PORT ANGELES — Nearly 450 riders from all around the Pacific Northwest and Canada took on the downhill challenge at Dry Hill this weekend in the NW Cup Finals.
It was the seventh race in the NW Cup Series, with three races held this season at Dry Hill. There also were races at Snoqualmie Pass, Idaho and Montana. Racers came from as far away as Arkansas and Calgary, Alberta.
The top local finishers were a pair of Category 1 expert riders. James Gardner, riding in the Category 1 men’s 30-39 division, finished fourth with a time of 2 minutes, 50.13 seconds, while Oscar Ruiz finished seventh out of 15 riders at the Category 1 men’s 19-29 division with a time of 2:36.62.
Bell Bruno of Port Townsend was an impressive seventh out of 33 riders in the Category 2 (Intermediate) 15-16 boys division with a time of 2:52.29.
In the overall season standings, both Gardner and Ruiz finished fifth in their divisions, while Evan Hernandez of Port Angeles finished 12th this season in the Category 3 (Novice) 11-14 division.
A total of 30 professional riders competed in the finals. Aletha Ostgaard of Selah was the top pro women’s rider with a time of 2:32.42, while Carson Eiswald of Bellingham won the pro men’s race with a time of 2:15.17, just nipping Tobin Walker of Bellingham by 0.45 seconds.
A compelling battle among the pro men took place between Walker and Tor Weiland of Bellingham, who finished fourth Sunday.
With his points from Sunday’s race, Weiland finished with 373 season points. His fourth-place finish was good enough to just nip Walker, who finished with 372 points.
The pro women championship was won by Julia Lofqvist Traum of Issaquah with 447 points. She finished second Sunday to lock up the championship.
Sunday’s winners and local finishes
Category 3 (Novice)
Men
7 and under — Ryder Goodson, Issaquah, 4:14.50.
8-10 — Felix Thiel, Seattle, 3:42.38.
11-14 — Owen Myles, Burnaby, B.C., 3:34.10; Isaiah Nevill, PA, 15th, 3:55.60; Evan Hernandez, PA, 16th, 3:59.68.
15-18 — Samuel Moore, North Bend, 3:26.92.
19-39 — Chay Stojowski, East Wenatchee, 3:34.42; Jan Cagaid, PA, eighth, 4:00.15.
40-49 — Luke Shultz, Snohomish, 3:36.63; Anthony Hernandez, PA, 16th, 4:36.94.
50-59 — Chris Oberndorfer, Duvall, 3:39.77.
Men 60-plus: David Comeau, Snoqualmie, 4:09.76.
Women
10-under — Kaylin Hammer, Kirkland, 4:13.93.
11-14 — Lucy Mills, Battle Ground, 3:53.04.
15-18 — Haylee Angel, Sammamish, 3:56.33.
19-29 — Rachene Sinclair, Sweet Home, Ore., 4:15.33.
40-plus — Annie Barrett, Bellingham, 4:14.93; Jes Brittain, Port Townsend, seventh, 4:52.59.
Category 2 (Intermediate)
Men
12-under — Thomas Brown, Whistler, B.C., 2:55.26.
13-14 — Jake Stegall, Bentonville, Ark., 2:48.90.
15-16 — Rye Geiger, Seattle, 2:45.48; Bruno Bell, PT, seventh, 2:52.29.
17-18 — Jason He, Vancouver, B.C., 2:52.96.
19-29 — Zane Richey, Kent, 2:50.94.
30-39 — Jesse Sinclair, Sweet Home, Ore., 2:55.92.
40-49 — Keith Northrup, Kirkland, 2:56.32.
50-59 — Russell Skiver, Bellingham, 3:05.05.
60-plus — Ian Rudd, North Vancouver, B.C., 3:29.52.
Women
11-14 — Macy Hammer, Kirkland, 3:07.64.
15-18 — Allie Ward, Leavenworth, 3:06.55.
19-39 — Kirstyn Lucht, Yelm, 3:38.73.
40-plus — Christine Hack, Sedro-Woolley, 3:28.11.
Category 1 (Expert)
Men
16-under — Ryder Grissom, Seattle, 2:23.99.
17-18 — Bodie Mason, Kalispell, Mont., 2:18.70.
Men 19-29 — Riley Dowd, Stanwood, 2:25.81; Oscar Ruiz, PA, seventh, 2:36.62.
30-39 — Don Brockett, Sammamish, 2:28.00; James Gardner, PA, fourth, 2:50.13.
40-49 — Brandon Hintz, Seabeck, 2:29.59.
50-plus — Tige Eaken, Tacoma, 2:34.94.
Open — Ash Fierek, 2:38.45.
Women
18-under Kelly Swarens, Bellingham, 2:37.81.
19-39 — Talia Reynolds, Seattle, 3:48.83.
40-plus — Dawn Fidler, Sedro-Woolley, 3:20.0
Professional
Men — Carson Eiswald, Bellingham, first, 2:15.17; Tobin Walker Bellingham, second, 2:15.62; Jason Eiswald, Bellingham, third, 2:18.26.
Women — Aletha Ostgaard, Selah, first, 2:32.42; Julia Traum Lofqvist, Issaquah, second, 2:39.21; Taylor Ostgaard, Selah, third, 2:39.28.
