[amishmatt]

First race is May 30.

From the website: http://www.verticalearthpa.com/blue_mountain_cup

Vertical Earth Race Series Mission:

To offer Gravity riding to more mountain bikers. The history of Gravity riding the past 5 years has primarily been DH. A racer/rider would generally ride a DH bike. The Vertical Earth Series will offer 3 disciplines of cycling to satisfy more mountain biker's "Need for Speed."

DS - a full-on 25-35 second sprint filled with berms, rollers, tables, and gates to the finish against your fellow racer. Hardtails and short travel bikes are the preferred bike.

Super D - A 5-8 minute trail from top to bottom on the mountain, lift access provided. What is Super D? Super D is your most fun XC trail downhill section that's fast, and flowy. 6" travel is most ideal bike here boys and girls.

DH - Adrenaline, endurance, skills, guts, speed, are what it takes here. The " Big Rig's " generally are the bike of choice. DH offers 4 levels of riding: Beginner, Sport, Expert and Pro Class. Vertical Earth will design 2 different course for each race. One course designed for Pro - Cat 1 and the second designed for Cat 2 - 3.

The Vertical Earth mission promotes fun, great times, great riding, and great competition.


Anyone have any inside/first hand information? Anyone planning to race?

 

[rollertoaster]

I'll be racing 2 out of 3 of the races. I was there building this weekend. We started what will hopefully be the pro-expert course in at least 1 race. If it gets finished in the fashion that it was started it will be interesting to say the least. It's steep, rocky, wide open riding that pretty much goes straight down the mountain.

 

[IH8Rice]

hows the lift operation going to be?

its not gonna be ghetto rigged like Bear Creek was is it?

 

[rollertoaster]

hows the lift operation going to be?

its not gonna be ghetto rigged like Bear Creek was is it?

I can't say for sure yet. I do know that they will be using the high speed quad and that they have commissioned someone to build a bike hook system. They assured me that it will not be the same ghetto hooks that are used for the snow race.

 

[rollertoaster]

I can't say for sure yet. I do know that they will be using the high speed quad and that they have commissioned someone to build a bike hook system. They assured me that it will not be the same ghetto hooks that are used for the snow race.

I really hope this comes to fruition. I would be nice to have a bike park an hour and a half from my house. I'll certainly put some time in there helping to build, I already have poured blood and sweat into the trails, just no tears.

 

[IH8Rice]

are they running all season or just for the races? its about a 1.5 hours from me too in Reading or my place in NJ

 

[rollertoaster]

are they running all season or just for the races? its about a 1.5 hours from me too in Reading or my place in NJ

They are trying to open the lifts by mid summer, for now it's only for races.

 

[amishmatt]

Thanks for all the info so far.

Any idea how the SuperD is going to run? Individual or mass start?

 

[rollertoaster]

No idea. I think they are installing a timing system and all the trails I caw were too narrow for a mass start. I would assume it will be timed runs.

 

[IH8Rice]

so the Vertical Earth website shows the next race date at the top of the page as Sept 24-26, but the events page shows Sept 26-27...which is it?

 

[Vertical Earth]

Sept 25th, 26th, 27th / Friday, Saturday, Sunday

 

[Iridemtb]

I sure hope I can make it up there! Just waiting on canfield bros to get back from eurobike or w\e to get a stem.