Gunnison continues strong mountain biking season with another podium finish

Three races, three team podiums. The Gunnison mountain bike team continued its remarkably consistent Colorado High School Cycling League season in Glenwood Springs, battling its way to another third-place team finish against deep fields featuring some of Colorado’s fastest and most ambitious young mountain bike racers.

The Spring Valley course proved a good match for the Gunnison MTB crew. Racers tackled three laps, while varsity riders took on four. Each 4.3 mile lap packed in 504 feet of climbing, representing a bit more cumulative vertical than most Colorado League courses, the steep and technical terrain felt familiar to riders accustomed to training on Gunnison Valley trails. Recent precipitation led to excellent trail conditions that provided plenty of grip and speed throughout the day.

For a team that spends its season traveling to races around the state, the weekend had a little homecoming flavor as well. Gunnison MTB doesn’t get the opportunity to race in front of a hometown crowd, so the team brought homecoming with them to Glenwood Springs, adding a little extra school spirit and fun to an already big weekend of racing.

Laney and Luka Olmstead continued to make it a family affair, once again helping anchor Gunnison’s team result with a pair of fifth-place podium finishes.

Laney Olmstead got the scoring started with a strong and steady three-lap effort. The junior settled into her pace early and stayed consistent throughout, using her technical riding and descending skills to her advantage on a course that rewarded both. Another fifth-place finish added valuable points to Gunnison’s team total and continued her run of strong results.

Younger brother Luka Olmstead took his turn next, lining up in one of the fastest and deepest fields of the weekend. The freshman boys have been setting a blistering pace this season, with little separating the riders at the front and no room for mistakes. After slipping as far back as eighth, Olmstead used three laps to patiently work his way forward, combining strong climbing, aggressive descending and smart pacing to pick off riders. By the finish, he had clawed his way back to fifth, earning another trip to the podium.

Varsity rider Owen Frazier put together a strong race in a highly competitive varsity field featuring some of Colorado’s top high school mountain bike talent. Facing four demanding laps totaling 17.2 miles and more than 2,000 feet of climbing, Frazier maintained an average speed of more than 13 mph while steadily working his way up from his starting position. He crossed the line 16th overall, scoring valuable points toward Gunnison’s third-place team result.

One of the weekend’s biggest breakthroughs belonged to freshman Penny Owens.  After mechanical problems derailed a promising race in Eagle, Owens finally put together the performance she had been building toward, charging to eighth place.  Owens was awarded the Slingshot Jersey, recognizing the rider who made the biggest jump from her Race No. 1 result. It was a fitting reward for a season that has seen Owens steadily gain confidence and speed.

Freshman Zoe Lee continued to show the consistent speed that has made her one of Gunnison’s strongest performers this season, racing her way to a third consecutive podium. Three races into her high school career, Lee has established herself as a regular presence near the front of the freshman girls field.

The strong effort ran throughout the Gunnison team. Seniors Zeke New and Kyle Mason turned in hard fought races, while Adrian Hanacek, Sol Hausdoerffer, Topher Lamar, Walker Sovick and Claire New each gave everything they had on course. 

For all the podiums and strong results Gunnison MTB has collected this season, head coach Madi Caster said the bigger measure of success is whether the riders are still having fun doing it.

“Obviously we want to win, but what is even more important to me is that our kids are stoked to be on bikes,” Caster said. “Walker Sovick finished his race covered in sweat and clearly exhausted. When I asked him how it went, he had a smile on his face and said, ‘It was fun. That course is really fun.’ 

“That right there is the goal for this whole thing,” Caster added. 

Gunnison MTB now turns its attention to Cañon City in two weeks for the fourth and final race of the regular season. Several Gunnison riders have already secured their spots at the Colorado League State Championships, while others will head into the finale with plenty on the line as they chase the results needed to qualify. The season will culminate in late October when the State Championships return to Glenwood Springs.