Eastern States Cup announces race dates

Reaching new heights during its third season, the POC ESC has grown to 14 races and welcomes three new venues. Returning is the $1,000 POC Team Challenge and new this year is the $1,000 Loeka Women’s Challenge. The POC ESC’s championship payouts for Cat1 Juniors, Men’s Pro and Women’s Pro Classes have been increased and a finals cash purse for the top three men in Cat1 19-29 has been added. The pro payouts at each race have increased up to $1,600 with up to $500 going to the pro winners.

The series is the USA Cycling Eastern Regional Championship and five USA Cycling State Championships are being contested within the series. The POC ESC has over $35,000 available in cash prizes to amateurs and pros in 2012.

The Series starts off with two USAC Pro Gravity Tour National Series races. The POC ESC/Pro GRT races each have $5,000 purses and are used to qualify racers to the USA World Championship Team. The best national and international racers will be there to compete against the POC ESC regulars. Pros like Aaron Gwinn, current UCI World Cup Champion and amateurs will compete on the same courses as at the renewed Mountain Creek Bike Park and at Plattekill Mountain on consecutive weekends.

The Mountain Creek race will be the inaugural USAC New Jersey DH State Championship. Mountain Creek’s new course will feature the infamous Rock Garden section. Plattekill will showcase a new Pro GRT track on the super steep North Face side of the mountain.

Every POC Eastern States Cup venue offers big mountain racing in a close geographical area. Mountain Creek, Jiminy Peak and Windham are new to the series this season. Jiminy Peak’s race will be USAC’s first Massachusetts State DH Championships on what’s guaranteed to be a really fast course. The Windham Mountain track will be the same one used for the 2012 Windham UCI World Cup. The series will be part of the 11th Annual Pats Peak Mountain Bike Festival in New Hampshire. In addition to downhill, the festival offers XC and 6-12-24 hour endurance racing.

Killington, Mount Snow and Attitash all have two POC ESC races in 2012. Mount Snow offered some great tracks in the series last year and they’re building more this season. Killington is reuniting their Beauty and The Beast races as part of the series. Attitash Mountain features miles of DH trails, tons of attractions and swimming in the Saco River. Plattekill Bike Park will host The Stephen Porraro Memorial Race in August and three holiday races: The Pro GRT Memorial Day weekend, the Floodwaters Classic on Labor Day weekend and the Plattepallooza Festival during the finals on Columbus Day weekend.

The series will again work with VonCooper Racing and Productions to bring the popular POC Video of the week to the racers and the world. VonCooper produced a 2011 POC ESC DVD that will be available at races this summer. Oliver Racing brings its famous Bureau’s Sugarhouse and Maple Kettle Korn 4th place prizing to every class at all POC ESC events. Taking pictures for the series is East Coast action Photographer, Matt Delorme. Matt’s pictures and feature articles have been in many national and international magazines and websites. Delorme will also write up a post race reviews.

The Eastern States Cup provides high-level racing, multiple USAC Championships at great venues. The POC ESC strives to provide fun and professional events. The series format will reduce travel, offer fair pricing and provide a set structure to racers.

Series dates

May 20, Mountain Creek, NJ Pro GRT 2x points NJ State Championships
May 27, Plattekill, NY . Pro GRT 2x points
June 3, Attitash, NH
June 10, Pat’s Peak, NH
June 24, Mount Snow, VT
July 15, Windham, NY
July 29, Killington, VT
Aug 5, Mount Snow, VT
Aug 12, Plattekill, NY
Aug 19, Killington, VT VT State Championship Finals
Sept 2, Plattekill, NY NY Championship Finals
Sept 16, Attitash, NH NH State Championship Finals
Sept 23, Jiminy Peak MA MA State Championships
Oct 7 Plattekill, NY ESC Finals 2x points