LMC, Sugar
Resort host mountain bike nationals Oct. 24-26
Lees-McRae College and the Sugar Mountain Resort are hosting
the USA Cycling 2008 Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships
Oct. 24-26 on the campus of Lees-McRae College and at Sugar Mountain
Resort.
The first of the weekend events begins at 8 a.m. on Friday, Oct.
24, when the men compete in the cross country competition. Following
the men’s Division I and Division II races, the women’s
cross country events will begin at 11 a.m.
The cross country races take place at Lees-McRae’s five-mile
cross country loop filled with a variety of exciting challenges.
Plenty of technical climbing and descending will ensure a well-rounded
rider comes out on top in this race.
The best areas for spectators to watch the race will be in the
bleachers set up at the Mill Pond and along the road by the Mill
Pond. Parking for the cross country events will be available at
Lees-McRae’s athletic complex located on Hickory Nut Gap
Road in Banner Elk.
Practice for the downhill competition begins Friday, Oct. 24,
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sugar Mountain Resort with qualifying
for the race from 3 to 6 p.m.
Beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday is the short track competition,
located near the Lees-McRae softball field at the athletics complex
on Hickory Nut Gap Road. Division II women will compete at 8 a.m.,
followed by Division II men at 8:45 a.m.
Division I women will compete at 9:30 a.m. and Division I men
at10:15 a.m. The men’s B and Coaches’ race begin at
11:00 a.m. with the women’s B race to follow at 11:30 a.m.
At noon on Saturday, Lees-McRae College is sponsoring a kids’
short track bike race for children between the ages of five and
17. For additional information regarding the kids’ race,
contact Meghan Wright at (828) 898-8729.
The short track consists of a one mile long loop with a little
of everything from flat, open sections to a short climb. Open
spectator areas will be available in the middle of the course
on the lacrosse practice fields and in the woods along the course,
and bleachers will be set up at the finish. Parking for the short
track races will be available at Lees-McRae’s athletics complex.
The short track course is located near the softball field.
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, the downhill races for men and
women in Division I and II will begin at the Sugar Mountain Resort.
The downhill races are the only events not held on the campus
of Lees-McRae.
The downhill course at Sugar Mountain consists of a 1,200-foot
drop over a mile and a half of trail that includes turns in the
ski runs Donovan’s Drop and Lizard’s Lane, and the creek
jump to the finish line.
The best areas for spectators to catch the action of the downhill
races are the finish line and creek jump at the bottom of Lizard’s
Lane. Parking for the downhill competition is available at the
lodge at Sugar Mountain. Lift tickets for spectators are available
from the Sugar Mountain Resort.
Practice for the dual slalom events will take place from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. on Saturday on the dual slalom course near the lacrosse
practice fields at Lees-McRae’s athletics complex.
The weekend comes to a close on Sunday, Oct. 26, with the final
competition: the dual slalom. Qualifying will begin at 8 a.m.
and the dual slalom finals will take place afterwards.
A favorite of mountain bike spectators, the dual slalom is a head-to-head
competition down a manmade course usually with gated turns (much
like ski racing). The course usually has manmade obstacles, such
as berms, jumps, bumps and the occasional drop. One side of the
dual slalom course is cleared for spectators, and bleachers will
be set up at the finish line.
The awards ceremony will follow the final dual slalom competition
at the athletics facilities.
Top Lees-McRae riders to watch in the cross country and short
track competitions are Scott Stewart, a senior of Oxford, Mich.;
Brad Perley, a sophomore from Kennebunk, Maine; Niki Dallaire,
a senior from Louisville, Ky.; Carla Swart, junior from Buford,
Ga.; and Ally Stacher, a junior from Etna, Calif. Top downhill
and dual slalom riders are Aaron Bradford, a senior of Auburn,
Wash.; and Ben Hulse, a sophomore of Mooresville. Four riders
will be racing in all four events and competing for the overall
omnium titles; Kristi Henne of Plainview, Ark., Swart, Stacher
and Bradford.
Lees-McRae College, which finished on top of the USA Cycling Collegiate
National Rankings in Division I for the entire 2006-07 season
and second by a mere point in 2007-08, is a favorite for the Collegiate
Mountain Bike Nationals. Other favorites (Div. I & II) to
watch during the competition are Fort Lewis College of Durango,
Colo.; University of Colorado at Boulder; Lindsey Wilson College
of Columbia, Ky.; Warren Wilson College of Swannanoa; and Colorado
State University.
“Lees-McRae College has been given the honor, and even more
so, the responsibility for hosting a National Championship for
the most elite collegiate cyclists in the country for the second
year running. Our expectations are that we will again offer them
a first class event with demanding courses,” said Ried Estus,
Lees-McRae College athletic director. “The college is very
appreciative of the cooperation we’re receiving from the
towns of Sugar Mountain and Banner Elk. We couldn’t pull
this off without their logistical support and their contributions
of resources.”
Sponsors for the USA Cycling 2008 Collegiate Mountain Bike National
Championships are the town of Banner Elk, USA Cycling, Sugar Ski
& Country Club, Woodlands BBQ and Dereka’s Sugar Mountain
Accommodations & Realty.
Brian Sheedy, Lees-McRae College Cycling Coach, is the organizer
of the race. For additional information, contact Meghan Wright,
associate director of communications, at (828) 898-8729 or visit
www.ncca.lmc.edu.
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