DON'T USE THIS ONE

Windham Mountain is a legendary East Coast track. First raced here in 2008, its debut was met with resounding praise. It was steep, loose, fast, and gnarly and would become a paradigm shift for racing in the US. Windham became a World Cup round in 2010 after riders voicing their enthusiasm for the track were taken seriously and a petition was put forth. On a world scale, the venue quickly became iconic, known for its insane speeds, equally as mad fans, and tight racing. Stunning runs of jaw-dropping riding still replay online, Aaron Gwin's winning run in 2015 (the last time the World Cup made a stop here) is on a loop in the mountain's shop. This venue has been on the local DH race calendar every year since 2008 and is a staple among riders in their "what's your favorite track" list.

Use of the WC track in varying iterations is the main draw on a local level, and with UCI "HC" ranking this year, the Pro GRT is an opportunity for some Elite riders to try and score hotly-sought-after points to make the jump from domestic to international competition - and if you can race Windham, you have earned your stripes to have a go away from home.

Practice got underway in a typical fashion, with riders drifting, hucking, and causing general calamity as loose shale ricocheted off bikes, bodies, and course poles alike. I managed to avoid most of the shrapnel well enough to bring you some shots from the mayhem, along with some shots from track walk for context. Stay tuned!

Ella Skalwold puts the finishing touches on the race machine before setting out for practice.

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A slow burn is sometimes best, Steve Walton is the true pro at chilling for a while and then letting it rip.

He may have only taken two runs, but Steve Walton sure made the most of them!

[STEVE AUDIO DAY 1] and [STEVE AUDIO DAY 2]

Matt Maienza is a new face for many, but that's only because he spends the whole day in the Fox van fixing the pieces the riders destroy.

Many people look forward to the end of the day right from the start.

Every moutain has a tree like this...Windham's is growing over many of the offerings, but if you look closely, it looks like a Macy's.

The XC course zigzags across the hill, gaining elevation from legs and lungs while we get up with electricity and cushioned seats.

Windham is a quaint location, the only thing it really needs is wifi...

Windham is on! The track is a lightly revised version of the World Cup track of old, but it still has all of the imporant elements.

Practice started at 9, but registration opened at 9...poor planning meant most riders were finally on track an hour and a half after practice opened - Kiran MacKinnon managed to be one of the first on track in the less-than-crowded morning session.