Asa Vermette of Durango flew down the World Cup track at Purgatory Resort over the weekend, recording the top two times to win the Downhill Rockies race.
Vermette, who is 15, bumped up and competed in the pro men’s field for the competition instead of riding in his age group, and he still managed to reach the top of the podium.
Vermette (GT bicycles/ENVE/DVO Suspension) won the seeding round Saturday, flying down the trail in 3 minutes, 40.31 seconds, which was the fastest run of the weekend and more than 9 seconds faster than his competitor on the day. Kenneth Gustafson of Fly Racing qualified in second (3:49.75), followed by Jack Pederson of Fox Racing (3:52.96) and Shane Ellis of Durango Devo (4:01.60).
Janelle Soukup of BROS Syndicate/Ibis, meanwhile, won the pro women’s qualifier in 5:37.80, followed by Bethany Sprinkle (6:02.30) and Hannah Russert of Team Trail Party (6:11.60).
On Sunday, Vermette was the final competitor to drop in with the clock counting. His time was a little slower Sunday, but he won the race by a bigger margin than the qualifier. Vermette finished first in the pro men’s race in 3:42.50, followed by Pederson (3:56.50) and Ellis in third (4:00.30). Gustafson didn’t compete on Sunday.
Soukup lowered her seed time to win the pro women’s in 5:09.65, followed by Sprinkle (5:39.34) and Russert (5:54.10) in third.
Other champions from the weekend included Cooper Oeflein (10-and-under kids Cat 2, 5:06.44); Dom Lochte Bono (11-13 boys Cat 1, 4:58.40); Ollie Reynolds (11-13 boys Cat 2, 5:07.00); Jodessa Segay (11-15 girls Cat 1, 5:28.35); Emma Bahe (11-15 girls Cat 2, 5:49.85); Mitchell Schroeder (14-17 boys Cat 2, 4:52.31); Aiden Farmer (18-29 men Cat 2, 4:38.31); Daniel Griffin (30-39 men Cat 2, 4:59.36); Vince Meunier (40-plus men open single crown, 4:40.60); Heather Reynolds (40-plus women Cat 1, 5:09.21), Franklin Cook (40-49 men Cat 2, 5:46.19), Lance Canfield (50-plus men Cat 1, 4:51.71), Liam Sexson (14-17 boys Cat 1, 4:18.11), Sadie Schafer (16-29 women Cat 1, 5:19.86), Rulon Musser (16-30 men open single crown, 4:35.25), Brandon Weir (18-29 men Cat 1, 3:55.74), Ivo Zavidich (30-39 men Cat 1, 4:29.14), Ryan Volt (30-39 men open single crown, 4:27.94); Shawnee McGovern (40-49 men Cat 1, 4:30.35) and Cody Wilderman (vet pro, 4:12.41).
