Gravity East expands dual slalom companion series

Gravity East's previously-announced dual slalom series, to be run in conjunction with some of the organization's popular downhill races, has been expanded to seven events for 2009 with the addition of the event at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, New York. The dual slalom events will comprise a parallel companion series to the Gravity East Downhill races with the dual slalom riders competing for their own separate points championships.

The events will typically be held the evening before the accompanying downhill, following the downhill practice/inspection runs. The schedule provides the opportunity for riders to take home extra prizes without any additional travel expenses. Perhaps more importantly, though, the dual slalom will help racers entertain their peers according to Gravity East Director Daniel McDonald,

"You have hundreds of people unwinding after a day of hard practice on the mountain. There's music and barbeque in the air, and lots of crashes. It's really a great environment, even to come out and just watch."

Gravity East's Dual Slalom Series will utilize the "Y" configuration popularized by the Jeep King of the Mountain contests for snowboarding, skiing and mountain bike. The "Y" configuration pits two riders on a downhill course where the top half of the course is a series of parallel side-by-side turns where the riders battle for the lead position before merging into a single route where the riders battle wheel-to-wheel to the finish.

The head-to-head program will feature a single elimination format, with the fastest riders having lane choice each round.

2009 Gravity East Dual Slalom Series Schedule
June 6: Wisp Resort, McHenry, Maryland
June 27: Windham Mountain, Windham, New York
July 11: Highland Mountain Bike Park, Northfield, New Hampshire
August 29: Whiteface 5K DH, Wilmington, New York
September 26 Blue Mountain Resort, Danielsville, Pennsylvania
October 3: Mount Snow, West Dover, Vermont
October 10: Finals, Plattekill Mountain, Roxbury, New York.

For more information on the Gravity East Dual Slalom and Downhill Series, visit www.GravityEastSeries.com.