Young Guns Shake Up Men’s Podium while Experience Prevails for the Women

Heading into the first stop of the Jeep 48STRAIGHT Series in Mountain Creek, NJ the question was: Can the veteran “legend riders” like Brian Lopes (36), Eric Carter (38), and Rich Houseman (30) hold off a charge from “young gun” riders like Cody Warren (22), J.D. Swanguen (19), and Cole Bangert (23)? Right from the start of the race, the door opened up for the younger riders when Jeep favorite, Lopes, fell in his first quarterfinal. Lopes was so disappointed, he disappeared from the event site immediately.

The legends continued to fall by the wayside until Swanguen, fresh off a dual slalom win at Crankworx in Whistler, and Warren, the 2005 National Downhill Champion, battled head-to-head in the final. When Swanguen went down in his second run, Warren cruised his way to his first ever Jeep victory. With Warren (1st), Swanguen (2nd) and Australia’s Jared Rando (3rd) sweeping the podium, it signified a new guard of riders for the Jeep Series.

“They proved us all wrong,” said Rich Houseman who ended up in 7th. “In every interview I did, I was like, look for the veterans like myself and EC (Eric Carter) and Lopes (Brian), and we weren’t even in the top four. I think they (the young guns) are hungry and ready to take us vets down.”

While youth and hunger was the key to success in the men’s race, experience prevailed for the women. The favorites coming into the race, Kathy Pruitt, a two-time US Nationals Series Winner in downhill, and Melissa Buhl, the current dual slalom National Champion, both easily won their heats all day until the final. Unfortunately, in the second run of the final, Buhl went down on the same turn that took out Lopes and Swanguen, and she handed over the race win to Pruitt.

Coming up at the second stop of the Jeep Series in Park City, Utah (Sept. 19-20) look for legends like Brian Lopes and Rich Houseman to seek redemption, while women riders Pruitt and Buhl will battle again for top honors. For more details on the Utah event click here.

Other highlights of the event included the Indy Cross, where non-elite amateurs and club riders tested their mettle and earn prizes by trying to beat a blistering pace on the Indy Cross track set by one of the top riders in the sport. Off the dirt, guests may walked the race grounds and took in the Sponsor Expo, Environmental Eco-Alley and Beer Garden.

Hell’s Belles, the premier all-female AC/DC tribute band, shook the mountains all night long in Jersey.

They were wild, animated, and tore up the stage with more energy than four-year-olds high on chocolate chip cookies. Ahhhhh yes, Hell’s Belles, the premier all-female AC/DC tribute band, rocked the mountain following the dual slalom race at Mountain Creek, NJ. With classic songs like, “You Shook Me All Night Long”, “Highway to Hell”, and “If You Want Blood You Got It”, this all-girls-band made puddy out of male audience members who seemed moments away from hurling their boxers onto the stage.

Formed in 2000, the brainchild of former member Amy Stolzenbach (Guitar) and Om Johari (Vocals) is legendary for its nights of epic proportions. Hell’s Belles has played at venues all over the world, including Japan, Canada, and the good ol' USA. Claiming there hasn't been an audience blown away by their raw power and undeniable appeal, these rocker chicks lived up to their reputation when they stormed the stage at 48STRAIGHT in Jersey.

Jeep 48STRAIGHT at Diablo Freeride Park at Mountain Creek, New Jersey

Browse through photos from the nail-biting race and concert by Hell's Belles. Click any image to enlarge.

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Catch the Action on CBS Sports

Each event of the Jeep 48STRAIGHT summer season will receive national broadcast coverage on CBS Sports, representing the most visibility of any mountain biking event in the sport. The event at Mountain Creek will air on CBS Sports on September 28.

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