Ride6

Word had spread regarding, what had unofficially been dubbed, the best course of the winter series to date. Riders came out of the wood work and made the trek out to Hoopa to check out the goodness that was the Slippery Eel DH. The buzz brought out the largest pirate field to date, and sported enough diversity to create women's and boys sub categories. While all were excited and anxious to roll down the Hapgood/Matheson handiwork few had gotten the privilege of practice prior to the morning of the event. Regardless riders stormed the hill cooking their brakes down the steepest sustained trail around, while at the same time trying to stomp and memorize all the lines which would allow one to straighten out the twisty course ands avoid the ominous "PinBall Effect". As practice stretched on toward the afternoon some riders realized that they would not have time to complete the scheduled three timed runs. Weight was added to timed practice as many riders would select that time to put toward their final total. Qualifying saw most riders pick their way down the trail, feeling out the lines which would have to be nailed the next time around. Keiko Tomita put up a time which had her sitting atop the women's bracket and Joel Graves slipped into the front of the junior pack. With the men it was course builder Brian Hapgood posting the quickest pace, 4:04, with Justin Graves sitting second just three seconds back. The rest of the field had a better hand then expected as proved by race run one. After the mayhem had calmed Keiko was still in command of the women's class and Joel Graves, despite a tacoed wheel , sat atop the junior field. The two were to stay there as their respective classes opted to forfeit their final runs. On the men's side times were dropping like feathers in 0 atmosphere. First place qualifier Brian Hapgood had his problems on the way down and fell back to 4:12, allowing Graves to slip into the hot seat with a 4:02. Despite holding the fastest time so far the pressure was not to abate as Sean Tetrault came down one second back, Jared Delong, Jake Todd, and Rowan G Weiser all stepped it up to be within six seconds. After much discussion over run selection and dallying the field made it up to the top of the Eel for run two. While the first two runs had been easy put downs, the final round was to be the pressure test. First down the hill was Mr. Hapgood who was one of only two riders to go sub four on the day at 3:59. Next down was the hot seat holder who cracked just enough to let his opponents by, Graves falling back eight seconds. This gave T the opportunity, and putting down a 4:02 had him sitting pretty. The pressure proved to crack the majority of the field as riders attempted to pin it and found themselves racking up multiball awards as they bounced down the course. Finally it was in the hands of surprise threat Rowan G Weiser, who put down a time which tied for fastest of the day but was not enough to edge Mr. (consistent) T from the top podium spot. Times were tight with the largest and fastest field to date, the final is one not to be missed.

Ride Six
Results
Inconsequential Practice Times Pending

Points Break

Winner

	NAME	Qualifying	Heat 1	Heat 2	Combined
1st	Sean Tetrault		4:03	4:02	8:05
2	Rowan Gratz Weiser		4:08	3:59	8:07
3	Brian Hapgood		4:12	3:59	8:11
4	Justin Graves		4:02	4:10	8:12
5	Jared Delong		4:07	4:11	8:18
6	Hank Matheson		4:21	4:02	8:23
7	Jake Todd		4:08	4:26	8:34
8	Jason Allen		4:19	4:20	8:39
9	Matt Snyder	4:18	4:24	DNS	8:42
10	Joe Joerger		4:26	4:18	8:44
11	Evan Hobart	4:25	4:20	DNF	8:45
12	Paul Wilson		4:29	4:23	8:52
13	Aaron Memmer		4:52	4:37	9:29
14	Jason Reiman		4:48	4:55	9:43
15	Andrew Morin	4:13	5:37	DNF	9:50
16	Keiko Tomita	5:16	5:02	DNS	10:18
17	Jon Martin		5:22	5:03	10:25
18	Tyler Robertson	5:21	5:20	DNF	10:41
19	Jessica Niles	5:26	5:33	DNS	10:59
20	Joel Graves	5:35	5:52	DNS	11:27
21	Amos Pole	6:16	5:57	DNF	12:13
22	Robbie Rhall	7:25	6:39	DNS	14:04
23	Darin 'Blaze' Carpenter	7:32	8:36	DNS	16:12
24	Dennis Wong		7:49	8:23	16:12
25	Chris Ellicot	6:31	DNF	DNS