Melissa Buhl leads in Utah (Image credit: Jeep 48Straight Mountain Bike Series)
American riders are in control of the Jeep 48Straight Series standings, holding five of the six men's and women's podium spots toward the season-ending championship. The final dual slalom event is set for October 24-25 in San Luis Obispo, California, where Cody Warren and Melissa Buhl are expected to defend their leads.
Atop the men's standings is US National Champion Warren who won the first race of the season in New Jersey and finished fourth place in Utah at round two. Tied for second behind him are 18-year racing veteran Eric Carter, a former World Champion and three-time World Cup titlist, and Czech Republic transplant Petr Hanak, a former NORBA series champion.
A number of exceptional American and foreign athletes would be happy to break their way into contention, led by Greg Minnaar, who won in his first-ever Jeep mountain bike competition in Utah. The South African has earned an astounding 35 World Cup titles, a World Championship and two World Cup Championships, yet he's just one of many outside contenders. Other big gravity names expected to compete are Brian Lopes, Jared Rando, Rich Houseman, Cam Zink, J.D. Swanguen, Cam McCaul, Kyle Strait, Duncan Riffle, Chris Van Dine and snowboarder Shaun Palmer.
New to the world of Jeep gravity competitions will be Adam Craig. The reigning US National Champion in cross country and super D will be testing himself in the world of gravity racing after a season-long cross country campaign that culminated at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
In the women's standings, reigning World Champion and US National Champion Melissa Buhl earned a second place finish in New Jersey and a win in Utah to earn the top spot. Despite her brilliance on the dirt, she holds only a slim lead over former US National Champion Kathy Pruitt, who won in New Jersey and placed third in Utah. Griffiths, thanks to her impressive second place finish in Utah, rounds out the bunch, with US Open Champion Lisa Myklak right on her heels.
Fionn Griffiths of Great Britain is the lone international athlete expected in the overall mix, but no less than a half dozen of the world's elite gravity racers have the opportunity to shake up the standings with an upset in this cycling haven.
Local professionals and semi-pros will also have a chance to earn a spot in the dual slalom by participating in the open qualifier on Friday, October 24. Finals happen on October 25, with a maximum of 75 men and 25 women.
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