Sea Otter Dual Slalom

Dual Slalom at Sea Otter means a couple of things, One; it’s Saturday and Two; it’s time to party and watch some of the fastest and most skilled on two wheels attack the dusty twisting course at Laguna Seca Raceway.

The line up this year was as heavy ever for the finals, Greg Minnaar, Luca Shaw, and winner for the last two years Mitch Ropelato headlined a talented men’s field. The women’s field was anything less than stacked with Jill Kintner, Anneke Beerten, and living legend Leigh Donovan kicking up dust throughout the evening.

We’d be lying if we didn’t mention we were pulling for east coast crusher Caroline Washam who found her way into the quarterfinals before a slight bobble in one of the finals corners cost her a trip to the semis. In the end, Jill Kintner and Anneke Beerten would square off in the finals where Kintner was able to get the best of Beerten and claim another title.

In the men’s field, Ropelato continues to show how special of a bike rider he is by claiming his third Sea Otter Dual Slalom title in a row.

The Dual Slalom event at Sea Otter is always a ceremonial celebration of the mountain bike community, a chance for all of us to stand in awe of amazing athletes and realize that we’re lucky to be a part of this whole thing. Until next year my fellow Otters, enjoy some moments from Saturday Evening.