MTB Race Results For Golden State Championship In Fontana

Beads of sweat poured down my face as I trekked up the sloped hill looking for the best photo shoot location. I was back shooting sports again after my short sabbatical. Today’s photo shoot was at the California Golden State Championship mountain bike event in Fontana, CA on May 15th.

At the top of the hill, an event volunteer told me the mountain bikers were walking the tough, rocky uphill portion of the multi-lap course. I recognized most of these MTB riders from other races and was comfortable photographing the mountain bikers racing the downhill section of the course, looking good and strong for the camera.

Feeling the heat, the Fontana sun was a reminder that summer was near. The next SRC event in August would add a new level of dehydration for these mountain bike riders. In a four event series, this was the third for SRC and major sponsor Kenda.

During the first few laps, many of the mountain bike riders smiled for the camera, but near the end of the race, most had no energy for a pose. The multi-lap course consisted of single track trails and fire roads with one major climb and descent. Near the top, a tight 90 degree turn caused the riders to slow to almost a stop before shooting down the rest of the rocky course.

In today’s race, David Santos captured the XC mountain bike race in 1:29:07 with Griffith Vertican and Garnet Vertican earning the 2nd and 3rd place spots in 1:34:07 and 1:41:05, respectively. In the women’s division, Heather Rose captured 1st place and a fourth overall finish in 1:53:12.

The fastest downhiller for the day was David Klaassen VanOorschot followed by Rich Houseman and Ryan Egusquiza. Gabriela Williams took the women’s division followed by Kelly Damschen in 2nd place.

Ryan Equsquiza took on the Super D race as well and won, followed by Eric Bierman in 2nd. Heather Rose, the XC winner, took the Super D winner’s division.

Keith Rejino is a sports photographer and mountain bike enthusiast. His websites include Dreamscape Images’ Sports Shooter and Stock Sports Photography websites.