Race Report: 2024 Race #2 // Dry Hill
Sunshine and Speed: A Perfect Weekend in Port Angeles
Dry Hill Bike Park, May 17-19, 2024 – While Poland took its fair share of round one talent overseas, a stacked cast took to the Northwest for perfect conditions at Dry Hill Bike Park. The second round of the NW Cup in Port Angeles delivered another solid weekend of downhill racing to remember with nearly 550 in the mix overall, and it was speed and style from top to bottom.
The Pros Brought the heat
The weekend was full of memorable highlights, starting with impressive victories in the Pro categories. Henry Sherry and Bailey Goldstone both clinched their first NWC wins of the season, with Bailey sporting a special 50th-anniversary front fork by Fox that might have added a touch of golden luck to her performance.
The young talent was also on display, with CAT 1 Men 17-18's Etan Bravard finishing less than 4 seconds behind the fastest Pro Men time. Aletha Ostgaard dominated the CAT 1 18U category and is expected to move up to Pro Women in the next race.
Unfortunately, the weekend wasn't without its spills. Noakea Bean from CAT 2 Men 17-18 and Elias Saarela from CAT 1 Men 17-18 both suffered crashes, with Elias requiring hospitalization. We wish them both speedy recoveries.
A Classic Revamped
While fans would expect nothing less, ‘Always Sunny PA’ lived up to its reputation with perfect temps for racing. With a few perfectly timed sprinkles and ample traction to be found, Sunday's race day saw racers pushing their limits on a course revamped with fresh reroutes and modifications aimed at increasing speed.
Going Full Squish
The course at Dry Hill returned to a beloved classic but with new reroutes and mods. High speeds were the name of the game, with thrilling step-downs, jumps, and the standout feature—the mandatory hip on Braeburn. Riders were absolutely hucking over 70 feet from take-off, and the unofficial long jump competition saw Harrison Ory soaring a total of 102 feet over two jumps. Some called this weekend's tracks the fastest, rowdiest, and funnest flow they’ve had in a minute; a true salute to the builders at Dry Hill.
Overall Pro Men:
Henry Sherry - Victoria, BC - 00:02:22.46
Bode Burke - Rhododendron, OR - 00:02:22.52
Zac Stratton - Pemberton, BC - 00:02:23.09
Carson Eiswald - Bellingham, WA - 00:02:23.12
Tobin Walker - Leavenworth, WA - 00:02:24.12
Overall Pro Women:
Bailey Goldstone - Victoria, BC - 00:02:45.65
Julia Lofqvist Traum - Issaquah, WA - 00:02:50.02
Sydney Haberman - Redmond, WA 00:02:51.13
Ella Erickson - Hayden, ID - 00:02:52.42
Kerstin Holster - Bellingham, WA - 00:03:06.97
Looking Ahead
The atmosphere at Dry Hill was electric. With supporters, riders, and teams filling the park from morning till evening, the weekend was one for the books. Energy was peaking at the Braeburn hip, where fans lined the landing strip to watch riders buzz the branches and send it flying over 70 feet into a quick right hander. The scene over the weekend was a testament to the passion and camaraderie shared within the NW Cup community.
The NW Cup’s momentum is undeniable, with race registration spots filling up faster than ever. The next rounds promise more of the same:
Race 3: Tamarack Resort - Tamarack, ID | 6/21 - 6/23 (REGISTER NOW)
Race 4: Whitefish Resort - Whitefish, MT | 6/28 - 6/30 (REGISTER NOW)
As we gear up for back-to-back weekends with two rider favorite locations, the stoke for the 2024 NW Cup continues to build. Stay tuned for more.
Words by Thayne Palmer
Drink From The Cup.
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