First Ever Powder Mountain Hill Climb Results
June 27, 2009
Eden, UT - (Photo Credit: Natalie Best Steed) The first ever Powder Mountain Hillclimb, presented by Diamond Peak Mountain Sports, was held this past weekend in the Ogden Valley. The road bicycle race attracted weekend warriors and elite riders alike. 50 cyclists lined up on SR 158 to tackle one of the toughest bicycle climbs in the west. Chris Hong, a rider for the elite Bob’s Bicycles team, said that this was one of the toughest races he’s ever done. Chris was using this race as apart of a tune up for the Tour of Utah which runs in August. He finished first in the Men’s Pro/Cat 1/2 division and third overall.
The battle for the fastest time to the top, an almost 6 mile, 3300 ft slog up to Powder Mountain Resort from Wolf Creek Utah, was fast and furious for the best climbers. 15 year old Keegan Swenson of Cole Sport, Nathan Cisney from Rooster’s Brewing Co. and Hong were absolutely railing it up the road. Hong attacked Swenson and was able to gap a bit, but Swenson’s steady tempo proved too much and Hong was eventually overtaken. It was then Swenson and Cisney who battled it out for top honors. In the last grueling mile Cisney wasa bale to pull ahead and finish in a standard setting time of 41 min 20 sec taking the overall and 1st in the Men’s Cat 5 division. Swenson was only 30 seconds back good enough for second overall and 1st in the Men’s Cat 4 class. Hong crossed the finish line 2 min 9 sec back.
Everyone who finished this race can consider themselves winners, says event promoter, Ben Towery of Team Excelerator. He was very pleased with the turnout and the quality of the riders who competed. The weather was absolutely perfect and the difficulty of the ride was countered by the beauty of the Ogden Valley.
A very special thanks goes out to the sponsors of the race: Diamond Peak Mountain Sports, Rooster’s Brewing Co., Peregrine Health, Powder Mountain, Wolf Creek Utah and EBSI Websites.
Full event category winners:
Overall: Nathan Cisney
Men Pro/Cat 1 /2: Christopher Hong
Jr. 10-18: Kyle Wright
Men Cat 3: Manny Cypers
Men Cat 4: Keegan Swenson
Women Cat 4: Lisa White
Men Cat 5: Nathan Cisney
Male Masters 55+: Shannon Storrud
Male Masters 45+: Todd Flitton
Female Masters 35+: Vicky Nielson
Male Masters 35+: Dan Minert
Carolyn Daniels
