Practice Photo Epic: Snowshoe DH World Cup 2023

Sep 29, 2023
by Ed Spratt  



We are back in Snowshoe this week as riders have crossed the pond after six European rounds of racing to kick off the final stages of the 2023 season.

After the track walk and Junior practice session on Wednesday, the second day in Snowshoe saw all riders tackle the rough and rowdy course as the Elite riders got in their practice laps. Ahead of Friday's finals, the Junior racers went against the clock in qualifying with Erice Van Leuven and Ryan Pinkerton setting the fastest times.

With timed training popping up again this year, we have a slight idea of who is looking fast although not all riders were putting in a full run. We don't have long to wait before the Elites are back against the clock for qualifying.



The penultimate round of the 2023 Downhill World Cup falls on Snowshoe in West Virginia.
The penultimate round of the 2023 Downhill World Cup falls on Snowshoe in West Virginia.

Nice to see blue skies in the morning while being above the inversion.
Nice to see blue skies in the morning while being above the inversion.

Misty taste of moonshine tear drop in my eye.
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye.

Morning rays draped the course until the sun burnt through.
Morning rays draped the course until the sun burnt through.

A lot of danger-pink on this mountainside.
A lot of danger-pink on this mountainside.

Slick.
Slick.

The track is drying slowly but with the colder and humid nights forecasted the moisture is bound to stay for the most part.
The track is drying slowly but with the colder and humid nights forecasted, the moisture is bound to stay for the most part.

Welcome pilgrims.
Welcome pilgrims.

Smells like home soil for Dak Norton.
Smells like home soil for Dak Norton.

Loic Bruni all smiles as he gets ready for practice.
Loic Bruni all smiles as he gets ready for practice.

Connor Fearon sorting final adjustments before the day s work begins
Connor Fearon sorting final adjustments before the day's work begins

Richie Rude and Yeti are back at a downhill World Cup
Richie Rude and Yeti are back at a downhill World Cup!

Nina Hoffmann back in the pits after her first practice run.
Nina Hoffmann back in the pits after her first practice run.

Gracey Hemstreet set her sights for the morning session.
Gracey Hemstreet set her sights for the morning session.

Forbidden s enduro squad TM Anthony Poulson is back on the big rig for the next two rounds.
Forbidden's enduro squad TM, Anthony Poulson, is back on the big rig for the next two rounds.

Tire choice was still on everyone s mind on this greasy track. A pair of Shorties were being prepped in the Norco pit just in case.
Tire choice was still on everyone's mind on this greasy track. A pair of Shorties were being prepped in the Norco pit just in case.

The fog finally lifted as practice got underway.
The fog finally lifted as practice got underway.

Ollie Davis is ripping this season and will be one to watch here once again.
Ollie Davis is ripping this season and will be one to watch here once again.

Kade Edwards has been on the wildest lines so far and pleasure to watch.
Kade Edwards has been on the wildest lines so far and pleasure to watch.

Greg Minnaar launching into the woods.
Greg Minnaar launching into the woods.

Finn Iles getting stuck into the lower portions of the track.
Finn Iles getting stuck into the lower portions of the track.

Luke Meier-Smith is right back on track after his shoulder injury.
Luke Meier-Smith is right back on track after his shoulder injury.

Finn Iles will be trying his damndest to upgrade that plate headed into the final round in Canada.
Finn Iles will be trying his damndest to upgrade that plate heading into the final round in Canada.

Van-Leuven headed to the top spot in junior womens qualies.
Van-Leuven headed to the top spot in junior womens qualies.

Bruni charging the chute under the lift.
Bruni charging the chute under the lift.

Loris Vergier charges the rocks under the West Virginian canopy.
Loris Vergier charges the rocks under the West Virginian canopy.

Luca hit the podium here in 2021 will we see more of same pace on home turf this year
Luca hit the podium here in 2021, will we see more of the same pace on home turf this year?

Brits abroad.
Brits abroad.

Coulanges holding the throttle wide open as per.
Coulanges holding the throttle wide open as per.

Sacha Earnest cranking out the start.
Sacha Earnest cranking out the start.

Christian Hauser would be one of many caught out by the slick track here in Snowshoe. Heal up soon
Christian Hauser would be one of many caught out by the slick track here in Snowshoe. Heal up soon!

Richie Rude has swung a leg over a turquoise downhill bike and giving it a go this weekend.
Richie Rude has swung a leg over a turquoise downhill bike and giving it a go this weekend.

A wild albino black bear.
A wild albino black bear.

Monika Hrastnik versus a misty sunrise.
Monika Hrastnik versus a misty sunrise.

Tahnee Seagrave on form pin balling through the trees.
Tahnee Seagrave on form pinballing through the trees.

Jackson golden light Stone.
Jackson golden light Stone.

Downhill s newest winner Benoit Coulanges taking to the track for his first practice run.
Downhill's newest winner Benoit Coulanges taking to the track for his first practice run.

Jacob Dickson hit the deck in Les Gets and will be hoping to right some wrongs before the season is through.
Jacob Dickson hit the deck in Les Gets and will be hoping to right some wrongs before the season is through.

Greg Minnaar was out hunting for smoother lines around rocks littered all over.
Greg Minnaar was out hunting for smoother lines around rocks littered all over.

Danny Hart rock hucking.
Danny Hart rock hucking.

Troy Brosnan speeding through the flatter middle wood section.
Troy Brosnan speeding through the flatter middle wood section.

Neko Mullaly is back in action and looking sharp in his home environment.
Neko Mullaly is back in action and looking sharp in his home environment.

Marine Cabirou is back to winning ways and will look to back up her Les Gets performance.
Marine Cabirou is back to winning ways and will look to back up her Les Gets performance.

Loic Bruni getting to grips with the slick roots and rocks that litter this Snowshoe track.
Loic Bruni getting to grips with the slick roots and rocks that litter this Snowshoe track.

Jackson Goldstone leaning one over on the step down.
Jackson Goldstone leaning one over on the step down.

Ryan Pinkerton rails the upper berms. He s looking right at home on this slick track.
Ryan Pinkerton rails the upper berms. He's looking right at home on this slick track.

Hoffmann gripping and ripping through the upper rock garden.
Hoffmann gripping and ripping through the upper rock garden.

Dante Silva looking to wrap his season with a strong showing at home.
Dante Silva looking to wrap his season with a strong showing at home.

Pinkerton flawless again in the junior mens qulies.
Pinkerton flawless again in the junior men's qualies.

Luca Shaw repping the purple.
Luca Shaw repping the purple.

Kade for the win.
Kade for the win.

Greenland throwing out some steeze.
Greenland throwing out some steeze.

Remi Thirion was on the gas from the get go today and kept it tidy.
Remi Thirion was on the gas from the get-go today and kept it tidy.

Jacob Jewitt working the angles.
Jacob Jewitt working the angles.

O Callaghan hovering over the famous Snowshoe tree gap.
O'Callaghan hovering over the famous Snowshoe tree gap.

Laurie Greenland looked immense on track today.
Laurie Greenland looked immense on track today.

Finn Iles pulling the double beyond the roots with ease.
Finn Iles pulling the double beyond the roots with ease.

Skipping stones with Benoit Coulanges.
Skipping stones with Benoit Coulanges.

Kade Edwards yanking for the massive double in the mid woods.
Kade Edwards yanking for the massive double in the mid-woods.

Jackson Goldstone would love to take a second win this season.
Jackson Goldstone would love to take a second win this season.

Tahnee Seagrave getting stuck into morning practice.
Tahnee Seagrave getting stuck into morning practice.

Vali Holl looked the most comfortable hooning down this track. She was no slouch getting up to speed and keeping it pinned.
Vali Holl looked the most comfortable hooning down this track. She was no slouch getting up to speed and keeping it pinned.

Sam Blenkinsop classic style
Sam Blenkinsop classic style

Dakotah s signature style.
Dakotah's signature style.

Jodan Williams looking for that round 1 pace.
Jordan Williams looking for that round 1 pace.

Monika Hrastnik cutting through the morning fog.
Monika Hrastnik cutting through the morning fog.

Marine Cabirou is coming off a big win back home and is pushing hard for a repeat now in North America.
Marine Cabirou is coming off a big win back home and is pushing hard for a repeat now in North America.

Ryan Pinkerton once again doing the business. Can he back it up in junior finals tomorrow
Ryan Pinkerton once again doing the business. Can he back it up in junior finals tomorrow?


Author Info:
edspratt avatar

Member since Mar 16, 2017
3,035 articles

30 Comments
  • 83 1
 These photographers are something else. I follow a bunch of riders on Instagram to see who's doing what, but I check out the photo epics because they're just so damn good. Also really pumped for the race, this year has been killer.
  • 8 0
 Guess it is the difference between a Good pro photographer and an iphone picture taken for instagram
  • 34 0
 That picture of Tahnee with the sun behind her is amazing! Headed that way in a just a bit.
  • 3 0
 Right! What a shot
  • 11 0
 Photo Epics… the best part of Pinkbike IMO. Now bring back POD and POY and things will be right once again.
  • 6 0
 I so much love Jackson's style. Always seems like floating over the bike kind of like Danny Hart, super fast and precise, and such a cool dude.
  • 7 0
 Jackson golden light stone
  • 4 0
 Can't wait to be there in person tomorrow. Awsome pics! Even more pumped now.
  • 4 1
 Photo epic, yet again being epic. Fine work @edspratt
  • 23 1
 Thanks but the praise should really go to Nathan Hughes, Ross Bell and Andy Vathis who are doing the real work and taking the incredible shots.
  • 4 2
 Awesome pics. I can't say I ever seen a wild animal with a collar on though...
  • 5 1
 But you can confirm it is an Albino Black Bear though, yeah?
  • 1 0
 I have. In Los Angeles county, I saw a coyote with a tracking collar. Animal biologists are studying the movement of them through urban environments.
  • 4 1
 The albino black bear is the best!
  • 1 0
 These photographers taking pictures of roots and muddy tires and making them look amazing is as impressive as the riding. Photo epic never disappoints.
  • 1 0
 Please help me understand the gizmo running parallel on the fork stay on some of the bikes...purpose? thanks in advance.
  • 2 0
 Telemetry - the "gizmo" records shock/ fork movements/ speed. Post run analysis allows to better tune the suspension.
  • 1 0
 @edspratt What settings were used for the photo of Troy Brosnan where he’s in focus and the background is blurred?
  • 2 0
 F8 and 1/30.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer: cheers mike!
  • 2 0
 Panning. Slow shutter speed and following the rider with the camera.
  • 1 0
 Super sick photos from the PB crew (as usual)! Stoked for this weekends racing!
  • 2 0
 Fantastic pics as usual. Rubber side down folks!!
  • 2 0
 beautiful pictures!!
  • 3 1
 Amazing pics
  • 2 0
 Top shelf photos!
  • 2 0
 incredible shots, boys!
  • 1 0
 Do I spy Conti under Vali ?
  • 1 0
 The RockShox Trek Race Team has selected Continental as their official tire partner for 2023, with reigning Downhill World Champion Vali Höll (Austria) and frequent Junior podium fixture Tegan Cruz (Canada) both returning for a third season riding for the youngest and most exciting team on the World Cup circuit.

Continental's Gravity range of tires was officially launched in April 2022, following three year's development by Continental's category-leading R&D team and testing by athletes across the Continental Atherton, Continental Nukeproof, and Pivot Factory racing teams. A wide-ranging portfolio engineered from the ground up to meet the demands of every rider, the Gravity range was designed to instil maximum confidence on every type of trail.
  • 1 0
 Amazing photos, thank you!







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