Racing

Race Report: California Enduro Series #3 – Northstar Livewire

11.09.2014
by

Round #3 of the 2014 California Enduro Series took place on Saturday, August 30 at Northstar California Resort in Truckee. Running the day before the wildly popular Livewire Classic (final event of the Northstar Downhill Mountain Bike Race Series), the Livewire Classic Enduro capped off Northstar’s 2014 Enduro Bike Race Series and drew over 230 racers.

Pictures by: Scott McClain Called To Creation, Bogdan Marian, Mary DiNapoli

The 19 mile course featured 3 timed stages on a variety of high Sierra terrain, with 2900′ of descending and a hefty portion of pedaling. Stage 1 took place on Livewire, Northstar’s premier jump trail. Stage 2 was a 5 mile grinder with a lot of flattish pedaling and a lung searing fire road climb to the finish for a little extra kick.

Stage 3 featured fast, flowy trail with g’d out berms, jumps, and two long and low senders into the finish. Notably absent from the race course was any of the steep, super tech rocky terrain that Northstar is known for. Though the course was a bit controversial, most racers agreed that it was a good day on the bike.

The next stop for the California Enduro Series will take place at Mammoth Mountain as part of the Kamikaze Bike Games (September 18-21), marking the third straight stop in the high Sierra. The Santa Cruz Super Enduro at Soquel Demonstration State Forest (October 10-12) will round off the 2014 season.

Rider registration
Rider registration
A good day for a bike race
A good day for a bike race
Over 230 competitors raring to go
Over 230 competitors raring to go
Amy Morrison is stoked to take on the day
Amy Morrison is stoked to take on the day
And it’s up we go
And it’s up we go
Marco Osborne sending it long and low to a 1st place pro men finish
Marco Osborne sending it long and low to a 1st place pro men finish
Jackie Swider gave it her all… all the way to the top step on the pro women podium
Jackie Swider gave it her all… all the way to the top step on the pro women podium
Christian Ferrone (Team Giant Bike-n-Bean)
Christian Ferrone (Team Giant Bike-n-Bean)
Northstar athlete Karin Edwards brought it all the way to 1st place in the expert women category
Northstar athlete Karin Edwards brought it all the way to 1st place in the expert women category
Senders.
Senders.
Zachary Bodeman (Santa Cruz Junior Composite) was one of many talented juniors out on the Northstar course
Zachary Bodeman (Santa Cruz Junior Composite) was one of many talented juniors out on the Northstar course
Doug Thayer fast and flowy to a 2nd place pro men finish
Doug Thayer fast and flowy to a 2nd place pro men finish
Liz Miller on her game as always. That intense focus saw her all the way to 3rd place on the expert women podium
Liz Miller on her game as always. That intense focus saw her all the way to 3rd place on the expert women podium
Fred Stamm charges the course
Fred Stamm charges the course
Determined and focused, Ryan Simonovich put in a stellar effort in a packed juniors class

Determined and focused, Ryan Simonovich put in a stellar effort in a packed juniors class
Myles Lucas kicks out some steaze
Myles Lucas kicks out some steaze
Sender after sender into the finish
Sender after sender into the finish
Just thinking about stage 2’s lung searing fire road climb did Bushido in
Just thinking about stage 2’s lung searing fire road climb did Bushido in
.

Epic schwag toss
Epic schwag toss
Pro Women’s Podium. 1 - Jackie Swider (Art’s Cyclery / Dirty Jane) 2 - Lauren Gregg (FOX) 3 - Christine Hirst (CycleWorld)
Pro Women’s Podium.
1 – Jackie Swider (Art’s Cyclery / Dirty Jane)
2 – Lauren Gregg (FOX)
3 – Christine Hirst (CycleWorld)
Pro Men’s Podium. 1 - Marco Osborne (Cannondale) 2 - Doug Thayer (Cyclepaths) 3 - Tom Doran (Santa Cruz, Royal Racing)
Pro Men’s Podium.
1 – Marco Osborne (Cannondale)
2 – Doug Thayer (Cyclepaths)
3 – Tom Doran (Santa Cruz, Royal Racing)

Words: Michele Lamelin | Pictures: Scott McClain Called To Creation, Bogdan Marian, Mary DiNapoli

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