Video & Race Report: Eastern States Cup Showdown #2 – Killington, VT

Words: Eastern States Cup

We’re back in Vermont as Killington plays host to our second Thule Showdown double header of the season. The whole gang was there with the Stan’s Enduro crew taking on five diverse stages featuring everything from chunky rock sections to killer climbs, while Intense DH racers tackled the famed Goat Skull track. Riders were pushed to their limits as slick roots, high-speed berms, and white-knuckle descents tested both their skill and stamina. The energy on the hill was electric, with fans lining the course and cowbells echoing through the Green Mountains as racers sent it full throttle.

Registration was buzzing Saturday morning with both Stan’s Enduro and Intense DH racers between the tape this weekend.

Killington is our only venue to set up a designated track walk time before DH practice. GIA Racing is loving it.

Nick Van De Kamp enjoying an ice cold Hedlum NA after a long day of practice and suspension work for other racers.

Stan’s Enduro

After a sunny Saturday, we woke up to doom and gloom Sunday morning, with the upper mountain covered in a thick fog.

Thule Showdown racers rode up K1 bright and early to battle the clock and the visibility.

Stage 1 was a lengthy one, running from Solitude to Bear Run to Upper Snakebite, the kicker was the heinous climb to the finish. Kelly Dube handled it and had a solid day on the bike, fourth place in the Pro women’s class.

Lukas Diaz in the pain cave to start the day.

Matthew Keegan helps the trail crew prune the shrubbery on Stage 2, and he would finish third place in the 20U class.

Second place for 12U racer Griffin Hamel as he makes his way down The Beast.

After the kids get down safely, Vicki Koch gets to have her fun.

Newly crowned 19-29 National Champ Dan Moon goes P4, his second Stan’s Enduro Pro podium of the season.

Another top three for Kai Waldman, her third of the season. She’s currently second in series points, but with consistent results like this, she could take the lead in no time.

Double duty for Tillie Lange this weekend, as she’s become a bit of a Thule Showdown specialist. Second place in the Stan’s Enduro followed up by fifth in the Intense DH, enough to give her the top spot for the females.

Amanda Vansant gained 39 seconds on the rest of the Pro women’s class throughout the day, taking P1 with a clean sweep of stage wins.

Adam Robbins muscled his way into the Pro men’s class top three for the first time this season.

After a consistent day on the bike Isaac Allaire landed in second place with 12.2s separating him from the top step. He currently leads the Pro Men in points but there’s plenty of racing left this season.

After leading all five stages along the way, Tucker Shearer secured his second Pro win of the season with a total of 16:53 on course.

Intense DH

Hunter Bernier saw a lucky penny in the rock garden during seeding and just had to stop and pick it up.

Flying out of the start gate, Antoine Gaudreau traded splits with Joey Pimental but snuck an extra 1.5s advantage to take his first 14U win.

Jack Boron still had enough gas left in the tank after completing five Enduro stages and earned himself third place in the Thule Showdown.

First 12U win of the year for Levi Kochin, and it was by a huge margin of 26 seconds; he must have been on a heater.

With about ten riders left in the Pro men’s class the skies opened up and soaked the mountain.

Parker Downing qualified fastest on Saturday but got the short end of the stick with the weather. The speed is there and he’ll have more opportunities to take that first Pro win.

Mary Jane Kissinger keeps the momentum rolling in her first year racing the Pro ladies, third place this weekend.

Kale Cushman lead the last split but couldn’t quite piece it together up top, coming across the line in second place.

Even though Mazie Hayden has to work a bit more these days, she’s still a speed demon on the weekends. P1 for the Pro Women, making it two in a row.

Intense DH Pro Women: 4th – Ashley Stearns, 2nd – Kale Cushman, 1st – Mazie Hayden, 3rd – Mary Jane Kissinger, 5th – Tillie Lange

The raindrops fell a bit harder by the time Nick Frazier was on course, but he was able to keep the speed up and take third place before the monsoon arrived.

Sometimes the weather goes your way but there’s no denying Conor Hennessey had the speed this weekend. Second place with the fastest second split that should give him confidence for a solid rest of the season.

Ty Davis beat the rain and his competitors to take his first Pro win, but still earned this one. He was flying in practice, seeding and put it together on Sunday afternoon with a 2:47 and 1.6s between his closest competitor.

Intense DH Pro Men: 4th – Marcos Terroba Rivero, 2nd – Conor Hennessey, 1st – Ty Davis, 3rd – Nick Frazier, 5th – Ayrton French

Thule Showdown Podium: 2nd – Adara WIlliams, 1st – Martin Kulhanek, Tillie Lange, 3rd – Jack Boron, Michelle Guy

So long Killington, from the sunshine to the rain and everything in between this weekend was a blast. Stan’s Enduro racers will be right back at it this coming weekend as we head one state over to see what the Hayden family has in store for us at New Hampshire’s abandoned Monteau ski area. Be there, otherwise you’ll have to wait until our next Thule Showdown at Thunder Mountain August 10th.

Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: Seth Merritt

Stan’s Enduro Results
Intense DH Results
Easternstatescup.com

2025 MAXXIS ESC SCHEDULE

INTENSE CYCLES DOWNHILL SERIES
May 4 Powder Ridge, CT
June 15 Mountain Creek, NJ
June 22 Jiminy Peak, MA
July 13 Mount Snow, VT
July 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
June 1 Arrowhead, NH
June 22 Jiminy Peak, MA
July 20 Killington, VT
July 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
July 20 Killington, VT
Aug 10 Thunder Mountain, MA
Sept 21 Powder Ridge, CT

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