Joy Ride Results 2003
Cam McRae

Joy Ride is one of those events that everyone looks forward to. There are always great riders there and the course is wickedly fast and fun for the riders. Things were looking a little dodgy on Monday when it seemed like the rain was never going to stop. Fortunately it did slow down for most of the heats and by the time the finals were on it wasn't bad out at all.


Aneke Beerten followed by Michelle Dumaresq Photo - Cam McRae
Pro Women
1 Jill Kinter USA
2 Sabrina Jonnier FRA
3 Tracy Moseley GBR
4 Tai-Lee Muxlow AUS
5 Anneke Beerten NED
6 Jen Ashton CAN
7 Michelle Dumaresq CAN
8 Claire Buchar CAN
Pro Men
1 Cedric Gracia FRA
2 Greg Minnaar RSA
3 Mike King USA
4 Scott Beaumont GBR
5 Chris Kovarik AUS
6 Steve Peat GBR
7 Bas De Bever NED
8 Chris O'Driscoll USA

Greg Minaar does his best to catch Cedric Gracia over the last table.

The format of JoyRide is unique because it manages to showcase all levels of our sport. A heat of pros would go then they would be followed by the juniors and perhaps a heat of DH chairs. The course handled the rain amazingly well and there was very little carnage.

Yesterday was the Air DH - an event that the riders love. They race down A-Line so for them it's an opportunity to pedal fast and enjoy the speed rather than worrying about picking the perfect line. Cedric Gracia managed to snag a Gravity Fest double winning the Air DH for the second year in a row. The next big event will be the Expression session this Saturday evening. Some huge new moves were built just for the competition including a 20 foot drop behind the wall ride and a massive spine. Watch for Timo Pretzl and Gareth Dyer going upside down and all the best riders in the world working the crowd.

For complete results as well as the results from the Air DH check out WorldFreeride.com.

The always controversial Cory Leclerc has been pushing the new school thing further lately - his new interpretation is 'flatland mtb'. "Dirt is played" he began, "you get the same people doing the same things - it's time for something new. Look at those guys - do I really need to see another fast Frenchie ripping through some berms and over doubles?" On his Cove Hooker Cory showed me an impressive combination of Dork Wheelie to Christmas Tree Decade to Steamroller. There is talk of Leclerc moving to Vegas to work full-time for Cirque de Soleil. I will keep you posted.

Cory Leclerc attempting a one-handed superman - flatland.
Come on up for Nationals and the Expression session or just to enjoy some laps down Clown Shoes, JoyRide or Dirt Merchant. Hope to see you there!

Cam McRae