Jamiesons Win National Titles!

July 22, 2009 on 2:37 am | In Mountain Biking | 2 Comments

The father-son combination of Darrell and Chase Jamieson struck big as both won titles at the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals at Granby Ranch Bike Park in Sol Vista, Colorado. Nearly 2,000 racers showed up to compete for national championships on July 18th and 19th.

Darrell ran a 2:38.99 to easily outdistance second-place finisher Chris Bentley of Seattle by nine seconds in Cat I Masters. He also bested 2007 national champ and two-time Sea Otter runner-up Craig Van Cleave of Nevada by 20 seconds.

The course featured three steep, rocky sections with two to three foot log drops that gave riders fits, several six-foot drops, and a 43-foot step-down that Darrell and many other riders chose to avoid.

“Ryan (Hicks) had me on a stop watch during the practice runs, and I was able to come in only half-a-second slower when I rode around the step-down that when I rode over it. I decided not to risk life and limb.”

Chase took a bad spill during a practice run and broke the jaw piece on his full-face helmet. He bounced back the next day and, despite a crash on the steep, rocky log-drop section, rolled to the 10-and-Under win in 4:20, a full 20 seconds of the second-place finisher who came into the event ranked second in the nation.

Darrell noted that the pro course was highlighted by three doubles with 48-foot do-or-die gaps. “They had a helicopter onsite, and it was very busy hauling people off to the hospital in Denver.” Aaron Gwinn of the Yeti World Cup Team won the pro event in 2:11.7

“It was an epic weekend,” Darrell said, “and we got the results we could only have dreamed of. Thanks to Ryan for providing support and thanks to Project 529 and the Growlers Gulch crew for providing one of the premier places to ride in the entire country.” 

Video from the Pro DH at Sol Vista will give you a feel for what Darrell and Chase were up against.