PORT ANGELES — The final Northwest Cup mountain biking racing of the year at Dry Hill is this weekend.
While Sunday’s races don’t have the headline value as the last event on April 28 that attracted 100 of the top pros from around the world, it still will feature about 40 pros, including World Cup winners and competitors.
And like the last race, it also will have free shuttle service for spectators during race day Sunday, and have food and beverage carts.
The shuttle service will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday only round-trip from Adventures Through Kayaking Outfitters, 2358 U.S. Highway 101 West, to Dry Hill and back.
Adventures Through Kayaking is located just west of the Port Angeles city limit.
There is limited parking at the event site, so organizers encourage spectators to take the shuttle.
Barbecue-style cooking will be available by Bighorn BBQ & Grill of Port Angeles.
Amateur and pro racing will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Practice racing started Thursday, and continues today and Saturday.
Two-time World Cup champion and current title-holder Aaron Gwin of California will be back this weekend.
Other top names who will be competing in Clallam County are women’s consecutive three-time world mountain bike 4 Cross champion and consecutive two-time downhill national champion and Olympics BMX bronze-medal winner Jill Kintner of Seattle, and World Cup rider Luke Strobel of Seattle.
In addition, from the international circuit will be several riders from New Zealand and Australia.
Kintner won the Dry Hill women’s pro race on April 28, and she was second to Miranda Miller of Garibald Highlands, British Columbia, during the first Dry Hill race March 7.
Miller was the runner-up to Kintner on April 28.
Third time’s the charm for these two if Miller shows up for Sunday’s race.
Canadians have dominated the first two Dry Hill men’s pro races.
Steve Smith of Vancouver Island won on April 28 while Mark Wallace of Duncan, British Columbia, took the top honors on March 7.
Pros were practicing and testing equipment already at Dry Hill on Thursday.
Event co-director Scott Tucker said he was pleased about this weekend’s turnout because the Northwest Cup series was going head-to-head against a popular mountain bike race on the East Coast.
“Many riders were scheduled to compete this weekend back East, but they said they would rather be here to test their equipment and race,” Tucker said.
Tucker co-directs the Dry Hill three-race series with fellow avid mountain biker Casey Northern.
This is the third and final Northwest Cup race in Port Angeles this year.
“We’re wrapping it up in Port Angeles and moving on to Mount Hood,” Tucker said.
The next two races are set for the Skibowl at Mount Hood, June 21-23 and July 12-14, and then finishes up with two races at Stevens Pass, August 2-4 and the finals on Sept. 6-8.
