Highland Claymore Challenge Wrap Up

story and pics by Skye Nacel

    Mother Nature was almost the spoiler coming into this weekend's inaugural event called the Highland Claymore Challenge at our home mountain, Highland Mountain Bike Park. Torrential rains, high winds and even tornadoes touched down 10 miles from the course coming into the weekend so there were questions if the event was even going to happen. Course designer Dave Smutok and crew did their homework though and in true HMBP fashion, pulled it all off to the delight of hundreds of spectators gathered to watch the contest.
    The Red Bull title sponsored course ,was an absolute marvel in trail and stunt building. Huge stepdowns, hips, massive doubles, a wooden quarter, 18 foot high wallrides and even a "house" feature that riders could gap out onto and trick off of made it so there was something for everyone.
    Another rad part of the event is that it was one of two slopestyle contests in North America that had a spot for the top non-international competitor to qualify for a chance to compete Darren Berrecloth's contest, "The Bearclaw Invitational, in Washington, BC.
    Sinister Bikes was well represented with 3 of the four factory rippers slated to compete. Sasha Yakovleff wasn't able to compete due to an injury but still came out to rip up the course and check it out. He was the only rider hitting a cool transfer on Friday in true "Yak Attack" style. Here's Yak flowing.

Knight Ide was the first Sinister rider to compete in Saturday mornings Am class and he absolutely killed it out there, riding smooth and stylish against kids younger than his own son. He just wanted to ride the course, have fun and represent his sponsors, which he did with class.

Derek Stevens came into the event without the amount of practice that everyone else had as he had been working like a madman. In practice and qualifying though, you would have never been able to tell as he was boosting, flipping and whipping like a freakin' madman in only the way D-Rock can. He was riding well and slaying the course when a spin from way up in the air went bad. He crashed to the ground from so far up and he wasn't getting up. He dislocated his knee and got taken out on a stretcher but still managed to come back later in the day to support his teammate and watch the finals go down, like a true warrior!

The final Sinister rider in the event was  the one and only Dane Berke and he did not disappoint.Dane is a Highland regular who always is ready to throw down his "big mountain with an urban twist" style and in doing so, made the finals! He beat out legends like George Ryan and Carter Holland with his trademark Suicides and Supermans and Amplitude that was killer to watch. To see Dane's name on that finals list could've brought a tear to all of us in the Sinister Family. He blazed his two runs in the finals much to the delight of the crowd!

    Cam Macaul came out on top in the finals and Cape Cod local and former Sinister ripper Clinton Macmahon won the trip out to BC with a resounding fifth place after qualifying in first place! The whole mountain just went off and owner Mark Hayes was estactic with the overall success of the event. Some serious partying and celebrating was in order and Northfield NH stayed up late!

   

Clint throwing down!

   Mark Hayes crowning winner Cam Macaul.

Top 5 Pro
1 - Cam McCaul
2 - Andrew Taylor
3 - Aaron Chase
4 - Phil Sundbaum
5 - Clint McMahon

Keep your eyes out for video and more photos from the event in the upcoming Mocean365 Tv show which is a collaboration of Veilleux Films, and PerpetualMocean.  More pictures will be posted up on the PerpetualMocean SmugMug soon, so check back!

Thanks to everyone who made this a great event and can't wait for next year!

peace

skye