2011 Sub-9 Super D Event Recap

The 2011 Annual Sub-9 Super D took place on Sunday, August 21st on the world-class mountain bike trails at Brown County State Park (Nashville, Indiana).  More than 100 riders from across the Midwest (and Canada!) participated in the second annual event. 

Participants began arriving on Friday evening and attendance continued to grow throughout the next day as riders checked-in ahead of the closed course pre-riding on Saturday afternoon.  The Saturday night on-site camping was packed full of participants, families and friends and folks spent the evening mingling with neighbors and getting to know other race competitors. 

On Sunday morning, riders lined up for a 9:30 a.m. start, beginning with the Open/Pro/Elite and Cat 1 Men riders.  Pennsylvania native and last year's overall race winner, Tim Carson, drove all night from his hometown in Pittsburgh to defend his title and was first out of the gate.  Riders continued to hit the course in one minute intervals as the 5.5 mile, 100 % single track course tested both the riders fitness and bike handling skills.  In the end Tim would not reclaim the title, but instead it would go to Indianapolis based rider, Chris Bowman.

Congratulations to Michael Olson of Morton Grove, IL for taking home first place in the Open/Pro/Elite Men and to Chris Bowman (30-39) of Indianapolis for his top Category 1 Men placing.  Heidi Shilling of Columbus, Ohio took home top honors for the Open/Pro Women while Columbus, Indiana resident Amanda Virostko won the Category 1 Women's division. 

Category 2 riders followed suite and continued to have a strong showing of riders throughout the morning.  Frank Martin (30-39) of Evansville received the Category 2 Men top award while Rebecca Zink of Indianapolis won for the Category 2 ladies.  

As part of the Alison Dunlap Junior Mountain Bike Race Series, Junior riders twelve and under had the opportunity to race a shortened 2.5 mile course beginning at the North Tower Lookout trail entrance, while riders thirteen and over raced with the rest starting at Hesitation Point.  The 2011 event saw it's largest showing of Junior participants with riders competing from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky.  Ian Juillerat (10 and under) was the fastest of the Junior riders under the age of twelve, while Junior Cat 2/17-18 rider, Mark Renn, placed in the overall top ten and was our fastest Junior rider of the day.

Once the youngest competitors were safely off the trail it was time once again to start the action from the top of Hesitation Point beginning with the Category 3 Men riders. 

Morning participants as well as families and friends gathered at various spectator locations to cheer on the afternoon racers.  In the end it was Dean Leavens (40-49) of Jasper, Indiana who took the trophy from the other Category 3 riders, while Sarah Farver-Staub of Ashley, Indiana placed first out of the Category 3 Women.

Those familiar with last year's course found the SRAM Speed Trap to be in a new location for this year's race.  Riders were able to test their courage and skill while descending the three "steps" on the North Gate Connector where everyone's speed was captured by radar.  Canadian competitor, Dylan Elliot of Ingersoll, Ontaria, Canada took home the SRAM Speed Trap prize for the men by clocking 25 mph while Junior rider, Amelia Nelson of Carmel, IN, beat all the ladies with a speed of 21 mph!

When the last competitors crossed the finish line, folks gathered at Upper Shelter for the official results and awards ceremony.  Medals were awarded to the top three riders in each class, while the top rider in each category received a State Championship trophy.  With lots of goodies to give away, riders were automatically entered into a raffle with a chance to win items donated by event sponsors.  Some folks walked away with t-shirts or chains, while others won handlebars, brakes, derailleurs and even gravity-dropper seat posts!  A huge thank you to all our event sponsors for your kind donations and willingness to help make the Sub-9 Super D the premier Super D event in the Midwest!

Cheers,
Tania and Jonathan Juillerat
Event Directors
Sub-9 Productions