JEEP KOM: Open Qualifier Results from New Jersey

18 Mountain Bike Racers from New Jersey and Across the U.S. to Face Off Against World’s Elite Athletes During Saturday, Aug. 23 Jeep 48STRAIGHT Dual Slalom Championships

With a healthy cash payout and exposure in front of thousands of race fans in person and on national broadcast television at stake, it was little surprise that Diablo Freeride Park in Vernon, N.J. was a hotbed of activity for professional and semi-professional mountain bike racers on Friday.

Vying for a coveted spot in Saturday’s Jeep 48STRAIGHT Mountain Bike Series against the top-ranked athletes from across the globe, men and women arrived from all parts of New Jersey and other states including California, Colorado, Georgia, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Vermont, to take part in the event’s Open Qualifier.

At the end of the day, the 18 riders (12 men and 6 women) with the fastest times made it through. Among them include four U.S. National Champions in Cole Bangert, Geritt Beytagh, Eric Carter and Kathy Pruitt. The full list include:

MEN
Cole Bangert – Twin Lakes, Colo.
Geritt Beytagh – Fletcher, N.C.
Blake Carney – Camarillo, Calif.
Eric Carter – Temecula, Calif.
Mike Haderer – Concord, Calif.
Joseph Haley – Raleigh, N.C.
Petr Hanak – Winter Park, Colo.
Christopher Herndon – Etowah, N.C.
Phillip Kmetz – Keene, N.H.
J.D. Swanguen – San Diego, Calif.
Lars Tribus – Milford, N.J.
Chris VanDine – Park City, Utah

WOMEN
Dawn Bourque – Campton, N.H.
Allie Burch – Patterson, N.Y.
Karen Eagen – Lowell, Mass.
Lisa Myklak – Boulder, Colo.
Stephanie Nychka – Gresham, Ore.
Kathy Pruitt – Santa Cruz, Calif.

The reward for these Open Qualifiers is a dual slalom date against the top-ranked mountain bike riders from across the globe, with a wealth of World Champion, National Champion and World Cup credentials. Early favorites include four-time World Champion Brian Lopes, four-time Australian National Champion Jared Rando and U.S. National Champions Cody Warren, Rich Houseman, Banger, Beytagh and Carter. And on the women’s side, all eyes will be on super stars Fionn Griffiths, a three-time World Cup winner, Melissa Buhl, the reigning World Champion and U.S. National Champion, and Pruitt.

The racers will be competing for the richest prize purse in professional mountain bike racing, topping $100,000 with additional bonuses from sponsor Paul Mitchell. The winner in New Jersey will pocket $5,000, with cash earnings for each finisher through 16th place. Points are awarded during each race, and the overall series champion will receive the keys to a new Jeep vehicle.

In addition to the dual slalom, plenty of other action will be taking place on Saturday for race fans at Diablo Freeride Park. Non-elite amateurs and club riders can take part in the Indy-Cross event, where they’ll test their mettle on the racecourse while trying to beat a time set by one of the top racers in the sport. Off the dirt, the guests are invited to tour the Sponsor Expo and pick up some great free gear from partners including Jeep, Paul Mitchell, Trikke, Michelin, Rossignol, Cycleworks Bike Shop and adidas Eyewear, among others. Jeep will host simulator rides, while Paul Mitchell’s professional stylists offer $15 haircuts with proceeds benefiting the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Visitors may also test drive Trikke scooters and receive free safety checks for their bikes, courtesy of Cycleworks Bike Shop. The day will wrap up with an awards ceremony for the winners and a dynamic free concert by none other than Hell’s Belles, a world-renowned all-female AC/DC tribute band.

Full event information may be found at www.48STRAIGHT.com.

Each event of the Jeep 48STRAIGHT summer season will receive national broadcast coverage on CBS Sports, representing the most visibility of any mountain biking event in the sport. The event at Mountain Creek will air on CBS Sports on September 28.

In addition to the first stop at Mountain Creek, the 48STRAIGHT schedule also includes stops on September 19-20 at The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah, and October 24-25 at The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, Calif.