June 20, 2004 (Mount Snow, Vt.) – The fifth stop on the NORBA circuit came to a close today with the downhill competition. In a sport that typically sees margins of just a couple seconds between the top riders, Kathy Pruitt (Lake Almanor, Calif.) shook things up this afternoon by besting her nearest threat in the finals by 18 seconds. Reigning World Champion Greg Minaar (RSA) took the win by three seconds over Dustin Adams (CAN) in the men’s contest.
A win looked well within Pruitt’s reach when she won the qualifying round in 4:51:28, 17 seconds faster than Chile’s Bernadita Pizarro. The margin was quite the confidence booster going into the finals, but nobody would have imagined Pruitt to shave 12 seconds off of her own time in the final fun. The crowd went wild as she came into sight and stole the victory from Pizarro. In a final run of 4:39:27, Kathy Pruitt would have placed in the top 40 had she competed against the pro men.
Pizarro took second place by clocking a 4:57:48, and Lisa Sher (Capistrano Beach, Calif.) took third in 5:03:74. A career day for Dawn Bourque (Campton, N.H.) saw her come in fourth posting a time of 5:06:38. Although she was ranked eleventh after qualifying, Danni Connolly (Truckee, Calif.) rode to her first podium finish of the year in a fifth place time of 5:09:79.
On the men’s side, Minaar took it easy in the qualifying run posting a tenth place time of 4:20. Of course, he saved the excitement for last. As the last man down the mountain at NORBA round five, Minaar bested his time by 24 seconds, finishing in 3:56.
Kathy Pruitt bested her nearest threat in the finals by 18 seconds. Dustin Adams (CAN) was very close, but not close enough. The second place winner clocked a 3:59, which was 13 seconds faster than his qualifying run. Third, fourth, and fifth places went to John Kirkaldie (NZL), Shaums March, and Bryn Atkinson.
Minaar is concentrating on the NORBA circuit this year as opposed to the World Cups. The champion explained in a pre-race interview, “I really like racing the NORBA series, and I would also like to build my fan base here in America.” Judging from the number of young mountain bike hopefuls surrounding his tent over the weekend, it looks like his American fan base may just be growing.
The NORBA National Championship Series continues next month at the Schweitzer Mountain Resort In Sandpoint, Idaho.
Men’s Downhill Results
1. Greg Minaar (RSA)
2. Dustin Adams (CAN)
3. John Kirkcaldie (NZL)
4. Shaums March (USA)
5. Bryn Atkinson (AUS)
Women’s Downhill Results
1. Kathy Pruitt (USA)
2. Bernadita Pizarro Lazo (Chile)
3. Lisa Sher (USA)
4. Dawn Bourque (USA)
5. Danni Connolly (USA)
Men’s Standings after 3 Rounds
1. Greg Minaar (RSA)
2. John Kirkcaldie (NZL)
3. Bryn Atkinson (AUS)
4. Dustin Adams (CAN)
5. Jared Graves (AUS)
Women’s Standings after 3 Rounds
1. Bernadita Pizarro Lazo (Chile)
2. Kathy Pruitt (USA)
3. Lisa Sher (USA)
4. April Lawyer (USA)
5. Melissa Buhl (USA)