Outdoor Central Oregon January/February 2020 | Page 7

JAN/FEB 2020
7
BEND ATHLETES PODIUM AT
HARRY KEARNEY & DESIREE
MELANCON WIN DIRKSEN DERBY 12 CYCLOCROSS NATIONALS
P: Dan Pyle
Though the snow may have been sparse, the early season conditions did not halt the 12th
Annual Dirksen Derby. The event took place December 13-15 and as usual, brought out
a slew of snowboard legends, new and old. Among them was Travis Rice, who was seen
getting some early morning pow laps with locals Austin Smith and Curtis Cizek.
The tight, switchback course meant that speed management was key, with many competi-
tors pumping and milking the final bumps to the finish line. T Rice was able to put down a
scorching time on the green course, but Harry Kearney blew him away on the red earning
him the best combined time by 0.08 seconds. The elite women had an equally tight race,
with Desiree Melancon narrowly beating Colleen Quigley by a tenth of a second. For the
groms, Elijah Pyle had a couple standout runs, taking the win with a combined time of
56.82, an accomplishment that would have earned him 13th place in the Elite Men’s divi-
sion, just behind Ben Ferguson.
Since the first Dirksen Derby event at Mt. Bachelor in 2007, the event has had over 4,000
competitors and assisted in raising over $250,000 dollars for charity. Financial beneficia-
ries of the Dirksen Derby have included: Tyler Eklund, Oregon Adaptive Sports, Protect
Our Winters, Democracy Engine, The Walker family, and The Ortega family and Central
Oregon Avalanche Association. Full results available at dirskenderby.com
TOMMY FORD WINS GIANT SLALOM
AT BEAVER CREEK ENDING U.S.
DROUGHT
Two-time Olympian and Bend resident Tommy Ford won the men’s giant slalom in the
Birds of Prey World Cup at Beaver Creek, Colorado, capturing his first career victory on
the world cup tour with a two-run time of 2:31.25. Coming off his 4th place finish where
he missed the podium by just 0.07 seconds in Soelden, Austria you could just tell Ford
was on a hot streak.
“I’ve been working hard,” Ford said on the telecast after his winning run. “And the crowd’s
been here year after year.”
Ford defeated Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway, who finished second with a time of
2:32.05, and Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen of Norway, who was third with a time of
2:32.48. American Ted Ligety, a two-time gold medalist, finished 11th with a time of
2:33.89.
Ford was the fastest skier in the first run Sunday, completing the run in 1:16.40, mark-
ing it the first time in his World Cup career that he was the leader after the first run of an
event. US teammate Ted Ligety was in fourth. By the time Ford and the rest of the skiers
took to the hill for the second run, portions of the course had become enveloped in a
dense fog, causing difficulty in seeing from gate to gate.
Ford was the last to go in the second run, and by then dense fog had given way to
snowfall. He executed a clean run, completing it in 1:14.85, nearly two seconds faster
than his first run. When he reached the bottom of the hill, the crowd roared, many waving
American flags. In attendance was Ford’s parents, his former coaches, friends, and his
girlfriend and US teammate, Laurenne Ross. Ford spent Christmas and New Years in
Europe training for upcoming world cups. A little sightseeing was also in order. Ford will
be in Europe racing at various WC’s until the spring.
(left to right) Bjorn Blankenship, Zane Strait, Tanner Wescott, Ian Brown P: Neil Korn
The 2019 Cycocross Nats lived up to the hype. With plenty of rain and clouds that turned
the Fort Steilacoom course into a muddy mess. The host Lakewood, Washington felt like
a throwback to the 80’s overrun by fast food. Most interesting part of the weekend was
venturing to 6th Street just outside in Tacoma. That felt like a mix of Greenwich Village
and Haight-Ashbury. With vintage clothing stores, vinyl record stores, jazz clubs, ballroom
dancing studio, cool cafes, coffee shops, lots of interesting restaurants, wine bars, and
of course dispensaries. Four Bend cyclocross racers, all who race on the Cascadia Youth
Cycling Team, scored podiums at the 2019 Nats including Bjorn Blankenship (5th grade)
in the 11-12 age group, who took 3rd place in his first nationals and Zaine Strait (8th
grade) in the 13-14 age group took 5th.
The race of the day on Saturday lived up to its hype. 2018 National Champ Ian Brown,
aged up to the 15-16 age group, Still aged 14, Brown faced some stiff competition from
older riders. 16-year-old Tanner Wescott, a Summit High School Sophomore had the race
of his life and overcame a crash caused by thick mud. Tanner got up and battled back
with a sprint finnish to take 4th, his best nationals placing so far. For most of the race
Brown chose to stay in the third and fourth position sticking to a game plan. Then on the
last lap he sprinted into the lead from third place. At this point Ian was in the lead, looking
strong, and building on his gap. Then when it appeared he was the one with the most in
the tank, disaster struck and Brown had a chain mechanical. He ran as fast as he could
to the pits for a new bike. As soon as he entered the second place race overtook him
as well as the third place racer. Back on his new bike he sprinted with two other racers
including Wescott; Ian ended up in third. I can tell you this, by his performance he put the
cyclocross world on notice.
Other notable results include:Portland resident Clara Honsinger at just 22 won her first
national title on pro/elite. Honsinger ended Katie Compton’s 15-year winning streak.
Honsinger took control midway through the race and was never challenged. Bend’s
Sophie Russenberger, with team S&M, was 20th, Bend’s Beth Ann Orten, also team S&M,
was 21st. Allison Halpin of Bend was 28th. On the men’s side, 21-year-old Gage Hecht
from Boulder, Colorado of the Donnelly- Aevolo won the men’s pro/elite. Lance Haidet of
the Donnelly-Aevolo team formerly of Bend was 5th. Vetern and legend Carl Decker of
Bend was 25th. Gabriel Linn of Bend was 19th in single speed. On Saturday, Kai Blan-
kenship was 2nd in U11 non championship race, Jack Billowitz of Bend was 10th in 11-
12, Peter Bentley of Bend was 19th in 13-14. In 15-16 Caiden Hartrich was 13th, Parke
Chapin was 24th, Tyler Winans was 41st, Bryce White was 50th, Tanner Bowen was 57th,
Girls 15-16 Natasha Visnack of the BEA team was 15th. On Sunday, championships
races continued in the PNW mud. In 17-18 Ryder Uetrecht 17th riding for ASU Devo,
Elijah Krause was 19th, Sam Day was 29th, Jocob Olander was 30th, Gavin Bowen was
50th, Henry Winterberger was 51st. In 17-18 women’s Kylie Eckert was 25th. In U23
men’s Lucian Spampinato was 34th.