Gravity East Speedweek starts at WISP

Gravity East's Southern Speedweek begins this weekend, June 5-7, with the Chumba Racing Capital Cup at Maryland's Wisp Resort. The weekend is highlighted by the second round of the 2009 Gravity East Downhill Series and the opening stop of the Gravity East e.thirteen Dual Slalom Series. In combination with the following weekend's Gravity East downhill at nearby Seven Springs Resort, gravity riders from throughout North America will have the opportunity to race and train for six days in just a ten day span, including three competitive downhill runs and the season's first dual slalom, as well as pre-race practice runs and a bonus post-race practice day at Wisp on Monday June 8 following the race.

In a departure from the normal downhill program, the Chumba Capital Cup will be run as a combined-time event as racers tackle two different courses over two days, plus a dual slalom, for over US$10,000 in cash and prizes.

"We'll have practice all day on Friday. Then on Saturday, we'll start with dual slalom qualifying before moving up the big hill for the first downhill," said Race promoter Mike Hartlove of The Racer's Edge. "After the downhill we'll have the dual eliminations and a party, though I'm not sure there's much of a distinction between the two, before moving on to the post-race party at Mountain State Brewing Company. Then on Sunday, we'll have the second downhill on a different course. The winner of the Chumba Capital Cup will have the best combined total time from the two downhill runs."