 Another US OPEN is in the books and what a great way to spend your memorial day weekend. Seventy five hundred dollars, great weather, near perfect track conditions, and raucous crowd gave the riders all the incentive they needed to throw down.
Aaron Gwin was the only rider to go under the 2:20 time mark with Steve Smith less than a second behind. For the first time ever, US riders swept each pro event. Jill Kitner won both the Slalom and downhill while Mitch Ropelato won the mens slalom.
PRO MEN
1) Aaron Gwin (Trek World Racing)
2) Steve Smith (DeVinci)
3) Justin Leov (Trek World Racing)
4) Gee Atherton (Commencal)
5) Andrew Neethling (Giant)
PRO WOMEN
1) Jill Kitner (Transition Bikes)
2) Melissa Buhl (KHS/AZONIC/FOX)
3) Joanna Pedersen
4) Jackie Harmony (All Mountain Cyclery)
(Photo left) Kyle Strait heads down a technical rock section on his PIVOT DH Rig. Strait would bobble seconds after this photo throwing away any chance of a podium finish.
GS winner Mitch Ropelato bombing the rock garden at the US OPEN on route to an eleventh spot. A solid result in his first year running as a pro.
Next stop for Mitch is Fort William.
Cove bike's Chris Del Bosco is back on a the bike circuit and riding fast. The current ski-cross world champion is looking strong as he works
off the rust to get back on his game. Del Bosco still managed to take 14th against a world class field.
Curtis Keene has been riding strong all season for the Specialized factory. A true privateer and super hard worker, Keene is the working mans hero on the hill and his results speak for themselves.
East coast favorite Ritchie Rude sends it down the rock garden to the delight of Diablo fans. Rude showed his local knowledge on this favorite section of the course looking fast and super smooth. In a world cup like field, Rude scored an impressive 8th place finish. Not bad for a kid who is not old enough to race in the Junior worlds yet.
Former US OPEN winner Steve Smith puts his new bike sponsor DeVinci on the map with a second place showing.
World cup veteran Justin Leov claims yet another podium spot for Trek World Racing. Leov took third place.
Factory rider Gee Atherton was the sole representative for Commencal at this years US OPEN. Atherton finished in fourth.
Aaron Gwin keeps his impressive 2011 season going taking out the win at the US OPEN.
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The Pro Men Podium from L-R - Neethling, Smith, Gwin, Leov, Atherton
 
Mike Haderer - BEFORE and Mike Haderer - AFTER
Haderer lost a bet to Jill Kitner that he could not finish in the top three spots in the Slalom. If he lost the bet, he would cut off his famous locks of hair. His loss was a win for a cancer survivor. Mike donated his hair to Locks of Love. I hope they washed it first.
Mike Haderer's pelt is held up as conquered game. Lets help it helps someone heal as fast as Mikes rides.
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