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Produced & Maintained by Idaho Mountain Express, Box 1013, Ketchum, ID 83340-1013 
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Copyright © 2001 Express Publishing Inc.
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For the week of July 11 - July 17, 2001

  Sports

Grinder brings 252 bikers to Galena Lodge

Sandstrom shades Harrison over 27 miles


Saturday’s cool weather with scattered rain showers provided some of the best racing conditions seen in years at the Galena Grinder mountain bike race 23 miles north of Ketchum.

Galena Grinder mountain bikers had to make a decision about whether to forge through Horse Creek, and this biker did just that during Saturday’s race. Express photo by Willy Cook

And it was a good thing that the recent heat wave took a breather. The 27-mile, three-lap course was very demanding for the expert and pro fields—so demanding that organizer Ron Dillon plans to shorten it to two laps and 24 miles in 2002.

Dillon said, "We’ve nailed the course for beginners, but it is too tough for the pros and experts and is starting to scare them away. Some experts were out there for well over three hours. That starts to resemble a death march rather than a fun, mountain bike race."

The top-flight Pro/Semi-Pro Men had a close finish.

Pocatello’s Craig Sandstrom (2.20:53) made his early lead stand up and held off Dave Harrison of Ketchum (2.21:13) by 20 seconds after 27 miles.

Placing fifth and sixth were the cross-country season leaders on the 2001 Wild Rockies "Unplugged" Mountain Bike Series tour—Whitney Albright of Ketchum in fifth (2.25:22) and tour leader Craig Kidd of Pocatello sixth (2.28:31).

Turning in another impressive performance, good for first place in the Expert Men’s 19-26 age class, was Troy Quesnel of Ketchum (2.33:56). Quesnel extended his overall XC points lead for the season.

Among Pro/Expert women, Salt Lake City’s Sally Warner (2.52:33) led from start to finish to finish eight minutes ahead of season tour leader Barb Kreisle of Boise (3.01:07).

Saturday’s 10th annual Galena Grinder was the sixth Wild Rockies stop.

A total of 252 racers, mainly from Idaho but some from as far away as Colorado and Massachusetts, raced the extensive Galena trail system.

Other winning their age classes among 40 Wood River Valley racers at Galena Lodge were Ben Young (1.45:54 for 18 miles), Don Sewell (1.53:10 for 18 miles), Chris Kastner (1.55:40 for 18 miles) and Whit Henry (1.55:09 for 18 miles);

Also, Mike Altermatt (50:08 for 9 miles), Georgia Gould (50:38 for 9 miles), Dede Draper (1.28:50 for 9 miles), Corey Bellinger (1.01:14 for 9 miles), Zack Lowry (20:42 for 3 miles) and Marvin Melville (1.01:10 for 9 miles).

With her third-place finish in Sport Women 35-44, Hailey’s Cherry Thornton (2.40:26 18 miles) moved into her overall season class lead.

Dillon said there was a huge pile of raffle prizes compliments of Carrera, Durance Cycleworks, Sun Summit, Sturtos, Backwoods, Bob’s Bikes and Scott USA. Afterwards, racers dined on the awesome Grinder burrito bar and got their prizes.

The next series event is the 10th annual Bogus Bomber Saturday and Sunday, July 14-15 on a brand new course at Bogus Basin north of Boise.

Dillon said the 10.5-mile cross-country course featuring some terrific new trails near Deer Point is a huge improvement over past years.

Check the Web site at www.wildrockies.com.

Here are other class placings and times for Saturday’s Galena Grinder:

  • 27 miles: 2—Moses Mexia 2.48:05. 3—Tom Montgomery 3.08:35. 5—Tony Chaves 2.41:00, Kris Thoreson 2.45:58. 8—Don Shepler 2.51:00. 11—Matt Bott 3.02:10.

  • 18 miles: 2—Dave Bell 2.01:53 and Dusty Labarr 1.57:28. 5—Erik Rolf 2.07:04. 6—Michael Olenick 1.58:20. 7—Lee Roquet 1.54:20 and Bob Lowry 1.58:34. 9—Ryan Still 1.57:11. 15—Bruce Rogers 2.03:44. 18—Doug Cleven 2.05:02. 19—Marvin Burrell 2.08:38.

  • 9 miles: 2—Maggie Macdonald 58:45. 3—Mark Harbaugh 58:37. 4—Mike Harris 1.02:55. 6—Ryan McCauley 1.12:20. 10—Rob Morse 1.02:51. 11—Jonathan Neeley 1.03:38 and Phillip Neeley 1.13:30.

  • 3 miles: 2—Zach Thornton 21:47. 7—Chelsea Broadie 27:23. 10—Broadie Burrell 37:12.


The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.