April 20, 2008 (Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA) – The downhill event on Sunday wrapped up pro gravity competitions at the 2008 Sea Otter Classic in Monterey. On a slightly lengthened course from year, riders choked through copious amounts of dust as they made their way down a 2km/1.25 mile course of rolling green hillside. The wind from Saturday had died down a bit, but it was still knocking riders off course up top as they slid their way through dusty corners.

Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate pushed hard for his first win of the year on his new Santa Cruz V10 with a time of 2:11.2. “Obviously my run went really well, I didn’t even realize I had won until right at the end when Kathy came up to tell me. Technically I rode it how I wanted to but pedaling wise, it was brutal. I conserved a lot of energy up top by freewheeling down the fast sections. It was pretty dusty and dry,” said Minnaar after the win.

Chris Kovarik (Aus) Chain Reaction took home second and Justin Leov (Nzl) Yeti placed third. Both Kovarik and Leov ran a 2:12, with the Aussie pulling off second place by a thousandth of a second. Top Canadian was Shaums March (Can) in 26th with Steve Smith in 43rd place, 8 seconds off the pace who didn’t mince words after the race, “It went about as good as I could go, and I pedalled my balls off. “

Melissa Buhl (USA) KHS took home the win for the women, out-pedaling Fionn Griffiths (Gbr) Norco and defending world Champion Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Maxxis Iron Horse). Top Canadian was Claire Buchar (Can) Intense in 9th, who managed to crack the top 10. “My run was pretty solid. I can’t complain. But looking back there are a few spots where I could have done better and pedalled harder,” said Buchar shortly after the finish.

Results

Men

1. Greg Minnaar (RSA) Santa Cruz Syndicate 2:11.21
2. Chris Kovarik (Aus) Chain Reaction 2:12.05
3. Justin Leov (Nzl) Yeti 2:12.10
4. Steve Peat (Gbr) Santa Cruz Syndicate 2:13.09
5. Nathan Rennie (Aus) Santa Cruz Syndicate 2:13.48

26. Shaums March (Can) 2:17.82
43. Steve Smith (Can) 2:20.38
44. Andrew Pohlmann (Can) 2:20.63
60. Andrew Shandro (Can) 2:23.02
62. Tyler Morland (Can) 2:23.41
80. Dominick Menard (Can) DHracer.com/Iron Horse 2:27.37
84. Chris Reading (Can) 2:30.33
88. Tom Grzesik (Can) 2:32.30
90. Stephen Bursey (Can) 2:32.81
DNF Jean-Pierre Theriault (Can)

Women

1. Melissa Buhl (USA) KHS 2:26.67
2. Fionn Griffiths (Gbr) Norco 2:27.63
3. Sabrina Jonnier FRA Maxxis Iron Horse 2:28.49
4. Rachel Atherton (Gbr) Animal Commencal 2:29.03
5. Abigail Hippley (USA) 2:35.45

9. Claire Buchar (Can) Intense 2:38.35
10. Caroline Jarolimek (USA) 2:40.67
11. Danice Uyesugi (Can) 2:40.97
12. Mio Suemasa (Jpn) MS-Intense Factory-Racing 2:41.47
14. Miranda Miller (Can) Squamish 2:42.92
15. Rebecca McQueen (Can) 2:45.98
16. Micayla Gatto (Can) Oakley/Commencal 2:46.14
17. Fiona Taylor (Can) 2:48.98
DNF Amber Zirnhelt (Can) Brodie