Angel Fire Resort has a world-class mountain bike course. This weekend was the third stop of the Pro GRT. Between 200 - 300 racers participated on the 2,000 vertical feet course. Angel Fire Bike Park offers over 60 miles of new and improved trails for riders of all abilities.
Photo courtesy of Jim Merritt
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
The race was very exciting and challenging as captured by Jim's photos above and below!! To get a fuller appreciate of Jim's great camera work, click on a photo to bring it up larger.
Photo courtesy of Jim Merritt.
All rights reserved.
Photo courtesy of Jim Merritt.
All rights reserved.
Photo courtesy of Jim Merritt.
All rights reserved.
Photo courtesy of Jim Merritt.
All rights reserved.
Photo courtesy of Jim Merritt.
All rights reserved.
BUT, before a rider gets to the FINISH line he or she has to get to the top of the mountain...
Photo courtesy of Jim Merritt.
All rights reserved.
I guess one could say what goes up must come down. Evin and I enjoyed a breathtaking ski lift ride along with a lot of the participants and their bikes. They race down while we enjoyed the views going down. Angel Fire Resort's Bike Park has on of the largest lift-access mountains in North America.
Angel Fire Resort also offers a zip-line and beautiful views as seen below.
Evin and I ride back down the ski lift and it's back to downhill racing action...
After Jim Merritt so graciously shared his professional shots of the bikers I was going to delete most of mine; but, Evin said I should still show a few. In my honest opinion, I can't carry Jim's tennis shoes! Don't know about flower shots, can't wait to see some of Jim's.
Photo courtesy of Jim Merritt.
All rights reserved.
Do you prefer the original shot below or the cropped version above?
Above is the finish line as a rider takes the last jump!!!!
Dust flies as breaks are applied!!!!
Do you know who these magic socks belong to?
Pro Graeme Pitts!!
Angel Fire Resort has a full service bike shop.
Above is the Angel Fire Ski Mountain, site of the Chile Challenge Pro-GRT Mountain Bike Race.
On Jill's Facebook page down a little bit is a great video titled:
"This may be the most incredible bike ride ever attempted and it's incredible to watch!!". Don't miss it, it's breathtaking!!
The happy smile of the WINNER!!
Above is Jill Kintner, the Women's Pro Winner, with a time of 4:27.33.
Jill won the BMX Bronze Medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
She is 3x Gold Medal Women's 4-Cross World Champion
Photo courtesy of Jim Merritt.
All rights reserved
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NEW COURSE RECORD TIME!!
Above is the Men's Pro Winner, Shawn Neer, and course record time setter.
2015 Chile Pro-GRT Mountain Bike Race Champions
Angel Fire Bike Park
Angel Fire, New Mexico
great action, good shots of the winners. great story telling as always. you collect your facts like a first class journalist - this is a lot of work. wow!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have a great mentor who also is a great story teller.
ReplyDeleteGlad you included your shots Steve. I liked the closer cropped shot of the choice you offered. Boy, how does Jim get those photos so crisp and focused?? I've got a long way to go. I'm about to do a post about a rodeo and have a few pictures that I wish were as clear as Jim's.
ReplyDeleteJim is a super photographer and a fine young man. He shared with me that he focused on the number medallion on the riders' bikes and that he shot at 1/1000th of a second. To be honest, I don't know a f-stop from a bus stop!!
ReplyDeleteI reached out to Jill Kintner and Shawn Neer through Facebook and they were very appreciative that I contacted them about Jim's SUPER SHOTS!!