The Pinnacle Bike Championship is set to be something completely new for our sport. Ed took us through all the details a few weeks ago, but they’ve now released further information relating to the course.
Schedule
Friday September 19, 2014
| 08:00 AM – 06:00 PM | Pinnacle Expo Village |
| 08:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Free Practice 1 |
| 01:00 PM – 03:30 PM | Free Practice 2 |
| 04:00 PM – 05:30 PM | Qualifying Seeding Run |
Saturday September 20, 2014
| 08:00 AM – 05:00 PM | Pinnacle Expo Village |
| 08:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Free Practice 3 |
| 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Fan Fest in Pinnacle Expo Village – meet your favorite riders |
| 12:30 PM – 01:00 PM | Opening Ceremonies |
| 01:00 PM – 02:50 PM | Round 1 & Round 2 Races |
| 03:00 PM – 04:10 PM | Quarter Final & Semi Final Races |
| 04:30 PM – 05:00 PM | Finals Race & Podium Celebration |
Course Description
The Waterville Valley Resort is built on the face of Mt. Tecumseh, a 4,000 foot peak in the White Mountain National Forest. Racing will start from the top of the White Peak Express. The course brings riders up to speed quickly as they head 10 wide straight into Upper Bobby’s – named after regular Waterville Valley Resort skier and presidential candidate, Bobby Kennedy. This a 1/3 mile sector through natural undulating terrain and granite rock.
As the course completes Sector 1 it dives across to the top of the World Cup Triple Lift where 11 FIS Alpine races have been held. Sector 2 is where riders will see their first spectacular features with a 50’ ramp to ramp gap jump and 60’ ramp to natural dirt roller gap jump, linked together through high-speed corners.
If the riders thought those were testing their nerves, they better reign in their fears and be ready to conquer Utter Abandon. This is a black diamond ski run providing the steepest and rockiest terrain on the mountain. Riders will come into this sector with a lot of momentum as the crest the knoll and sweep into a breath-taking traverse. This starts a section of wide off-camber lines connected with multiple 180 degree corners and plenty of passing opportunities. At the end of Sector 3, as the athletes exit Utter Abandon the course reaches its most narrow section at only 20’ wide between two tree groupings.
Riders will launch through to The Chute into Sector 4 and careen off a 40’ natural drop driven by a wood ledge. Now the fun starts! If the drop wasn’t enough, the course speeds up into Exhibition requiring the riders to stay off the brakes as they can hit upwards of 60MPH side-by-side through the Speed Trap!
Here they go from their highest speeds to their lowest speeds under heavy braking to see who can leave it on the longest, into the Final Sector. Here the course gets back up to speed fast with steep drop-ins and rough corners leading up the grand daddy – a 70’ ramp to ramp gap jump for all the glory.
With only a couple last corners into the finish line, riders better be in position for one last pass to get the win! All gap jumps utilise wood ramp individual take-offs with space in between. Riders have to choose a line and if they chicken out or have a mechanical they can bail at the last minute and go in between, while sacrificing time.
Estimated Time: Under 3 minutes
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