Sea Otter Classic – Monterey, CA

Photos By: Monique Spaulding / Stephanie Wolf & Mike Lord / six3events.com 

Words by: Quinton Spaulding

It is always good to see the Otter, we’ve known each other for a long time now!

This is why it is called the Sea Otter “CLASSIC”!!

CLICK on the picture above to view details.

Extremely busy, Wayne D. Gray (Vice President - KHS), took time out of his schedule for a brief visit with us… great seeing you Wayne D!

Slalom was the first discipline on the agenda for our guys. This is an awesome event… I hope to see it replace 4X sooner than later.

This was a great view of the slalom track from our pits.

I believe that if  there were more slalom events, there would be way more downhillers participating.

It would also pull in more spectators for the tight head-to-head racing.

Blake Carney put on a stellar performance for KHS, qualifying 11th, taking 11th place on the day.

Carney will be racing all the 4X UCI World Cup events this year… we wish him the absolute best!

KHS Fans were a prominent feature in and about the crowds…

CLICK on the picture above to view details.

… and so were the Monterey PD, always keeping an eye on things!

A regular at the Sea Otter event, and our friends from the “Coffee Cart” were out there in the very early morning hours serving FREE delicious  Espresso coffee.

The most common request at the Sea Otter Classic you ask??… STICKERS – “Got any stickers??”

A scene from the Lake that separates the Team Tech areas from the Retail vendors.

Downhill on Sunday took place on a revamped Otter track, which flowed well, and was a vast improvement from previous tracks for sure.

Logan Binggeli’s goal for the DH, was to achieve top ten. Considering the nature of this track (larger, longer 4x) and the depth of the field that would be a valuable result.

Binggeli “laying down the power” during Sunday’s final.

He finished in a very good 14th out of 105 Elite athletes. Great top 15 finish!

Chris Heath has worked hard in the off season.

Fondly known by his team mates as the “Heath Bomb”… Chris bombs down the track during Sundays race run.

Heath placed a Strong 20th place, putting two of the KHS riders in the “creme of the crop” top twenty at Sea Otter.

Kevin Aiello had a small bobble at the top of the track.

He still pinned it… and “show boated” for the crowds!

I too got off to a bad start and never really recovered… story of my life at Sea Otter! Maybe next year Top 40?!

The Sea Otter Classic has always been an AWESOME event and we will always be there! Big SHOUT OUT to Skip Latham for all he does to make this happen!

Mens Pro DH Top 50

Pack it up… pack it in! This was the end of a long road trip. Time to re-group, train and prepare even harder for the East Coast races that will separate the men from the boys!

Until Next Time!

Q.

Port Angeles, WA – Pro GRT 1

Photos By: Stephanie Wolf & Mike Lord / six3events.com 

Words by: Quinton Spaulding

The KHS factory team recently attended the Pro GRT # 1 in Port Angeles, WA. and it was tuff trying to maintain warmth in the North West during this event.

Our Factory Team was proud to be “sporting” all their new iXS Gear!

Scoping lines throughout this track was a task at times, but there were some good steep sections for sure!

Chris Heath looked really good on track leading up to his race run… he was dialed!

Heath is putting a lot of his efforts into fitness training for 2011, and it’s already beginning to pay off!

He had the strongest finish for the team, taking the “Marzocchi Golden Shock” and a top 20 in 13th place.

Kevin Aiello had a pretty rough weekend, he took 2 big crashes!

He still managed to put in a HUGE effort for his race run Sunday, (with limited practice) finishing 21st amongst 91 fast pro competitors.

Binggeli looked to be on pace during practice.

After a small crash in his qualifying run, he secured a strong finish only 5 seconds back off the pace, this gave him confidence for a top 5 finish.

The rain dampened his confidence during the finals, leaving him a little off pace in 43rd.

I felt super comfortable the entire weekend.

I snatched the number 1 Vet pro qualifying spot Saturday and was pumped for Sunday’s race.

I had a solid race run and took the win!

KHS on top of the podium! Off to the Sea Otter Classic, trading the colder, wetter North West region for the warmer California sunshine in Monterey Bay. PLEASE click on the video link below to see an awesome VIDEO update provided by: FANT FILMS

VIDEO: Port Angeles Video Update

FOR ALL RESULTS CLICK HERE

Until next time,

Q.

Welcome to the KHS Factory Team for 2011. Check out some of the new footage shot in Fontana California!!

VIDEO: KHS Fontana City National ROUND-UP

Fontana City National 2011

six3events.com | Photos By: Stephanie Wolf & Mike Lord

Report by: Quinton Spaulding

KHS Factory Racing was at the Fontana National this past weekend. Always available for questions and comments Factory Rider, Logan Binggeli.

This was a huge 4X event for Blake Carney…he had worked hard all winter long for this!

And when it came down to it – he was FLAWLESS!!

Blake went on to crush the competition in Saturday’s 4X Finals.

VIDEO: Decline interviews Carney after his win.

Shuttle lines were different from our Winter Series setup, and a little busier too.

Binggeli looked really solid during practice, showing the fundamentals right here.

Binggeli had an explosive final on Sunday morning, he took 4th on a TALENT PACKED podium!

Aiello looked AWESOME on the steeps on this track, yes the steeps!! There were sections of this track that were phenomenal pieces of downhill trail… right in the middle of Fontana.

Whilst warming up on the ROBIX spin trainer, Aiello told me he had a podium in his sites.

He was on key… he finished right on his teammates tail in 6th!

We were stoked to have Chris Heath in the house for the first time in Fontana this year. Heath has been hiding in the mountains of Colorado training his butt off for this years busy schedule.

Heath looked smooth as butter on track, and took very little time getting up to speed on his new KHS DH300.

Heath put in a HUGE effort and finished right on Aiello’s tail in 7th.

KHS ALL OVER THE PODIUM!!!

For the FULL RESULTS CLICK HERE

I pushed hard for the win in the Vet Pro at this National during my final run Sunday.

I felt good during my race, and thought I might have taken the win.

Just not enough though, but 2nd was GREAT for me anyways!

HUGE PROPS TO OUR SPONSORS – THANK YOU!!!!

We will be in Port Angeles, WA in 2 weeks for the opener of the 2011 Pro GRT – PLEASE stay tuned for more updates.

Until next time,

Q.

VIDEO: Fontana Nationals Mountain Cross Champ Interview

 

DECLINE MAGAZINE: Blake “let me guess your weight” Carney had a great weekend as usual at Fontana and is the 2011 mountain cross Champion.

 

 

KHS Factory Racing Has a new FaceBook FAN page – PLEASE subscribe to our NEWSLETTER

PLEASE CLICK HERE

Keeping you in touch with racing!

 

2011 Fontana Winter Series – Finals

Photos by: Monique Spaulding

Words by: Quinton Spaulding

XC is always the first event on the schedule to take place early Saturday mornings (which helps before temps get too high).

Joining us this past weekend, was Lance Tueller (iXS_Sports Division U.S. Representitive) along with his wife and son.

The Winter Series also features a Trials Comp – these guys have some serious skills!

darktimbers in the house!

Super D turned out to be a useful tool for Binggeli this Winter season. It helped him gain fitness and rolling speed at Fontana, and it sure paid off big time!!

Binggeli took 5th in Saturday morning’s Super D event. He also took 5th overall, (which was well deserved)!

http://www.pinkbike.com (along with other MTB sites), have been covering Fontana with a passion this Winter Series (which is super cool), and Tony Tarumoto (center in this picture) has played a big part in it.

Blake Carney killed the 4X track Saturday afternoon. He blazed the field, and took his first victory at the Winter Series as an Elite rider.

On the podium for KHS!!

Carney giving a shout out to all his sponsors  before graciously accepting his final first place overall win!

Carney also solidified the overall points win for the series, earning him a 1st place plaque as well as the number 1 plate in 2012.

Well done Blake!

Sunday is Downhill day… Binggeli on another ripper!!

Logan told me after the race, “I had an awesome run, hitting all my lines with focus and confidence, then I crushed the wall!”

Aiello flat lands the rocks, whilst pushing the limits!

Aiello has “Style for Miles”

Sundays race placed Binggeli in 4th and team-mate Aiello right behind him in 5th (unfortunately Aiello was unable to make the podium pic) but having both KHS Elite Downhill racers on the podium together again and a first for a SHIMANO Winter series was awesome.

Binggeli takes the overall points win! Aiello (unable to make podium pic) also on the podium in the overall points in 5th place. This is a GREAT result for KHS and also the first time that team-mates have podiumed together in the overall at Fontana. This also gives Binggeli and KHS  the number 1 plate in the DH for 2012 alongside Blake Carney’s number 1 plate in the 4x…quite an achievement!

I had a fairly wild run Sunday… but then again, what DH race run isn’t wild?!

For me just staying upright and feeling healthy during a series of race runs is winning on its own.

I managed 3rd in the Vet Pro on the Day.

I also placed 2nd in the overall points standings for the series and captured another podium for KHS.

This was a festive race series as always, and we are all very grateful to the Southridge USA Race family for putting it on!!

Also, thanks to my wife Monique for all her wonderful lifestyle shots from this winter series.

Everybody left a winner at the Winter Series, some got luckier than others winning a set of knee pads supplied by  iXS Sports Division

For Complete results please CLICK HERE

THANKS to our sponsors -KENDA Tires, MARZOCCHI Suspension, VELO Saddles, iXS, ODI Grips, SHIMANO Components, KMC Chains, GAMUT Chainguides & CANE CREEK Headsets.

We will be back for the Fontana City National in 3 weeks, looking for more titles!

 

Until next time,

Q.

KHS Factory Race Team – Uploaded by oxygen4energy

 

Check out KHS riders with Oxygen 4 Energy

Logan Binggeli’s KHS DH-300 Proto

Vital MTB check’s in with Logan and his DH300 Downhill Bike.

2011 Fontana Winter Series Race 4

Photos by: Monique Spaulding

Words by: Quinton Spaulding

The SHIMANO Winter Series moves forward to the 4th round!

Marzocchi’s Tom Rodgers and Bobby Acuna  took care of our suspension setups.

Saturday morning had intermittent rain showers.

Super D conditions were perfect for Saturday mornings race.

Once again, Binggeli held his own with a 4th place podium spot.

Rain in Fontana is nothing but a good thing…

…for the kids and the racers!

Carney prepares his 4X machine for battle.

All Out Productions pans the rainy pits.

The sun was out for 4X and Carney finished strong for KHS.

Another solid 4X podium for Blake.

Saturday afternoon brought out the fire pit and grill.

The KHS family enjoyed some Tri-Tip  on the Carney BBQ!

Jay Carney was in charge.

Sunday morning bright and early.

SRC timing and scoring.

Binggeli hucks it during his race run….

…testing his suspension to its limits!

This track was a little more of a pedal track than the last couple.

Making the end of the wall that much tougher, Binggeli sprints into a 3rd place finish!

Aiello focuses hard towards the bottom of the track.

The dirt was “EPIC”

Aiello sprints into 7th… just off the podium and only the first time this series.

Carney enjoyed the last DH race so much he came back for more.

Showing great form in the corners!

Carney finished right behind team mate Aiello in 8th, with another solid top 10.

KHS on the wood!

I had a poor weekend.

Was unable to make podium, but will be back with a vengeance in two weeks.

KHS mechanic “G-Money”  showed up in shape from Montana and raced the DH…

…and on the Podium in CAT 1 for KHS!… NICE JOB!

Keeping everyone informed is key!

We will be back in two weeks, PLEASE stay tuned for more updates as they become available.

THANKS to our sponsors -KENDA Tires, MARZOCCHI Suspension, VELO Saddles, iXS, ODI Grips, SHIMANO Components, KMC Chains, GAMUT Chainguides & CANE CREEK Headsets.

 

Until next time!

Q.