Melissa Buhl

I made it to France after a couple days of DH riding in Germany. It has been pretty mellow at the last couple races since they have been single venues for DH and 4-X. We just walked the track today, which looked pretty good. There were some fast off camber grassy bits and some steep tech sections. If the weather stays nice I think it will be really fun. The forecast is calling for light rains everyday….but fingers crossed!

The four cross here in Houffalize was a success! There were tons of spectators and the track was really good for racing. The corners were really exciting for lots of passing, the first turn was carnage from the start. I tried to go for a pass on Jill in the semi but it just didn’t pan out:( I came out of my pedals and then got passed putting me into the small final. I won the small final though to finish the weekend in 5th.

The womens racing this weekend was pretty good, 24 of us this time and I think the depth in talent is better than it has ever been. The men’s class was packed and like always tons of super fast guys. Every round is so hard for them.

We are off to La Bresse in a couple days with a few days to burn. We are looking for places to ride on our way…should be fun!

4X RESULTS
Women
1 Jill Kintner (USA) RED BULL/ INTENSE/ CRANKBROTHERS
2 Jana Horakova (Cze)
3 Anneke Beerten (Ned) Suspension Center
4 Romana Labounkova (Cze)
5 Melissa Buhl (USA) KHS

Men
1 Jared Graves (Aus) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team
2 Dan Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal
3 Roger Rinderknecht (Sui) GT Bicycles
4 Joost Wichman (Ned)
5 Romain Saladini (Fra) Team Sun

I just finished 4-X qualies. I had a bit of a slide out in one of the turns, but other than that pretty good. I left before the men were finished.

Women 4-X

1. Jill

2. Anneke

3.Romana

4. Jana

5. Melissa

I made it to Europe:) It was quite the haul as usual. Mott (my mechanic for the trip) and I set off on Sunday and arrived in Belgium on Wed pm. We stopped in Spain to see some family and Paris to take some pics. It’s been a pretty good trip so far. The track here is pretty good. It’s smooth and well maintained, but the jumps are very short so it makes it a challenge to hit them at speed with out over jumping them, a skill in itself I guess. For that reason it makes the track a challenge for racing and I think it will be a  good show….I hope. Well not a lot going on, it is so different not doing downhill. There is so much down time I am not sure what to do all day. I am off for a bike ride to take some pics and enjoy the little town of Houffalize:) Here are some pics of our trip here.

Well, I am again a week behind on my post. I am sitting in the airport on my way to Europe for the next round of World Cups, so I thought I would post some pics and Sea Otter results. Typical fun Sea Otter classic!! The weather was great which is unusual for the Otter. The courses were good too, dry and dusty!

Pro Men DH

1. Mick Hannah
2. Greg Minnaar
3. Andrew Neethling
4. Justin Leov
5. Brian Lopes

Pro Women DH

1.Tracey Moseley

2.Melissa Buhl

3. Kathy Pruitt

DS Results

Women
1.Melissa Buhl
2.Jill Kintner
3.Kathy Pruitt
4.Mio Suemasa

Men
1.Samuel Hill
2.Cody Warren
3.Jared Rando
4.Gee Atherton

I know, I know. I am the absolute worst when it comes to keeping up with my Blog. I apologoze for those of you who read this. It has been a crazy couple weeks. I made it to SA a little late so it was a bit stressful catching up the first few days. I really wish I could have spent more time there. I will make the effort next year!! Thanks to the KHS South African crew for helping me out!!

4-X

Women

1 Anneke Beerten (Ned) Suspension Center
2 Fionn Griffiths (GBr) Norco World Team
3 Romana Labounkova (Cze)
4 Jana Horakova (Cze)
5 Jill Kintner (USA)
6 Emmeline Ragot (Fra) Suspension Center
7 Melissa Buhl (USA)
8 Helene Valerie Fruhwirth (Aut)
Men
1 Jared Graves (Aus) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team
2 Michal Prokop (Cze)
3 Rafael Alvarez De Lara Lucas (Spa) Specialized Factory Racing
4 Roger Rinderknecht (Swi)
5 Romain Saladini (Fra) Team Sunn
6 Cédric Gracia (Fra)
7 Scott Beaumont (GBr) Rocky Mountain UK
8 Johannes Fischbach (Ger) Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team
9 Dan Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal
10 Guido Tschugg (Ger) Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team   

DH Women
1 Tracy Moseley (GBr) Trek World Racing                                4.20.15
2 Emmeline Ragot (Fra) Suspension Center                               0.06.38
3 Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles            0.08.46
4 Fionn Griffiths (GBr) Norco World Team                               0.12.78
5 Claire Buchar (Can) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense                    0.14.05
6 Floriane Pugin (Fra) Iron Horse-Kenda-Playbiker                      0.15.70
7 Melissa Buhl (USA)                                                   0.20.75
8 Myriam Nicole (Fra)                                                  0.21.76
9 Joanna Petterson (RSA)                                               0.22.33
10 Emilie Siegenthaler (Swi) Scott 11                                  0.27.13
11 Helen Gaskell (GBr)                                                 0.36.46
12 Sarah Newman (GBr)                                                  0.42.62
13 Anka Martin (RSA)                                                   0.45.18
14 Helene Valerie Fruhwirth (Aut)                                      0.48.13
15 Elisa Canepa (Ita) Iron Horse-Kenda-Playbiker                       0.51.62
16 Risa Suseanty (Ina)                                                 1.02.43
17 Victoria Phillips (RSA)                                             1.31.98

DH MEN
1 Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate                              3.43.44
2 Michael Hannah (Aus) GT Bicycles                                     0.02.25
3 Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate                                0.05.81
4 Samuel Hill (Aus) Monster Energy / Specialized / Mad Catz            0.06.74
5 Gee Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal                                  0.08.57
6 Cameron Cole (NZl) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles               0.09.76
7 Justin Leov (NZl) Trek World Racing                                  0.10.57
8 Jared Graves (Aus) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team                   0.10.88
9 Marc Beaumont (GBr) GT Bicycles                                      0.11.39
10 Julien Camellini (Fra) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense                0.11.51
11 Nathan Rennie (Aus) Kenda Morewood                                  0.11.58
12 Duncan Riffle (USA) Duncan Riffle Racing                            0.11.85
13 Dan Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal                                 0.12.07
14 Andrew Neethling (RSA) Trek World Racing                            0.12.24
15 Ivan Oulego Moreno (Spa) Massi                                      0.12.31

I left for my flight to SA Monday morning from Phoenix, I didn’t get very far though. It’s now Tuesday morning and I am hanging in DC for the day. Long story short, there was a problem checking all my bikes straight through to SA. So I missed my connection while reclaiming and rechecking all my stuff. If I am lucky I should be able to get to PMB by Thursday before practice starts. This is just part of it, the travels and sometimes days it takes to get to a World Cup. I am not too stressed because I am use to this stuff by now, but I am very excited to freaken get there already. Soemtimes I feel like there should be an awards ceremony just for getting to the race:) It feels like an accomplishment just when you get to the baggage claim with all of your bikes (three for me) and bags:)

I am not sure how Internet is there, but I will try to get up some photos and race reports ASAP. Can’t wait!!

I just got my Leatt Braces in the mail this week:) Check out the cool custom socks they make with individual co sponsors!

Leatt Brace

http://vimeo.com/3963460

I am back home from Fontana again, this time recovering from a little cold:( The race went pretty well. Donny did a good job once again on the downhill course and EC did a good job as well on the 4-X. It was nice to have a change up on the 4-X course and you could tell everyone worked really hard on the improvements.I am a slack with my camera, but I will try to post some pics later.

RESULTS 4-X

Pro men

1 Dale Holmes (KHS)
2 Blake Carney (Yeti)
3 Eric Carter (GT)
4 Mitch Ropelato

Pro women

1 Jill Kintner (Red Bull/Intense/Kenda)
2 Ashley Verhagen (BOS Hammerheads)
3 Melissa Buhl (KHS)
4 Joy Martin

RESULTS DH

MENS DH
1. Eric Carter
2. Kevin Aiello
3. Cameron Cole
4. Cody Warren
5. Brad Oien
WOMENS DH
1. Melissa Buhl
2. Kathy Pruitt
3. Sabrina Jonnier