DFT United Race Report

DFT United Race Report

Cascade Dirt Cup Race #1 Tiger Mountain

Being the toughest physical and mental challenge, Tiger Mountain kicked off the 2017 CDC season April 29^th. With 27 miles and 4500 feet of elevation loss for the Pro/Expert courses and some long punchy climbs in the middle of some stages, a big day was in store for the riders. The Sport riders didn’t get off easy with 17 miles and 3100 feet of elevation loss, and as usual, Tiger Mountain is a beast and was difficult to conquer in 2017. In the past 4 years, rain a has been ever present at Tiger with the race in late September. This year with the race kicking off the season in April and the wettest winter on record since 1895 in Seattle, one would think that it would be another wet Tiger race. After a wet weather week, sun popped out on Friday and a dry, but cold day was on tap for race day on Saturday. DFT United riders Josh Gibb, Cam Gibb, Sylas Linnemann, Louie Blair and Bailey Villalovos had been logging the practice miles at Tiger for the past month getting ready for the CDC Kick-off event.  DFT Untied Pro Montana native Kent Billingsley made the trek over to take on the beast known as Tiger Mountain. Jr expert Zach McCracken was on the sidelines healing up his broken arm after a big get off at Port Angeles NW Cup #1 and had to sit out. Unfortunately, DFT United’s dynamic duo of Jr experts both sat out the Tiger Enduro with Sylas catching a nasty case of the flu. First was DFT United’s EWS Pro enduro racer, Kent Billingsley, heading off on his carbon Transition Patrol in the first wave of rider’s. This was Kent’s first time riding Tiger. He had a solid day on each stage staying very consistent and was rewarded with a 7^th in pro men! Kent was quick to say how hard it was and was stoked on his performance trying to tame the beast.  Josh Gibb and Bailey Villalovos headed up next on their Transition Smugglers to contend for the place on the box in the stacked 30 rider 18-29 expert men’s. DH specialist Villalovos gave “the beast” a try, as this was his first endure. He also had soild day and came home in a very respectable 15^th place for his first enduro at Tiger. DFT United’s EWS u21 rider Josh Gibb was in great form to start the CDC season. After having a vision issue on the first two stages, Josh came back and won stage 3 and 4 and was second on stage 5 for second overall for the day! Up next was the 17 and under sport super grom class with 20 riders. DFT teammates Cam Gibb & Louie Blair who have never raced enduro, put the pedal time in learning the Tiger trails over the past month and it showed!  14 year old Louie Blair had Transition Scout on fire all day racing kids twice his size and strength ripped off a 4^th place finish with consistent top 5 stage times. Training with super grom Louie Blair has helped up Cam Gibb’s game in a big way. Cam Gibb had his Transition Patrol rolling and stormed to a 6^th overall just 30 seconds of the podium with a lengthy crash on stage two!