Wish Devo U19er Gaylen Blair a speedy recovery as he rests up from a broken collarbone suffered at practice last week. Gaylen was riding the Overend Park Powerline Trail and lost traction around a corner and smashed down on his left shoulder. He will be missed at practice the next 4-6 weeks.
Devo Coaches and friends; Annie 25:28, Chad 18:02, 18:11, Sarah 20:45, 20:09, Taylor 17:54, Mint 18:59, Brendan 16:40, Elke 25:28, Paul 19:54, Colton 21:46, Jacob 19:50, Anthony 19:52
U19 Boys; Sepp 16:11, Levi 17:35, Gino 17:43, Stephan 18:11, Nate 21:25, Gaylen 20:03, Christopher 18:30, Nan0 23:46
U19 Girls; Robin 30:22 and 33:18, Kaylee 21:51
U14 Boys; Keenan 21:38, Kieran 28:10, Dylan 24:30, Charlie 20:27, Derek 26:39, River 22:58, Will 20:36, Chase 29:23, Devin 23:36, Shane 29:43
U14 Girls; Marit 30:26, Katia 31:23, Lacy 39:12, Sierra 29:35
RMCF Sweet Elite; Howard 14:34 (new world record,) Teal 19:53
Devo Coaches and friends; Annie 25:57, Chad 19:43, Taylor 18:59, Sarah 22:28, Elke 25:39, Mint 18:04, Brendan 20:12, Ben S. 14:50, Jesse D. 17:05, Dylan S. 18:18, Trevor D. 18:04, Miguel R. 18:57.
For the fourth year, the Durango Devo athletes headed to US MTB mecca, Fruita Colorado for the Mountain States Cup’s Rabbit Valley Rally. It was Devo first team race of the season, this being a weekend of racing once a month where Devo coaches are in attendance to help pre-ride race courses and coach throughout. 30 Devo athletes from JrDevo, U14, U19 and the new RMCF Sweet Elite team all camped together with family and friends in a gravel parking lot, just east of Rabbit Valley recreation site.
After a great friday night of course prerides, chocolate eating and campfires, the team took to the first event, the 20 minute long time trial. The course was a rolling 4-Wheeler track at first, climbing up to the book shelf cliffs, it then took to a moto track that meandered along the cliff’s until it topped out. From there it was a technical, rolling, moto-turny downhill that had everybody talking at the finish line. The final mile was like the Road Apple Course, but no sand and better whoops. The Devo team put a stamp on day 1 with every category we entered, junior to pro, and winner from Devo. Cat 1 15-18 and Sweet Elite team member Howard Grotts took the fastest time of the day, even besting teammate Tad Elliott, who won the pro men category! Alicia Rose Pastore won the Cat 1 girls, Stephan Davoust won the Cat 2 boys, Camryn Sippy won the Junior Girls Under 14 and Chris Blevins won the Junior Under 14 boys. Oh yeah, and Team Stetson-Lee won the Pro Women as well! What a day for Devo.
After the mornings racing, all the tried team-members gathered around the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory/Devo Sweet Elite Team Trailer and ate more chocolate before heading out on a cross country course preride. It was a mellow affair as they all just rolled along at chit-chat pace. No real agenda other than to have a good time and not get to dehydrated. That night the team rolled into the town of Fruita for awards and a pizza party and the Hot Tomato Pizzaria. More campfire, more sillyness and then bedtime a little earlier than the previous night.
Sunday morning came quick as the young guys and gals had an early start of 8am. Coach Chad and Annie took the crew out on the chilly warm-ups and the gang was on the start line in time. Chris Blevins was the first finisher as he easily won the Under 14 boys race. Then it was like a Devo practice as his teammates came rolling in right after him, with Charlie Greenberg, Will Berger, Kennen Desplanques, Derek Pansze and Devin Feilen following him in for a clean sweep! The Under 14 Girls took 2-4th as the defending xc national champ Ksenia Lepikena from Boulder, proved her worth. Cameryn Sippy, Sierra Trout and Ellie Feilen were 2-4th. Stephan Davoust and Levi Kurlander took 2nd and 3rd in the Cat 2 Boys with new Devo athlete, 17 year old Galen Blair taking 10th in his first race with Devo. Then Henry Larson, Andrew Cunninham and Owen Wertz took 4,5 and 7th in the Cat 3 boys. Devo parents are jumping into the action with Field Blevins, Bob Davoust, Curt Blair and board member Rich Larson all taking the line and finishing well. Blevins took second in his Cat 2 age group!
In the Cat 1 races, Alicia Rose Pastore, U14 girls assistant coach and RMCF Sweet Elite Team member, took a super easy win in the 15-18 girls, for her 3rd win in as many tries at the event. Then in the boys, it was Howard Grotts doing battle with fellow age group national champion, Keegan Swenson. In the end Keegan dropped Howard on the power course and rolled to the line with the win. Next it was Sepp Kuss and Gino Pastore in 4th and 5th. Haakon Sigerslid rolled in in 7th and Elliott Saslow walked his bike across the line for the second consecutive year to take 9th place.
In the Pro categories, Teal Stetson-Lee won her first xc race with her new Sweet Elite Team. Congrats as well to teammate Sage Wilderman who stayed behind to graduate from Fort Lewis College. The men were led by Colton Anderson’s 2nd place finish on the techy power course. Teammate Tad Elliott wound up in 8th place after a hard fought battle on the front of the race.
All in all, it was a great weekend of racing and the theme would of had to of been teamwork. It was great to see all the different age groups and categories riding and playing together. We’ve got a special thing going, thats for sure!
U19 ladies flex their gastrocnemiuses with Coach Elke Brutsaert
Breaking out of prison is easy, just ask India and Robin
U19ers India and Robin work on perfecting the wheel
As the U19 Ladies team awaits their Track practice absent teammates, they took the time to honot the WIllow clothing donation of last week with a super sweet Willow Koerber tribute photo shoot. Good luck in the World Cups this year Willow and have tons of fun!
Coach Elke and her U19 gals hold their bounty after Willow Koerber hooked it up with a box of last years Gary Fisher clothing everything. Robin and India scored big time and they even saved some for their teammates. Sorry fellas, this stuff was for the girls only!
The U19 team posses after the game at FLC, final score 14-7. Coach Brendan caught a touchdown pass from Andrew as time expired, unfortunately it was not enough as they lost by a touchdown.
The 2011 Durango Devo team issue kits are soon to arrive. Same classic Devo design with a few subtle changes. Thanks to Drew at Boure and Voller for making it fun and easy!
It’s that time! U14/U19 meeting is at the rec center Tuesday Feb 22nd from 7-8 pm
Registration is 100% online this season…yahoooo!
Want to talk with your coaches? Give em a shout to talk about the up-coming season U14 Girls Annie Cheeney 764-5758 annie@durangodevo.com (assistant coaches are Alicia Pastore and Jess Reed)
Rides are 4-6 on Mondays and Wednesdays U14 Boys Chad Cheeney 764-5909 chad@durangodevo.com (assistant coach is Mint Henk)
Rides are 4-6 on Mondays and Wednesdays U19 Girls Elke Brutsaert 749-2946 elkebrutsaert@gmail.com (assistant coach Sarah T, with guest coaches Teal Stenson-Lee and Jen Gersbach)
Rides are 4:15-6:15 Tues, Thurs, and Fridays U19 Boys Chad Cheeney 764-5909 chad@durangodevo.com (assistant coach is Brendan Shafer)
Rides are 4:15-6:15 Tues, Thurs, and Fridays
Check out the pre-season at the Hub, Friday TT on Telegraph and summer short track series!
New this season: Devo Explorer’s Club for ages 11-18 led by John Bailey. Learn how to build a bike and use it as a tool for exploring, skill development, and non-competitive fun! Session ends with a tour/camping trip with panniers leaving from downtown Durango.
Rides are 4-6 Tuesdays
Races take place every wednesday evening at the Factory Trails on the FLC Campus, Durango BMX or Durango Mountain Resort for 11 weeks. There will be a B men/women race at 5:30pm at a duration of 20 minutes. A kids race will begin at 6pm and the A men and women will race at 6:30pm. Each race will be scored in an overall results format, with men and women being separated. Juniors will be lumped in with the overall results and age will be noted next to their placing. It will not be scored as an overall points series.
Small money primes will be awarded throughout the series depending on racer turnout. This is a Durango DEVO fundraising effort.
This past weekend the Durango DEVO U14 and 19 teams headed over Wolf Creek pass, with dark clouds looming in the distance to take on the Mountain States Cup round 2, Chalk Creek Stampede. On friday 45 parents, athletes and coaches took temporary residence at the campground across the street and sat in cars, under rain tarps and pop up tents and weathered out the storm.
Missing the race course prerides due to the cold rain, the team woke up saturday morning to snow, and prepared for the first event, the Super D, by getting in a quick early preride of the mostly flat course in the hour before the competition. Coach Chad was the first Devo to go and finished in 18th place in the pro field, followed by Director Sarah Tescher with a 7th place. Later in the junior race, Gino Pastore placed a time that beat his coaches, while passing 5 juniors i the tight twisty course, to place 1st in the juniors. Teammates Elliott Saslow, Sepp Kuss and Levi Kurlander finished 2-4th. DEVO riders then placed 7th through 13th, taking up most of the field. James Shahan, Henry larson, Chase Seivert, George McQuinn, Charlie Malone, Cole Mystrom and Shane Ellis in the mix.
The skies had finally began to warm after the Super D for the Short Track and Dual Slalom races. Early on it was Stephan Davoust taking the Dual Slalom win in the Cat 3 15-18 boys. His consistent and safe riding style kept him moving on through the rounds on the fast track. The short track took place on a short 1 mile course, that had been harrowed into the ground by a tractor one year earlier, it was nothing special, but offered suffering and passing lanes, 2 short track staples. Victories were had by Charlie Greenberg in the U14 junior boys, Haakon Sigerslid in the Cat 2 boys, Alicia Rose on the Cat 1 women and Howard Grotts in the Cat 1 boys.
Saturday night the team, parents and coaches all gathered at the campsite and cooked a spagetti meal for 50. The Ellis family donated elk for the sauce, City Market helped us with some discounted pasta, Bread Bakery with bread and cookies, and the Chip Peddler hooked us up with ton of their lime and salt tortilla chips. Before and after dinner the racers prepared for the next days events by playing 500 and a game of 6v6 football, with a deep game winning touchdown pass from Stephan Davoust to Coach Chad Cheeney. The famous “Schwag Fest” took place around the campfire at sunset, bringing parents and kids together to talk about the next days race, and more importantly, hand out bike and random product to the team. Several former Devo athletes and other area junior athletes were invited to join the fun. Smores, more campfire starring, and then bedtime at 930pm.
Sunday morning was freezing. The bike saddles were all frosted white when it was time to leave camp, for the Under 14 races at 7:00am. Early on it was Charlie Greenberg throwing down and taking 2nd place in the junior boys, his best xc finish to date. Then a strong 4th place finish by Cole Mystrom and Charlie Malone and Chase Sievert in 5th and 6th place, with George McQuinn in 8th.
The Under 14 girls were next and the 3 teammates took on their first cross country race together in stride. In an amazing sprint finish, it was India Waller holding on for 2nd place. The sprint had the families and crowd going wild as they were neck and neck the entire final 100yard finish stretch. Soon after, Sophia Quick and Robin Austin came in for 4th and 5th. In the Cat 3 men, Henry Larson took the 5th place finish and then headed off for the hot springs of Mt Prinston for a well deserved soak.
In the Cat2 Boys race it was Haakon Sigerlid with the strong win. Teammates Levi Kurlander and Stephan Davoust battled back and forth all day for 3rd place with Levi taking it in the end after attacking on the final laps first climb. James Shahan rode in for 12th place.
Alicia Rose Pastore continued her win streak in the MSC series and took a very strong xc win by 6 minutes. Alicia is a defending national champion and has her sights set on worlds in Canada later this season.
DEVO’s other defending national champion, Howard Grotts took on the Cat 1 field early by pulling away and keeping a 1 minute gap on the pack for three laps. On the forth lap, he was overtaken along the long fence line straightaway, and rolled in in 2nd place, 20 seconds back. In third place less than 4 minutes behind was Sepp Kuss, who had his best Cat 1 finish yet. Teammates Gino Pastore and Elliott Saslow finished tired and hungry in 4th and 5th place for Durango DEVO.
The Coaches were also out there shredding. In the singlespeed category, Director Sarah Tescher threw down and won the race with U14 coach Jess Reed right on her tail in 2nd place, aboard her new custom bike, a locally made Norse Cycles. And Annie Cheeney, U14 head coach, in her first Cat 1 race took 6th place and accomplished her goal.
Overall it was a great weekend for Durango DEVO. The weather was bad at first, but the group stayed strong and weathered it out only to find 2 gorgeous days of competition ahead. The athletes bonded and the parents got to know one another over pasta and campfire smoke. DEVO likes Nathrop and Nathrop like DEVO.
*Telegraph was muddy so riders passed the turnoff for Telegraph and completed a meadow and finished at the road.
Telegraph Hill Climb 4-16-10
U14 Boys; Chase 21:20, Cole 21:33, Charlie M 21:40, Derek 18:49, Will 18:57, George 21:28, Henry 21:34, River 19:42, Shane 23:01, Keenan 17:32, Charlie G 17:18
U14 Girls; Sophia 21:23, India 20:20, Sabine 21:28
U19 Boys; Howard 11:48, Gino 13:06, Sepp 13:19, Elliott 14:04, Collin 14:31, Stephan dnf, Chris 14:47, Tucker 18:13, James 19:25
U19 Girls; Alicia 14:55
Coaches and Friends; Cameron 28:38, Coach Anne 18:26, Coach Chad 13:10, Sarah, Jess, Brendan
