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KONA FACTORY RIDER RYAN TREBON 3RD IN NMBS #1 NOVA DESERT CLASSIC XC -
FOUNTAIN HILLS, ARIZONA
The first short track of the season started under the lights at 8pm in downtown Fountain Hills, AZ. With few 2006 short track points, Wendy Simms was the last athlete called to the start line, literally. With a short course that favored a good start position, she was instantly put at a disadvantage. However, Simms unleashed her displeasure on the field, rode through most of it, while turning in some of the fastest lap times an her way to an aggressive 8th place finish.
Three Kona Factory men took the start line for the short track. Barry Wicks sported his US National Short Track Champion stars and stripes skinsuit. All three, Wicks, Ryan Trebon, and Kris Sneddon, were in the lead group for the majority of the race. Trebon launched an attack and was later caught. He finished 6th, with teammates Wicks and Sneddon 9th and 11th respectively. It was Sneddon’s best Short Track result to date.
After watching Simms power performance the night before, we knew she was a contender in Sunday’s XC. Temperatures neared 85°F at the start of the women’s race. The women raced 3, ten mile laps on a circuit that provided zero shade. Simms faired well against the stacked women’s field. She was positioned comfortably in the second chase group for most of the race. Simms rode across the finish in 6th place, her best result ever at a Mt. Bike National.
The men’s race started in the heat of the day, at 3:30pm. They raced four, 10 miles laps, and would finish just before sunset. Trebon was relaxed pre-race as he took the start line in his US National XC Champion stars and stripes jersey. Coming through the feed zone at the end of the first lap, Trebon and Wicks sat comfortable in the lead group of 8 riders.
Sneddon was also in the lead group during the first lap, however he did
battle with cactus on the course and suffered three flat tires throughout
the race. After each mishap Sneddon stayed positive, and kept charging
through the field. Sneddon is enjoying good early season form, and is
poised to have his best season yet.
Trebon road a strong second half of the race. He attacked out of the lead
chase group and came to within fifteen seconds of the two leaders. He would
ride alone to a 3rd place finish, and the first podium of the season for our
Kona Factory Team. Trebon admitted after the race that he wasn’t tired, but
he didn’t have his high-end snap in the legs this early in the season. Wicks
rallied around the course on the final lap to come across the finish in a
respectable 8th place.
Dry, dusty conditions and brand new bikes kept the work load minimal… unless
you were racing.
Trebon and the rest of the team had nothing but praise for the new Kona Kula
Supreme bikes saying, “These new bikes are sweet!” Fellow rider Wendy Simms
also remarked how much snappier the new dual suspension Hei Hei Supreme is
this year with the improved leverage ratio.
All in all it was a good outing for the Kona Factory XC team and all the
athletes were comfortable with their performances and fitness level at this
early point in the season.
Next up for the Kona Factory Team-The Sea Otter Classic.
Cheers,
Mark Matson, Kona Team Wrench
FINISH RECAP:
Short Track-Men Short Track-Women
6th-Ryan Trebon 8th-Wendy Simms
9th-Barry Wicks
11th Kris Sneddon
Cross Country-Men Cross Country-Women
3rd-Ryan Trebon 6th Place Wendy Simms
8th-Barry Wicks
51st Kris Sneddon-3 flats
All Photos by John Gibson
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