Chalk Creek Stampede Tests DEVO

This past weekend the Durango DEVO U14 and 19 teams headed over Wolf Creek pass, with dark clouds looming in the distance to take on the Mountain States Cup round 2, Chalk Creek Stampede. On friday 45 parents, athletes and coaches took temporary residence at the campground across the street and sat in cars, under rain tarps and pop up tents and weathered out the storm.
Missing the race course prerides due to the cold rain, the team woke up saturday morning to snow, and prepared for the first event, the Super D, by getting in a quick early preride of the mostly flat course in the hour before the competition. Coach Chad was the first Devo to go and finished in 18th place in the pro field, followed by Director Sarah Tescher with a 7th place. Later in the junior race, Gino Pastore placed a time that beat his coaches, while passing 5 juniors i the tight twisty course, to place 1st in the juniors. Teammates Elliott Saslow, Sepp Kuss and Levi Kurlander finished 2-4th. DEVO riders then placed 7th through 13th, taking up most of the field. James Shahan, Henry larson, Chase Seivert, George McQuinn, Charlie Malone, Cole Mystrom and Shane Ellis in the mix.
The skies had finally began to warm after the Super D for the Short Track and Dual Slalom races. Early on it was Stephan Davoust taking the Dual Slalom win in the Cat 3 15-18 boys. His consistent and safe riding style kept him moving on through the rounds on the fast track. The short track took place on a short 1 mile course, that had been harrowed into the ground by a tractor one year earlier, it was nothing special, but offered suffering and passing lanes, 2 short track staples. Victories were had by Charlie Greenberg in the U14 junior boys, Haakon Sigerslid in the Cat 2 boys, Alicia Rose on the Cat 1 women and Howard Grotts in the Cat 1 boys.
Saturday night the team, parents and coaches all gathered at the campsite and cooked a spagetti meal for 50. The Ellis family donated elk for the sauce, City Market helped us with some discounted pasta, Bread Bakery with bread and cookies, and the Chip Peddler hooked us up with ton of their lime and salt tortilla chips. Before and after dinner the racers prepared for the next days events by playing 500 and a game of 6v6 football, with a deep game winning touchdown pass from Stephan Davoust to Coach Chad Cheeney. The famous “Schwag Fest” took place around the campfire at sunset, bringing parents and kids together to talk about the next days race, and more importantly, hand out bike and random product to the team. Several former Devo athletes and other area junior athletes were invited to join the fun. Smores, more campfire starring, and then bedtime at 930pm.
Sunday morning was freezing. The bike saddles were all frosted white when it was time to leave camp, for the Under 14 races at 7:00am. Early on it was Charlie Greenberg throwing down and taking 2nd place in the junior boys, his best xc finish to date. Then a strong 4th place finish by Cole Mystrom and Charlie Malone and Chase Sievert in 5th and 6th place, with George McQuinn in 8th.
The Under 14 girls were next and the 3 teammates took on their first cross country race together in stride. In an amazing sprint finish, it was India Waller holding on for 2nd place. The sprint had the families and crowd going wild as they were neck and neck the entire final 100yard finish stretch. Soon after, Sophia Quick and Robin Austin came in for 4th and 5th. In the Cat 3 men, Henry Larson took the 5th place finish and then headed off for the hot springs of Mt Prinston for a well deserved soak.
In the Cat2 Boys race it was Haakon Sigerlid with the strong win. Teammates Levi Kurlander and Stephan Davoust battled back and forth all day for 3rd place with Levi taking it in the end after attacking on the final laps first climb. James Shahan rode in for 12th place.
Alicia Rose Pastore continued her win streak in the MSC series and took a very strong xc win by 6 minutes. Alicia is a defending national champion and has her sights set on worlds in Canada later this season.
DEVO’s other defending national champion, Howard Grotts took on the Cat 1 field early by pulling away and keeping a 1 minute gap on the pack for three laps. On the forth lap, he was overtaken along the long fence line straightaway, and rolled in in 2nd place, 20 seconds back. In third place less than 4 minutes behind was Sepp Kuss, who had his best Cat 1 finish yet. Teammates Gino Pastore and Elliott Saslow finished tired and hungry in 4th and 5th place for Durango DEVO.
The Coaches were also out there shredding. In the singlespeed category, Director Sarah Tescher threw down and won the race with U14 coach Jess Reed right on her tail in 2nd place, aboard her new custom bike, a locally made Norse Cycles. And Annie Cheeney, U14 head coach, in her first Cat 1 race took 6th place and accomplished her goal.
Overall it was a great weekend for Durango DEVO. The weather was bad at first, but the group stayed strong and weathered it out only to find 2 gorgeous days of competition ahead. The athletes bonded and the parents got to know one another over pasta and campfire smoke. DEVO likes Nathrop and Nathrop like DEVO.