Video & Race Report: Maxxis Eastern States Cup Intense DH #1 – Powder Ridge, CT

SPRING FLING Maxxis ESC Intense DH #1 – Powder Ridge, Connecticut

Words: Eastern States Cup

Two hundred days after our last Intense DH event, we’re back at Connecticut’s Powder Ridge, kicking off our sixteenth season of Maxxis ESC action. Spring brings new life, whether a fresh riding kit, a shiny new bike or the excitement of moving up to a new class. The competition is fierce this season; It was great to see many first-time winners and tight racing across the board. Short and sweet, Powder is the ideal launchpad for a long season of racing that will have us going through October. The trail crew has put in the work for us, with Wild Turkey running prime and several other trails available for party laps. Keep scrolling to see how things shook out at Round 1.

After a long off-season, racers were itching to get back between the tape with nearly 250 registered this weekend.

Mostly beautiful weather with temps in the 70s and a packed parking lot.

Whether you’re looking for hydration, energy or an ice-cold NA brew, we’ve got you covered with Jocko Fuel and Hedlum on ice by the registration tent.

Powder does it right, opening lift-served riding before any other resort in New England. They even ran both lifts for us so riders could maximize practice runs.

At 550′ vertical, most complete the track in under two minutes, with some hitting the 1:30’s, so there’s absolutely no margin for error. Keep air in the tires and the chain in one piece, or it’s a wrap for your podium dreams.

What Powder lacks in size, it makes up for in technicality. Wild Turkey is no cake walk, serving up roots and rocks with the best of them.

Joey Pimentel keeps it fun and fast under sunny skies in practice.

Keep the practice runs going all day with Jocko Go Energy.

Man, is it good to be back.

Game faces on and ready to rock, the 14U boys class would get first crack at Wild Turkey on race day.

Every pedal stroke out of the start gate counts, Braxton Berger took the win by just 0.16s in his first race with the 14U boys.

Chase Ulmer picked up right where he left off last season, securing the 8U Brat class win with ease. It will be crazy to see what these youngsters accomplish by the time they reach the Pro classes.

This is Marcos Lira’s 25th year racing DH according to Roots & Rain, and he’s still working to get strong results each year. He’ll be stoked to lock down the 50+ Masters class win with a 1:46.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Eric McNeil on a DH bike, but he’s back at it, besting the Expert 40+ class by five seconds to start the season with a bang.

First time 12U winner Aiden Scott opts for the fast line through the air, avoiding the rough stuff below.

Third DH race and first Maxxis ESC win for Amateur 19-29 racer Vladyslav Herashchenko.

Our largest class of the weekend was Amateur 16U which ran 45 deep, the future for Northeast gravity racing is bright. Class winner Justin Doucette logs some frequent flyer miles on the mid-track rock roller.

Andrew Glibert dominated the Amateur 30-39 class last year and continues his now six-race win streak, this time in the Expert 30-39 class.

Finn Marsh keeps it low and tidy on the way to his first Amateur 18U win.

Fun fact: Derek Pierce was the Expert 40-44 USDH National Champ in 2008. He’s still got plenty of speed these days, placing second in the 50+ Masters class.

The fastest time of the day was set by Expert 16U winner Ayrton French, who laid down a 1:33 before things got damp later in the race.

Jonah Tibbals has moved up to the Expert 18U class and starts off the season with a big W.

The rain held off for most of the race, but the Pro classes couldn’t escape without a little moisture falling from the sky. Cooper Pleva qualified second for the Pro Men but lost traction in the final grass corner. Heartbreaking.

Kale Cushman does her best to keep the tires moving through the muck; she would end the day in P3 for the Pro Women.

Solid start to the season for Emma Jarl as she matches her best result from last season, second place in a stacked Pro ladies field.

First-year Pro Charlie Bernard made the trip from Quebec and took top honours, earning the win by a commanding margin of over seven seconds.

Pro Women: 4th – Sarah Hamlin, 2nd – Emma Jarl, 1st – Charlie Bernard, 3rd – Kale Cushman, 5th – Mary Jane Kissinger

Carson Morgan has been racing with us since he was in the U12 class just a few years ago. This is his first season with the Pro Men, and he’s off to a fantastic start, rounding out the top three among the fastest in the Northeast.

We’ve been calling him dad for years, but Dyaln Conte has a little one of his own now, and the speed is still there. Fastest dad on track this weekend with a 1:37 and second place to kick off the season.

After going P3 in seeding, Nick Frazier knew he had to lay it all on the line Sunday afternoon. He was able to keep it tires down and take the Pro men’s class win by just over a second with a final run of 1:36.

Pro Men: 4th – Parker Downing, 2nd – Dylan Conte, 1st – Nick Frazier, 3rd – Carson Morgan, 5th – Matt Spain

After slipping and sliding their way down with limited vision, it was all good vibes at the finish line for the Pro Men.

Wash ’em up and get ready for a boatload more racing this season, we’re just getting started! We’ll be back at Powder for our first Stan’s Enduro on May 18th and Intense DH racers will be making the trip to New Jersey’s Mountain Creek Resort on Jun 15 for Round 2. See you there!

Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: Seth Merritt

Full Results
Easternstatescup.com

2025 MAXXIS ESC SCHEDULE

INTENSE CYCLES DOWNHILL SERIES
May 4 Powder Ridge, CT
Jun 15 Mountain Creek, NJ
June 22 Jiminy Peak, MA
Jul 13 Mount Snow, VT
Jul 20 Killington, VT
Aug 10 Thunder Mountain, MA
Sept 14 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 21 Powder Ridge, CT
Oct 26 Jiminy Peak, MA Finals

STAN’S ENDURO SERIES
May 18 Powder Ridge, CT
Jun 1 Arrowhead, NH
June 22 Jiminy Peak, MA
Jul 20 Killington, VT
Jul 27 Monteau, NH
Aug 10 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 24 Burke, VT
Sept 21 Powder Ridge, CT
Oct 12 Arrowhead, NH Finals

THULE SHOWDOWN SERIES
June 22 Jiminy Peak, MA
Jul 20 Killington, VT
Aug 10 Thunder Mountain, MA
Sept 21 Powder Ridge, CT

CANNONDALE EBIKE SERIES
May 18 Powder Ridge, CT
Jun 1 Arrowhead, NH
Jul 27 Monteau, NH
Aug 10 Thunder Mountain, MA
Sept 21 Powder Ridge, CT
Oct 12 Arrowhead, NH