Race report: POC Eastern States Cup at Killington Resort
The POC Eastern States Cup Enduro Series held it’s fifth and final race of the season this past weekend at Killington Resort in Vermont. The series finals were the second time the series visited Killington in 2013. The event offered over $5000 Cash and $3000 in product prizing, while the series offered a total of over $30,000 cash/prizes across the 5 enduro events.
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It was a perfect weekend in Vermont for the racers. Hopes were high on a good finish on the longest course of the ESC Enduro Season. Killington with its massive terrain covering 5 mountains is a great venue for Enduro racing. The course included high-speed traverses, steep rock gardens and trails that flowed thru gladed areas. The average race time on the 5 section course was a whopping 36 minutes. The high-speed gondola helped keep the overall racing time to a manageable and fun 2.5 hours. The ESC made a good choice having two races at “The Beast”.
The ESC Enduros were very well organized. Each race started with a riders meeting to explain the rules, timing system and info on lift usage and the FOX DOSS Seatpost timed climb. The Series used the Sport Ident chip timing system. The flexibility of the system allowed for racers to proceed at their own pace and ride with friends and spouses. The timing system was flawless, calculating over 2000 section times this summer, something most enduros have not been able to achieve. The reasonable entry fees ($50/55), perfect timing and great courses kept the racers happy all season.
Newlyweds Felicia and Ernie Reale raced all five ESC Enduros this year. After battling numerous vehicle breakdowns, Ernie finally sprung for a new car in order to make it to the finals. Good thing they made it, as they both finished second in their class for the series, Felicia also won some Cash in the FOX Enduro Challenge. Longtime ESC supporters they also make it to all the DH events and usually end up on the podium there too.
There were a lot of Downhill racers that tried racing the ESC Enduro Series this summer. They had great success, like Sue Clifford that finished a strong Second Place in the Women’s Pro/Open division for the series. In the men’s Pro Division downhill specialist Jason Scheiding chased the reigning USAC XC single speed and Super D national Champion; Seamus Powell all season. Jason finished in second for the overall.
POC, Intense Cycles, FOX e*thirteen and Loeka all took a chance on a new discipline and series. FOX really pumped things up with the $1000 FOX Enduro Challenge for amateur racers and the FOX DOSS Seatpost Timed Climb at every series race. The venues and sponsors were rewarded with great attendance and exposure for their parks and products. It was important for the ESC to get things right, it was the first enduro series on the east coast and the only USAC permitted Enduro Series ever. Not only did they achieve that goal but set a very high standard for other enduro promoters to follow. The series offered great prizes a ton of money and managed to keep the entry fee’s very affordable
Taking home $1000, $500 and $300 were the top three Pro/Open POC ESC Enduro Champions: Seamus Powell, Jason Scheiding and Matt Sebas. Scheiding trailed Powell by 9 points coming into the finals. Despite a great effort and a second place finish in the race he Still couldn’t catch Powell as Seamus powered to his 4th ESC Enduro victory. All three pro men podium finishers had planned on doing just one Enduro race this summer. Like most ESC Enduro racers they were hooked on racing 5 sections during the events. The series in poised to grow tremendously in the future.
Allison Zimmer took the Pro/Open Womens division, even after missing a race to attend an Enduro World Series and a UCI World Cup Downhill. Not bad for a mom and certainly a racer to keep an eye on in 2014. Sue Clifford and Eva Wilson finished second and third even though Eva missed the final race. Eva’s dad took home a second place series finish in the Men’s 50+ Class.
The timing, registration, USAC Official and what ever else needed to be done ESC enduro kingpins; Erin Duffy and Steve Battaglini did a great job. Along with George Ulmer, enduro trail guru Jimmy Stoddard and many others that volunteered their time to make the series a success. Safe to say without them the ESC Enduro Series would not exist. Please give them a high five when you get a chance.
The ESC announced that the 2014 version of the POC ESC Enduro Series will be bigger, better and richer. Those are really high goals but after this season it seems likely the ESC will be able to deliver.
More info & registration: easternstatescup.com
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