Elke Powering Down

Mercedes Gonzales was the only girl clearing the 25 foot double jump and it paid off, putting her into first until she was bumped out by Elke Brutsaert by two hundrdeths of a second. Elke dusted off her old tactics today and powered herself to the win.

"Last year, I just focused on my technical skills and found myself carrying too much speed into corners and crashing into trees. So this year I reverted back to my training just to be the fittest biker out there," she said.

"The men's race was as exciting as you could ask for with the leader changing three times in the last four laps..."

The Great Brit, Steve Peat, won his second national series race with a flowndering first run to qualify but a near perfect final run for the win. He beat out Jurgen Beneke and Dave Cullinan by more than three second who took second and third respectivly.

Brutsaert, a regular ruler from Durango, Colorado, also beat back Leigh Donovan who was riding strong for third and well-trained Marla Streb who reeled in fourth. Sunday's finish marks the eighth national series race-win for Brutsaert. Missy Giove said she was some seven seconds faster than her qualifing run before she crashed so she was happy with her season start and looking ahead to Les Gets, the first World Cup race and many a rider's favorite.

	Big Steve Peat

The men's race was as exciting as you could ask for with the leader changing three times in the last four laps. Dave Cullinan held the top bubble before it was burst by an 18-year-old Aussie newcomer named Nathan Rennie. Nathan was soon to be kicked back as well when Jurgen Beneke dropped in and then Kirt Voreis found the line to one-up Jurgen by one hundreth of a second and second place.

Palmer couldn't produce the usual southern Cal lashing for teammate Voreis. Then came big Steve Peat who hucked his meat down the Bear some three seconds faster than anyone. Steve is one big dude and it's always refreshing to see his big frame powered over the course with the same finesse as the little guys.

Ex-roadie and cross country NCS champion, downhill champion and all-around American cowboy, John Tomac fractured and dislocated his right wrist on his final run and may need surgery. Shaums May crashed into a tree on his qualifying run, cutting him out of the finals. Get better soon boys.

— Hans Prosl, getting run-downhill by MountainZone.com