Video & Race Report: Maxxis Eastern States Cup Intense DH Finals – Mountain Creek, NJ

Well here we are, the last hoorah for 2020. It’s what we dream about and prepare for all winter, it all comes down to this. The overall series battle is tighter than ever in nearly every class and with 150% points on the line there’s no room for error. Whoever tames the notoriously technical terrain of Mountain Creek would take home the championship jersey and bragging rights until next year. After a fairly quiet race season with minimal spectators it was refreshing to hear the Creek locals hooting and hollering in the Slayer rock garden like old times as the East Coast’s fastest chased glory. Second year Pro Titus Nicholson was finally able to reach the top step at his home mountain and Mazie Hayden led the Pro ladies field through the rocky chunder.

PINKBIKE RACE VIDEO

On the menu this weekend is Slayer. RIP Paul Hanson, your spirit lives on at Creek.

Good morning Mountain Creek, chilly start to race day with temps in the mid 30’s.

Race day morning bolt checks for ProBuilds boss man Jorge Gomes.
Wasn’t the first, definitely wasn’t the last. Most of our racers know to bring extra tires and wheels to Mountain Creek.
Skrrrrrt
It’s barely Halloween and they’ve already got the Thanksgiving decorations out in New Jersey.
Clif Kids class winner Chris Liebig zooming through the corners at the top of the course.
The top three U15 boys were separated by less than a second, when the dust settled it was Colten Hubbard who came out on top with both the race and series wins.
Matt Hempel made the trip up from Virginia and took his first win in the Expert 19-29 men’s class.
Soon the trees will be bare, these lifts will be spinning and we’ll be sliding on snow. Scott Johnson took his second win in a row to secure the Expert 30-39 champions jersey.
Over one bridge, under another for Amateur women’s class race and series winner Katlin Parenteau.
Andy Marek smoked the Expert 40+ Men by nearly four seconds but missed the overall by just four points
Amateur 40+ men’s class winner Bob Walker carries speed into the infamous Slayer rock garden.
Zach Gareis somehow managed to escape disaster, riding this out to tenth place for the Pro Men.
Fourth place for the Pro Men and your 2020 DH champion is Matt Driscoll. He should have no problem building up a new bike next year, let the #teamrumors begin.
Local hero George Ryan gets a warm welcome from his Mountain Creek family, he would finish seventh for the Pro Men.
Eyes on the prize for Expert 19-29 rider Geoff Smith, second place in his first race.
Michael Gossow brought some trail bike style to his first DH race and took fourth place in the Expert 19-29 class.
Jack Dichiara sends it into the water park just before the final turn, he would win the Junior Expert class by over two seconds and secure the series title.
Slayer strikes again. Mike Hoffarth’s ride exploded beyond repair but he received some of the loudest cheering of the weekend as he hoofed it through the rock garden.
Kristin Lenart let the big bike eat through the rocks, third place for the Pro Women and second place in the series.
Riley Miller may be the youngest competitor in the Pro ladies field but she has no problem keeping up, second place this weekend.
The overall points battle coming into this race was so tight whoever took the win would also win the series. Mazie Hayden was able to put down a heater of a run to take her third win of the season along with the white jersey.
Pro Women: 5th – Ivanna Estrada, 3rd – Kristin Lenart, 1st – Mazie Hayden, 2nd – Riley Miller, 4th – Angelica Pietranton
Danny’s Cycles powerhouse Mauricio Estrada was flying all weekend and was able to put together a clean run to take third place for the Pro Men.
Defiant Racing’s Titus Nicholson has been chasing his first Pro win all year and was finally able to get it done at his home mountain this weekend by nearly a second.
5th – Cameron Mader, 3rd – Mauricio Estrada, 1st – Titus Nicholson, 4th – Matt Driscoll (Not pictured: 2nd – S. Leslie) In some extremely tight racing, the top five Pro Men were within 2 seconds of each other
Pro Women Series Overall: 5th – Riley Miller, 3rd – Sophie Allen, 1st – Mazie Hayden, 2nd – Kristin Lenart, 4th – Ivanna Estrada
Pro Men Series Overall: 5th – Oliver Levick, 3rd – Cameron Mader, 1st – Matt Driscoll, 2nd – Mauricio Estrada, 4th – Saben Rossi
2020 Maxxis ESC Intense DH series podiums
Your 2020 Maxxis ESC Intense DH Series Champions.

That’s a wrap on the season that almost didn’t happen at all. Thank you to everyone who came out to races this year, it means the world to the Maxxis ESC crew to have the support of such an amazing community of racers, mechanics, parents, spouses, siblings and friends. See you next year!

Full Results
Series Overall Results

Words & Race Photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: Jason Scheiding