FULL GAS
Maxxis ESC Thule Showdown #4 – Powder Ridge, Connecticut

This past weekend, we got Intense DH and Stan’s Enduro racers together for one last Thule Showdown before they head off to do battle at their respective series finals. The Powder crew laid out five fast and flowy Enduro stages and freshened up the Wild Turkey DH track with some new features for us. Times were tight and the competition was fierce, with everyone looking to squeeze out a few more crucial points as the season wound down. Those who have been working double time all season were crowned the 2025 Thule Showdown champions.

Powder has some of the most convenient camping, complete with giant fire pits and free wood, and it was busy this weekend for our final double header of the season.

The dry streak continues in New England; everything within a few feet of the tracks was coated in a thick dust.

Stan’s Enduro

Although you could use the lift for Stages 2 through 5, riders had to make the 550′ vertical climb or push to the summit to start their day.

You can really pick up some speed on the packed bike park berms. Brian Clark keeps it rolling right to the top of the 50+ Masters podium.

There’s no dough for amateur classes, but 21-29 men’s class winner Nathan True will corner for Maxxis tires.

While many chose to go around the drop, Kai Waldman keeps it fun and rides to P4 in the Pro women’s class.

The fastest way over a bridge is to not touch it. Calvin Davis sailed to his first 20U victory with a pair of stage wins.

Someone finally broke Brennan Delphia’s win streak, and it’s none other than his teammate Matthew Sullivan. He put down the power to take four stage wins and build a 26-second lead over the rest of the 40-49 Men.

P3 for Tillie Lange, who pulled double duty this weekend, winning the female side of the Thule Showdown.

Serefina Krajewska continues to build speed in her second race back between the tape, working her way up to second place in a talented field of Pro ladies.

It was Amanda Vansant’s race all along, as she captured five stage wins and bested the Pro Women by 44 seconds to seal the deal on her fifth W of the season.

Stan’s Enduro Pro Women: 4th – Kai Waldman, 2nd – Serefina Krajewska, 1st – Amanda Vansant, 3rd – Tillie Lange, 5th – Cora Gates

Dan O’Connor won the Thule Showdown for the men, as he rounded out the top three in the Stan’s Enduro, then headed over to the DH course to take fourth place.

Ty Davis also entered both races this weekend with success, second place in the morning, followed by sixth place in the afternoon.

Peter Shearer had been working his way up the Pro podium all season, and he finally reached the top step in his home state. Despite not winning any stages, his consistency carried him through to get it done by a margin of 2.9s.

Stan’s Enduro Pro Men: 4th – WIllem Cooper, 2nd – Ty Davis, 1st – Peter Shearer, 3rd – Dan O’Connor, 5th – Austin Lucas

Intense DH

The Powder trail crew added a small set of whoops to mix things up in the open ski trail. Brady Miller keeps it all business during practice but also backed it up on race day, topping the Amateur 16U’s by 1.3s.

Brian Squatrito was loving the dusty conditions, riding to his first Amateur 18U win.

We had competitors from ages 5 to 67 riding with us on Sunday. Mountain bike racing is for everyone! Crue Ulmer entered his first Maxxis ESC race and took home the 8U Brat class win.

Grayson Morin points it toward the base area on his way to the Expert 19-29 win.

Back-to-back third-place results for Sarah Hamlin as she carries that momentum to the end of the season.

Kale Cushman would have to settle for the runner-up spot, 7.7s off the win.

No one could touch Maryjane Kissinger on Wild Turkey this weekend as she blasts into the base area and across the line. She captured her second win of the season, extending her lead in the Pro women’s class overall.

Intense DH Pro Women: 4th – Sitota LaRocque, 2nd – Kale Cushman, 1st – Maryjane Kissinger, 3rd – Sarah Hamlin, 5th – Tillie Lange

Max Abrams didn’t wait long to lock down his second Pro podium, fighting his way to third place and hunting for that top step with just 0.88s left to reel in.

Times were tight in the Pro men’s class again this weekend. Ayrton French was just 0.25s off the win but secured his best Pro result to date.

After losing by 0.1s last weekend, Dylan Conte wasn’t going to let it happen again. He delivered the fastest run of the day with 1:30 on the clock, his first win on the new Frameworks rig. He currently leads the overall points battle by 132 points heading into the finals.

Intense DH Pro Men: 4th – Dan O’Connor, 2nd – Ayrton French, 1st – Dylan Conte, 3rd – Max Abrams, 5th – Nick Frazier

Thule Showdown Race Women: 2nd – Kai Waldman, 1st – Tillie Lange, 3rd – Michelle Guy

Thule Showdown Race Men: 2nd – Matthew Sullivan, 3rd – Matthew Keegan

Thule Showdown Overall Women: 3rd – Tillie Lange, 1st – Michelle Guy

Thule Showdown Overall Men: 1st – Dan O’Connor, 3rd – Jax Schmitz

Peace, Powder Ridge! Fall is officially upon us, and you’ve only got two more chances to get between the tape before the season is over. Stan’s Enduro Finals are up first at Arrowhead on October 14th, followed by Intense DH Finals at Jiminy Peak on October 26th. Get on over to the ESC website and get registered!

Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: Seth Merritt

Stan’s Enduro Results
Intense Downhill 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