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NORBA series concludes at Snowmass

Houseman, Petterson, Hannah, Hill claim gravity games; Kabush, Nash win STXC series

Published: Aug. 13, 2006
Houseman celebrates
Houseman celebrates
Photo: Fred Dreier

Rich Houseman has stood atop podiums at bike races for more than 20 years — the 1985 world BMX champion, now 28, started competing when he was only 5 years old. But after a decade as a professional mountain-bike racer, "Big House" hadn’t stood atop a NORBA National Mountain Bike Series podium — that is, until he won the 2006 mountain-cross title on Sunday at Snowmass, Colorado.

"I grew up basically with Eric Carter as my older brother, and watched him bring home a lot of No. 1 plates," said Houseman (Yeti Cycles). "Now I’ve got mine. It makes for a good career."

Houseman came into the NMBS finals trailing Aussie Jared Rando (Giant) by just seven points. Whichever athlete placed higher would take the series. Rando qualified slower than the American, which he believes cost him the win.

"Basically I just had to qualify faster than Rich, but I messed up my qualifier a bit and didn’t have lane choice," said Rando, who was relegated to the consolation heat after Houseman and Cody Warren eliminated him in the semifinals. "I’m pretty bummed. It was basically who won out of Rich and myself, so it’s pretty disappointing."

BMX star Arielle Martin took the women’s race. But South African Joanna Petterson (Morewood) finished second, locking up the series title.

"It feels good. It’s a huge step up for me," said the fifth-year pro, a Folsom, California, resident.

Jonnier, Minnaar take DH wins; Hill, Hannah claim overall

Neither Sabrina Jonnier (Monster-Iron Horse) nor Australian Tracey Hannah (Orange) believed she had won the 2006 NMBS overall series after the finals. Jonnier, the reigning World Cup champion, had taken the victory that day, besting Hannah by five seconds. Still, the Frenchwoman didn’t think she had enough points to pass the Australian. Hannah, meanwhile, figured her loss cost her the series overall.

But after the points were added up, Hannah had beaten Jonnier by a single point (968-967) to take the series.

"This morning the track was really greasy, and it was amazing how fast you could go," said 17-year-old Hannah. "I have liked racing in the United States, I have gotten to see the entire country."

Reigning World Cup champ Greg Minnaar (G-Cross-Honda) took the men’s race, squeaking by Aussie Sam Hill by 0:07 second. Hill’s runner-up spot earned him the series. For Minnaar, the win gave him added confidence going into the August 22-27 world championships in Rotorua, New Zealand.

"I would have liked to have won the overall, but my crash in Sonoma set me back," Minnaar said. "I’m happy to be on top going into worlds."

JHK scores a win
JHK scores a win
Photo: Paul McKenzie

Nash, JHK win short-track; Kabush, Nash take series
The day after finishing second in the cross-country and securing the series overall, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski left the 2006 NMBS finals with a victory. The Subaru-Gary Fisher rider attacked breakaway companions Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) and Jeremiah Bishop (Trek-Volkswagen) on the last lap, and barely held on for the win.

"I felt great, and it feels great to leave this weekend with a win," JHK said.

Had Kabush finished worse than third, the Canadian would have lost the short-track series to JHK. But Kabush crossed second, claiming his third consecutive NMBS short-track crown. He is the winningest rider in NMBS short-track history.

"I knew I had to finish at least third to win the series, which was the main goal today," Kabush said. "The top guys have been so consistent this year. It’s been a good battle between me and JHK the whole year."

Nash takes the series
Nash takes the series
Photo: Paul McKenzie

In the women’s race, Luna’s Katerina Nash let teammate Georgia Gould attack through the first half of the race, then rode the wheels of Dara Marks-Marino (Titus-Kenda) and Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkswagen). The Czech attacked on the final lap for her victory, and won her second-consecutive short-track series.

Race notes
The half-mile short-track course used a section of jumps left over from Friday’s dual-slalom course. While NMBS short-track courses often send riders up the bumps and berms left over from the gated races, this time they sent riders careening down. Trek-Volkswagen’s Ross Schnell was the primary benefactor of this decision. Clad in a mullet wig, short shorts and a neon helmet, Schnell wowed the crowd, boosting the double jumps on his full-suspension Trek. Not all of Schnell’s attempts went swimmingly — he attacked leader Ryan Trebon on the first lap by jumping a double and crashed. "It’s fun to end on a fun note," Schnell said. "I told everyone that if I was going to jump it, it would be a race decision. I figured if I was going to do it, I should try for a race-leading pass."

South African Joanna Petterson (Morewood) broke her left ankle while warming up for the pro women’s downhill. The 25-year-old Petterson was scheduled to race the August 22-27 world championships in Rotorua, New Zealand.

2006 NORBA National Mountain Bike Series Finals
August 11-13
Snowmass, Colorado
Mountain cross
Men
1. Rich Houseman, Yeti
2. 2. Dale Holmes, KHS
3. 3. Cody Warren, C-Dub Racing
4. 4. Ryan Sutton, RPM
5. 5. Jared Rando (Aus), Giant

Women
1. Arielle Martin, Staats
2. Joanna Petterson (SA), Morewood
3. Leana Gerrard, Bear Naked-Cannondale
4. Neven Steinmetz, Full Tilt
5. Jessica Vogt, Turner-Wahoos

Downhill (unofficial)
Men
1. Greg Minnaar (SA), G-Cross-Honda
2. Sam Hill (Aus), Monster-Iron Horse
3. Cody Warren, C-Dub Racing
4. Matti Lehikoinen (F), G-Cross-Honda
5. Duncan Riffle, Honda-Iron Horse

Women
1. Sabrina Jonnier (F), Monster-Iron Horse
2. Tracey Hannah (Aus), Orange
3. Lisa Myklak, Morewood
4. Jackie Harmony, Brodie-Cactus
5. Anka Martin, Honda-Iron Horse

Final NMBS downhill standings
Men
1. Hill, 955pts
2. Minnaar, 907
3. Cavalier, 813
4. Riffle, 792
5. Warren, 779

Women
1. Hannah, 968pts
2. Jonnier, 967
3. Myklak, 826
4. Harmony, 773
5. Reynolds, 755

Short-track cross-country (unofficial)
Men
1. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Subaru-Gary Fisher
2. Geoff Kabush (Can), Maxxis
3. Jeremiah Bishop, Trek-Volkswagen
4. Todd Wells, GT
5. Adam Craig, Giant

Women
1. Katerina Nash (CZ), Luna
2. Susan Haywood, Trek-Volkswagen
3. Dara Marks-Marino, Titus-Kenda
4. Georgia Gould, Luna

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