Claymore Challenge 2009 Photos and Cliff Notes
NASHUA, New Hampshire (derailedodnline.com) - Over 200 photos are posted from this past weekends Claymore Challenge at Highland Mountain Bike Park. Provides a near play by play photo journal of this weekends event.
Competition got started late due to rain that fell the night before. Delayed start allowed the bring sunshine to dry up the course before competitors started practice and the finals. Many competitors were seen lending a helping hand with shovels and rakes to repair areas affected by the rain.
There was not a lack of things to do over the weekend. Spectators were fully occupied by the different things available before the event. Trek and Rocky Mountain Bikes were on hand with a fleet of demo bikes. Several spectators were seen renting bike gear and buying lift tickets to check out the rental bikes on the great trail network Highland has to offer. Sam Adams was stationed in the back lawn with their frosty beverages for those that preferred to relax in the Highland lawn. Highland crew had a burger burn running all day in the lawn to kill any hunger you had built up during the day. Vendors lined the area around the lodge that include Stonyfields Yogurts handing out free samples, POC Body Armor and Gear, Doberman Bikes, izStyle, Specialized, and e.Thirteen Components. e.Thirteen Components was on hand offering support to the competitors and a rest area after runs.
Qualifying got started with competitors being chosen on the best of two runs. After the first run the results were close for the top 10 that would go into the finals. Second run secured the top 10 their spot into the finals. To add to the excitement one of the amateurs Clint McMahon, a "local" from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, that qualified for the event via the last chance qualifiers held leading up to the finals made it into the finals. Qualifying only used the lower portion of the course due to wet conditions at the top of the course. The decision was made to use the top portion of the course which included a strange obstacle called the cannon only for the finals. The cannon basically was a log planted in the ground with planks nailed to the top that shot you out into the air to a landing some 15 feet away. Before finals the cannon claimed one of the finalist as they were given a chance to practice shortly before the start. Jamie Goldman attempted a 360 off the cannon and ended up injuring his knee that had previous problems with his ACL.
At the end of the evening it was Canadian Brandon Semenuk (Red Bull/Trek) that took home the Claymore! Plus some pocket cash to the tune of $5000.
1. Brandon Semenuk CAN (Red Bull/Trek)
2. Greg Watts USA (Gary Fisher)
3. Paul Basagoitia USA (Red Bull/Kona)
4. Kelly McGarry NZ (Gravity/Turner)
5. Andrew Taylor USA (Santa Cruz)
Festivities did not end with the end of the competition. In the Highland lawn izStyle had a large stage setup where Paranoid Social Club played followed by Audio Journal then Pete Kilpatrick Band played inside the lodge on into the night.
Check out the 200+ photos here
Here are a few of my favorites:
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Posted on Jul 20, 2009 20:41:17 -0400 by Brady.