MAIDEN VOYAGE Maxxis ESC Intense Cycles DH #1 – Powder Ridge, Connecticut

Intense Cycles DH racers rolled into Connecticut’s Powder Ridge for their first outing of the season this past weekend. With a solid mix of sharp rocks, slick roots and off-camber grass corners, Wild Turkey is the perfect warm up for the rest of the season. The shorter track here leaves no room for error and makes for incredibly tight racing, with several classes splitting the win by less than a second. Although there was some moisture in the air Saturday, showers held off on race day which is a welcomed change from last year. Judging by the 20+ year age gap on the Pro Men’s podium, our 15th season is going to be an entertaining one for both racers and spectators.

While many resorts further north are still working to clean up trails, we’re enjoying lift serviced riding. Thanks, trail crew and management!

These cool nights are perfect for campers to take advantage of the big fire pits Powder Ridge provides.

We’ve raced Wild Turkey many of times, but this year there’s a new finish with two grass corners. Consider this practice for Mount Snow.

It’s been a wet couple weeks in Connecticut, with more showers on Saturday. Moisture held off on race day, but there were slick spots as mud was tracked over the jagged rocks and sniper roots.

The next generation is here and they’re fast! The newly launched 8U Brat Class had their first race this weekend and Chase Ulmer took the win. Excited to see this class grow as kids bikes are more capable than ever, allowing them to start riding proper downhill earlier.

Squid lid at the first race of the year, but still stoked to be back between the tape.

Must be a new Tiktok dance.

Joey Pimentel started the year off as he finished 2023 in Killington, with a win. He would top the 12U Kate’s Kids class by just over four seconds.

First Amateur Female win for Karlyanne Siverling and a sizeable margin at 11.44 seconds.

14U class winner Mason Sharrow dips into the lush green forest.

First race in the Expert 19-29 class and Cole Miller puts it on top of the box with Marcos Terroba Rivero nipping at his heels, just 0.9s behind.

Trust your tires (and rim inserts).

When you see the ESC Speed Zone get off the brakes let it fly, as demonstrated by Devon Johnson.

Cam Lamson sent it over the rocks and earned his first Amateur 18U win in a stacked field of 27.

Do not use your brakes on these rocks.

Sebastian Estrada soars toward his first 30-39 Expert win, just 0.21s over Aaron Perry.

More crazy close racing in the Expert 16U class with Conor Hennessy narrowly edging out Carson Morgan by just 0.37s.

We added an Expert Female class this year, giving women a stepping stone instead of jumping straight from Amateur to Pro. Ariel Suprenant took the class’ inaugural win by a margin of 6.14s.

Flashbacks to 2023…this season will be drier, we promise.

Elbows up, eyes ahead. Jake Sowles on his way to second place in the Expert 18U class, exactly one second off the win.

Parker Downing is still recovering from having his appendix removed but he couldn’t resist racing. Apparently his doctor hooked him up with the F1 weight reduction package, he took the Expert 18U win with the 6th fastest time of the day overall.

Nearly 20 years into his race career, Jason Memmelaar is still keeping the youth honest. He would round out the Pro Mens top five, just 2.46s back.

Fresh off her first Pro Enduro win, Michelle Guy decided to step up to Pro in DH as well this weekend and ended up taking third.

Great start to the year for Sarah Hamlin, she would slot into second for her best Pro result to date.

No one could catch Mazie Hayden on this tight track, she would take the Pro women’s class W by nearly five seconds with a 1:56.77. She started a new team this year with GT and Wild Rye, and has got to be fired up to go 1-2 with teammate Sarah Hamlin.

Pro Women: 4th – Marlena Zajaczkowska, 2nd – Sarah Hamlin, 1st – Mazie Hayden, 3rd – Michelle Guy

Luca Catalano is one of several fast youngsters who stepped up to the Pro men’s class for 2024. It’s evident he put in work during the off-season, landing himself in third place among some fast company.

In one of the closest race finishes we’ve ever seen, first year Pro Nick Frazier gave it his all but fell just 0.09s short of the top step. Man, it’s going to be an amazing season of racing.

Our 2023 Intense DH champion certainly didn’t get any slower over the winter, Dylan Conte laid down a 1:36.54 to take P1 in the Pro men’s class.

Pro Men: 4th – Kory Nagy, 2nd – Nick Frazier, 1st – Dylan Conte, 3rd – Luca Catalano, 5th – Jason Memmelaar

So long Powder, we’ll be back in August for another Intense DH. We’ve got a couple weeks off but Stan’s Enduro racers will be back in action June 9th at Pennsylvania’s Glen Park, then June 23rd Jiminy Peak will host our first Thule Showdown weekend. Get registered, we’ll see you there!

Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: Seth Merritt

Full Results
Race Recap Podcast
Easternstatescup.com

2024 MAXXIS ESC PRESENTED BY KATE’S REAL FOOD SCHEDULE

INTENSE CYCLES DOWNHILL SERIES
May 19 Powder Ridge, CT
June 23 Jiminy Peak, MA
June 30 Killington, VT
July 21 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 11 Mount Snow, VT
Aug 18 Sugarloaf, ME
Aug 25 Powder Ridge, CT
Sept 15 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 22 Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 13 Jiminy Peak, MA Finals

STAN’S NO TUBES ENDURO SERIES
May 5 Powder Ridge, CT
June 9 Glen Park, PA
June 23 Jiminy Peak, MA
June 30 Killington, VT
July 14 Arrowhead, NH
July 21 Thunder Mountain, MA
July 28 Burke Mountain, VT
Aug 18 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 8 Woodstock, VT
Sept 22 Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 5 Monteau, NH
Oct 20 Arrowhead NH

THULE SHOWDOWN SERIES
June 23 Jiminy Peak, MA
June 30 Killington, VT
July 21 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 18 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 22 Thunder Mountain, MA

CANNONDALE EBIKE SERIES
May 5 Powder Ridge, CT
June 9 Glen Park, PA
July 14 Arrowhead, NH
July 21 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 18 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 8 Woodstock, VT
Sept 22 Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 5 Monteau, NH
Oct 20 Arrowhead NH