Plattekill Mtn to Host National Bike Race this Weekend

For Immediate Release-May 17, 2011
Roxbury, New York
contact (607) 3263500 or email info@plattekill.com

Plattekill Mtn to Host National Bike Race this Weekend

This weekend May 21-22, Plattekill Mountain, Roxbury NY, will feature their first Downhill Mountain Bike Race of the 2011 summer season and the biggest event scheduled for this year. 'The FOX RACING SHOX Gravity Open at Plattekill', as it has been officially titled, is the third stop of the Pro Gravity Tour - ProGRT, which is the most prestigious downhill mountain bike racing series in North America and the official USA Cycling National Series for downhill racing.  This will mark the second consecutive year the ProGrt has chosen Plattekill as an East Coast stop for the series.  Top domestic and international professional riders will be competing at Plattekill to test their skills.  

In addition, a separate course has been constructed and will be raced by amateur riders who will also compete.  Categories have been broken out for all ages and levels of ability.  Elite level professional riders will compete for a cash purse and amateurs will be rewarded with high end prizes from participating race event sponsors.
 
Last year Plattekill saw hundreds of competitors and the likes of top rated Pros from around the Country and many racers from Canada attend this event.  This year’s line-up of registered riders includes Pro Racer, Aron Gwin (Trek World Racing Team) who was winner of his first World Cup in the Men's Downhill Race in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa a few weeks ago; this was the first win by an American male since 1999.

FOX RACING SHOX has been named Title Sponsor for this event and Marketing Manager for Fox Racing Shox, Jim Noonan, quoted “Plattekill really separates the men from the boys, FOX is proud to be the title sponsor of this event. Plattekill Mountain is renowned as some of the most technically demanding DH terrain on the east coast. There is a long-standing tradition of FOX endorsing Plattekill Bike Park.”  Since 1974, FOX RACING SHOX has been the industry leader in the design and development of the highest performance shock absorbers and racing suspension products for snowmobiles,mountain bikes, motorcycles, ATVs and off-road cars and trucks.

The base lodge will be open all weekend with cafeteria, outdoor grill, and bike shop and spectators can check out all the racing excitement with chairlift rides and hiking available all weekend.   The mountain is currently securing volunteers to Course Marshall for this event.  If interested, contact the mountain at (607) 326-3500 or email info@plattekill.com.  For complete info on the event visit www.plattekill.com.

Plattekill Bike Park is located in Roxbury, NY. The park has been hosting downhill mountain bike racing for over fifteen years, since 1993, and is open every weekend for recreational mountain biking with bike rentals and tours offered as well as a full race series.  

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday
9am-3pm Racer Practice
4pm Seeding Run for Sundays Race - Pro and Expert Juniors

Sunday
12pm Beginner and Sport Downhill Race Start
1:30pm Expert Downhill Race Start
2:30pm Pro Race Start

Photo requests please email info@plattekill.com.

Trek’s Aaron Gwinn now leads the men’s USA Cycling Pro Grt Tour after a decisive win at the FOX RACING SHOX Gravity Open this past weekend at Plattekill.  Gwinn who is also the UCI World Cup leader solidified his place as the top American Gravity MTB racer. Justin Leov, Cody Warren, Curtis Keene and Logan Binggeli joined Gwinn on the Podium.


photo by George Ulmer

Jacqueline Harmony won the pro women’s division with a narrow victory over Joanna Petterson and Darian Harvey. They were accompanied by Plattekill regulars Lauren Daney and Becky Gardner.


photo by Kailie VanLoan

In all 200 pro and amateur racers from all parts of the USA and the world tested their skills and determination at Plattekill. Plattekill hosted the prestigious USAC Pro Grt Tour for the second consecutive year. Plattekill is a pioneer in downhill mountain bike racing and has hosted races for almost 2 decades.


photo by Mike Lord

Plattekill is known to have some of the most diverse and unique terrain anywhere. The course featured fast and smooth sections as well as steep and rocky chutes. Two huge drops and a few smaller ones tested suspension settings. The course and the changing weather tested racers mentally and physically. First it was wet and slick then the course changed to dry and fast as the weekend progressed. Many teams and racers experimented with tire selection and strategies over the five-day event.


photo by Mike Lord

Next up for Plattekill Bike Park is The Eastern States Cup Downhill Race, July 2-3 while the USAC Pro Grt moves on to Crested Butte, Colorado.


photo by Mike Lord


photo by Mike Lord


photo by Mike Lord


photo by Mike Lord

some cool stuff

What about a HR bike day at Platt?

JasonWx wrote

What about a HR bike day at Platt?

That would be cool. For me it would have to be later in the season, for a variety of reasons.

Laz owes me a bunch of stuff. When we connect I'll talk to him about it.

How many people on the forum actually ride?

fujative wrote

How many people on the forum actually ride?

I do but live too far away.

Pro GRT #3: Plattekill - More Mountain Bike Videos

Plattekill - Pro GRT #3 2011 from Sick Lines on Vimeo.

2011 Plattekill Pro GRT - FOX RACING SHOX Gravity Open from Sick Lines on Vimeo.

Those are great videos.

KHSEast-Part 3 from Travis Fant on Vimeo