the local ladies.
Show us Your Calves! More live music!

So much going on for our Bike Fest Weekend! A complete event itinerary will follow. All events have been scheduled so you can see and do everything if you want.

Now off to the mt. to help make this 1st ever 5K DH course the best it can be. Many new berms being added to this course (and most trails). It looks like we are going to start off our dh race on the Slickrock trail! Slickrock Trail is way bikers right,and many that have only raced here, have never seen that trail.
Slickrock to the stream crossing!

Both Giant and Cannondale will have their demo trucks at the festival with approx. 45 demo bikes each. These demos will be for the cross country trails only.

 

[downhill mike]

For immediate release: May 21, 2012

Downhill Mountain Bikers Gear up for the Whiteface 5K Downhill
Wilmington Whiteface Bike Fest June 14-17

WILMINGTON, N.Y. --- Many of the country’s top downhill Mountain Bikers will be racing for $2,500.00 in cash when they compete in Sunday’s, June 17, seventh annual Whiteface 5K Downhill being held at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, N.Y.

The event is the fifth stop on the Pro MTB Gravity Tour (Pro GRT).

“This race is the week before the Mont Ste. Ann (Quebec, Canada) and the Windham (N.Y.) World Cup races,” said the event’s organizer Mike Scheur, also known as “Downhill Mike.” “I’m anticipating that we should not only attract the best in the U.S., following the Pro GRT Tour, but some of the best in the world as well.”

While the top pros will be pursuing the cash purse, the top three places in all of the amateur categories will come away with prizes from participating sponsors.

Racers can register for the 5K downhill by logging onto www.downhillmike.com. The cost is $85 through June 11. The registration also includes a two-day lift pass to Whiteface Mountain.

The Whiteface Mountain bike park is scheduled to open for the summer season, Friday, June 15. A dual slalom race is slated for Saturday, June 16, with a free kids dual slalom event slated for noon.

The park has 27 diverse trails that range from hardcore expert only downhillers, to cruisers, to winding cross-country trails—something for every ability and riding style. Whiteface also has the greatest vertical drop in the east. Adult season passes through June 22 are just $299.

The Whiteface 5K Downhill is one of several events taking place on and around Whiteface and Wilmington during the second annual Wilmington Whiteface Bike Fest, June 14-17.

The bike fest begins Thursday, June 14, with a mountain bike instruction clinic for beginners, sponsored by High Peaks Cyclery. The event continues throughout the weekend and also includes bike stunts, jumps and tricks exhibitions, pro-trial demonstrations, a bike parade as well as plenty of music, food and family-free events.

Other highlights include the 11th annual Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race, Saturday, June 16, and the second annual Wilmington/Whiteface 100k (WW100), Sunday, June 17.

The 11-mile uphill race, which is a part of the BUMPS (Bike Up the Mountain Points Series) series, is slated to begin at 8 a.m. at Whiteface Mountain. Organizers expect as many as 400 cyclists for this event. Registration for the Uphill race is available at www.bikereg.com/Net/14909.

Sunday’s WW100 could draw as many as 1,000 cyclists to Wilmington. The 69-mile long race is the only Leadville Trail 100 (LT100) qualifier in the northeastern United States.

For more information about all of these events and the Wilmington Whiteface Bike Fest, log onto www.whitefaceregion.com.

 

[downhill mike]

Pictures and video coming on Monday. This new race course will be sick. Tons of berms, no service roads (except the sprint at the bottom) and almost all single-rack and/or slickrock. For this race, we have put together most riders two favorite trails at Whiteface.
FYI. Colorado has the most racers pre registered so far. Thanks Colorado!

 

[downhill mike]

Online Registration Closes on Tuesday at 9:00 pm est.

 

[downhill mike]

Event Itinerary
June 15:

Opening day 9:00 – 3:30 (open practice on the dh and the ds courses).

Registration open from 3:00 – 8:00 pm

Kyle Ebbet & Friends Jump Jam from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

June 16:

Registration open from 9:00 – 5:00 pm

9:00 till 10:30: Open Practice DS

9:00 till 3:00: Open Practice DH

11:00 am: USA Cycling Rider Meeting for Dual Slalom Race

11:00 till 11:30: Dual Slalom Seeding Run

12:00pm: Free Kids Dual Slalom Race (8 and under)

12:30 pm till 3:00 pm: Dual Slalom race

4:15 pm: Pro Seeding Run (dh)

5:00 pm: Dual Slalom Awards Ceremony

June 17:

7:30 am: USA Cycling Rider Meeting for Downhill Race

8:00 till 3:30: Open for business

8:00 till 9:15 am: Open Practice DH

9:30 till 10:45 am: Category 2 and 3 DH race

11:00 till 2:00 pm: DH course closed for riding.

(foot inspection only)

2:00 till 3:00 pm: Category 1 and pros dh race

(any cat 2/3 riders racing in the WW100 will be allowed to race dh before the category 1 racers at approx. 2:00 pm.)

3:30 pm: Open Chainless DH race

4:15 pm: Downhill Awards Ceremony

 

[downhill mike]

Timing at this years Whiteface Pro GRT 5K DH race will once again be performed by our friend Laszlo and the crew from Plattekill Mountain. Not only does Laz have tons of experience timing USAC races, but lots of Pro GRT experience too.

The Dual Slalom race is starting to fill up! And at only $15.00 to enter, it's no surprise!

This course looks so fun and diferent that it may be the 1st race at Whiteface that Elias or I race.

See ya at The Face!

 

[Downhillbiker23]

All signed up and ready to go! House is booked!
Racing the DH and DS this coming weekend!

Did you have a course preview of any sort?

 

[downhill mike]

I have been waiting and waiting for it. My plan "B" is to walk the course after work today with my camera and take pictures every 50 feet or so. Then either a slide show or gif. I plan on getting something up. It can be hard to build tons of new stuff and get it documented sometimes. I saw so much new work I was unaware of when raking some of the race course.
Oh, and thanks for pre registering!

 

[Jim Mac]

See you Friday, Mike!

 

[downhill mike]

To view race course video please follow this link:
http://www.downhillmike.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=352

 

[Jim Mac]

Mike, one question: where is the jump park located at? (Planning our weekend itinerary).

Here's the course vid:

 

[Smurfette]

That doesn't look like its 5K long .... and looks more like a super D / XC trail

Disappointing not going from top of little Whiteface....

 

[downhill mike]

The video must be misleading as this is the steepest part of the mountain. This course is so much fun that even Elias is considering racing it. 1st time he really wants to race on one of our courses too. Please do not bring a x-c or Super D bike!

We are going with 2 big races this season. One on this shorter course and the US/Canadian Open in September on the longer course. Please let us know how you like this course after you race on it. We think it will be very popular. We would never choose a shorter course if we didn't think it would be great!

 

[demo 9]

I might be missing it but I have to join active.com to register online? Hopefully this isnt true...

What is the direct link to register online

 

[downhill mike]

http://www.active.com/cycling/wilmington-ny/7th-annual-whiteface-5-k-dh-pro-grt-2012

You don't need to be a member with Active to join. I think you save 10 bucks if you do though. However, you only have 15 minutes left before online registration closes.

On site registration will be available on Friday from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on Saturday from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm for an additional 15 bucks.

The Kyle Ebbett & Friends Jump Jam is on Friday night from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

And thanks in advance for racing at Whiteface!

 

[downhill mike]

Online registration closed last night. Racers have registered from 12 different states, and it was no surprise that Logan Bingelli is racing the Whiteface Pro GRT. With a win Logan would take the # 1 spot away from Aaron Gwin. Jackie Harmony would also take over 1st place in the Womens Pro with a win. We are hoping that Lauren Daney will make an appearance to try to keep her # 1 spot. Joanna Petterson, Amber Price and Jill Kintner also have a chance to move up to or near the top spot. This years Pro GRT seems like a great race to the top with some great competition.
On site registration will be staffed from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday and again from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm on Sunday.

 

[downhill mike]

Kyle Ebbett just posted this to our Facebook Event Page:
"Okay the 5K DH race and the DS are going to be awesome! I'm also inviting everyone going to come join me this Friday at the Wilmington Dirt Jump/Pump Track for a fun late afternoon of jumping and pump track riding! It's a Jam! There will be lots of fun stuff going on! Free give-aways including and a new Scott Voltage 24" dirt jumper that will be awarded to one lucky person at the end of the day! This is a public jump spot! The jumps are progressive from small table top jumps to bigger gap jumps! And one heck of a pump track!"

 

[boogenman]

Is Gwinn gonna show up? He has to be in the North east next week anyways?

 

[PArider29]

Is Gwinn gonna show up? He has to be in the North east next week anyways?

Pretty sure Gwin is back home and the rest of the team is racing at Sugarbush MTBGP

 

[demo 9]

anybody got an pics or videos of the DS track?

 

[downhill mike]

Pretty sure Gwin is back home and the rest of the team is racing at Sugarbush MTBGP

That's too bad if it's correct. We are keeping our fingers crossed that Aaron can make this race.

To answer Jim mac's question. The Jump Park is right behind the Little Supermarket.

Are you racing PA Rider?

 

[Jim Mac]

So, where is the....oh never mind! See you Friday 3ish!

 

[downhill mike]

So, where is the....oh never mind! See you Friday 3ish!

The Jump Park is located directly behind the Little Supermarket in Wilmington, N.Y. No exact address for those that want to GPS the location.

Wilmington has 1 main road going through town and 1 supermarket. Plenty of signs and lots of activity happening at the DJ/Skills Park. It will be easy to find. There will also be free buses going throughout the town all weekend helping folks get around.

 

[downhill mike]

Results for Sunday's Pro GRT at Whiteface Mountain:
http://live-timing.com/race2.php?r=42567

Logan Binggeli and Jackie Harmony took over the # 1 spot for the USA Cycling Pro GRT!

A big thanks to all of the loyal USA Cycling racers for supporting our race and the Pro GRT Series!

Full promotions will begin later this week for the US/Canadian Open at Whiteface on 9-8/9, 2012. The US/Canadian Open at Whiteface will offer a $10,000.00 cash purse with 5K going to the pros and the other 5K going to the amateurs! For the US/Can Open we will use the big course and start at the top of Little Whiteface for a full 2,476' vertical descent.