Kyle Strait and Jordan Scott Win Elite Dual Slalom at the 2026 Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships

The first two days of the 2026 USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships brought the Pro and Cat 1 Dual Slalom Finals to Big Bear. The best slalom racers in the country made their way to southern California as the race was on for the coveted Stars and Stripes sleeve alongside the Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series.

In Thursday morning’s qualifying rounds, 12 riders advanced to the afternoon’s finals. Reigning champion Dante Silva (Chula Vista, Calif.; Intense Racing USA / Monster Army) clocked the fastest combined time, earning a bye through the eight-final round along with Max Clark (Carmichael, Calif.; Ibis Cycles) and Kyle Strait (Alpine, Calif.; Ari Bikes), who advanced directly to the quarterfinals. Clark went head-to-head with Nikolas Nestoroff (San Marcos, Calif.; Ari Factory Racing) in his quarterfinal match-up, where Nestoroff took the win to move to the semifinals. Ultimately, Strait beat out Silva to claim the Stars and Stripes, and Nestoroff rounded out the podium in third.

Results:

1. Kyle Strait (Alpine, Calif.; Ari Bikes),

2. Dante Silva (Chula Vista, Calif.; Intense Racing USA / Monster Army)

3. Nikolas Nestoroff (San Marcos, Calif.; Ari Factory Racing)

The Elite Women’s field was narrowed down to eight riders after Thursday morning’s qualifying. Jordan Scott (Colorado Springs, Colo.; Hyper, Kenda, Sr Suntour, Title, POC, FIST, Shimano, Pumptrax USA) and Sophie Allen (Woodland Hills, Calif.; Kona Bikes) qualified first and second, with just two seconds between them. Every round was a battle, but it came down to Scott, Allen, Alyana Van Horn (Medford, Ore.; Specialized, TRP, Troy Lee Designs, Adventure Bicycles), and McKenna Merten (Longmont, Colo.; Kenda Tires/FLY Racing) in the semifinals.

Scott and Allen gained the upper hand to advance to the big final, with Scott claiming victory and winning the national title. Allen earned silver, and Van Horn secured bronze. 

Results:

1. Jordan Scott (Colorado Springs, Colo.; Hyper, Kenda, Sr Suntour, Title, POC, FIST, Shimano, Pumptrax USA)

2. Sophie Allen (Woodland Hills, Calif.; Kona Bikes)

3. Alyana Van Horn (Medford, Ore.; Specialized, TRP, Troy Lee Designs, Adventure Bicycles)

The top three qualifiers in the Junior Men’s race proved to be the ones to beat in the semifinals as well. The final rounds featured Chris Liebig (Havre de Grace, Md.; Suntour, Maxxis, Brutal Engineering, Deity, Cush Core) versus Tyler Wagoner (Canyon Lake, Calif.; Intense Factory Racing) in the championship round, and Colter Knecht (Kamas, Utah; OUTLAW) versus Connor Knipscheer (Yucaipa, Calif.; SpokeX/Mondraker/TRP) in the consolation round. In the end, it was all Liebig, who powered through to claim the Junior Men’s 17-18 Dual Slalom National Title.

Results:

1. Chris Liebig (Havre de Grace, Md.; Suntour, Maxxis, Brutal Engineering, Deity, Cush Core)

2. Tyler Wagoner (Canyon Lake, Calif.; Intense Factory Racing)

3. Connor Knipscheer (Yucaipa, Calif.; SpokeX/Mondraker/TRP)

Eli Bundy (Fort Collins, Colo.; Outlaw Intense Factory Development) backed up his top qualifying time with commanding runs in every round. He beat out Ryo Boisvert (Markham, ON) in the final round to earn the national title. Roark Spealler (Park City, Utah; Outlaw) put on a strong race as well to win the consolation round. 

Results:

1. Eli Bundy (Fort Collins, Colo.; Outlaw Intense Factory Development)

2. Ryo Boisvert (Markham, ON)

3. Roark Spealler (Park City, Utah; Outlaw)

Myles Nardi (Victor, Idaho; Hoback Sports / Teton Passrats / Troy Lee Designs) clocked the second-fastest time in qualifying and continued to ride with confidence and consistency to take the title in the championship round against Leighton Richey (Coalville, Utah; Outlaw Bike Team). Wade Heater (Murrieta, Calif.; Seven/Timmons Wood Products) took the win in his bracket to get the bronze medal.

Results:

1. Myles Nardi (Victor, Idaho; Hoback Sports / Teton Passrats / Troy Lee Designs)

2. Leighton Richey (Coalville, Utah; Outlaw Bike Team)

3. Wade Heater (Murrieta, Calif.; Seven/Timmons Wood Products)

Top seed Sophie Gregory (Riverton, Utah; Outlaw, Specialized) looked dominant early and went on to take the win in the final round against Camryn McCormick (Gypsum, Colo.; Kali, Haynes, Reynolds, ProTaper, Iron City, Seagulls Cycles, ODI) who was second in qualifying and earned the silver in finals.

Results:

1. Sophie Gregory (Riverton, Utah; Outlaw, Specialized)

2. Camryn McCormick (Gypsum, Colo.; Kali, Haynes, Reynolds, ProTaper, Iron City, Seagulls Cycles, ODI)

3. Zoey Waage (Durango, Colo.)

Aidan Scott (Sussex, N.J.; Traction Tech) was locked in from the start and went on to take the top step of the podium against Corey Larby (Palm Desert, Calif.; ASR, KRX, Dusty Crew) who was second in qualifying and went on to take the silver in finals.

Results:

1. Aidan Scott (Sussex, N.J.; Traction Tech)

2. Corey Larby (Palm Desert, Calif.; ASR, KRX, Dusty Crew)

3. Grayson Wallace (Yucaipa, Calif.)

Zack Day (Greenville, Wisc.; DSend Gravity Racing) and Zhandor Shannon-Frolich (Denver, Colo.; Commencal Co-Factory, 100%, Sensus, Title, Nezium, Trestle Bike Park) went head-to-head in the final, where Day raced to victory and claimed the national title.

Results:

1. Zack Day (Greenville, Wisc.; DSend Gravity Racing)

2. Zhandor Shannon-Frolich (Denver, Colo.; Commencal Co-Factory, 100%, Sensus, Title, Nezium, Trestle Bike Park)

Benjamin Bright (Sunnyvale, Calif.; Trailhead Racing) charged to victory in the 30-39 final, edging out Matson Hunter (Rancho Mission Viejo, Calif.) to take the win. Jason Connor (Winnipeg, MB; Norco - Bikes Beyond) rounded out the podium in third.

Results:

1. Benjamin Bright (Sunnyvale, Calif.; Trailhead Racing)

2. Matson Hunter (Rancho Mission Viejo, Calif.)

3. Jason Connor (Winnipeg, MB; Norco - Bikes Beyond)

Jarrett Kolich (Goleta, Calif.; Jarrett Kolich Performance) clocked the second-fastest time in qualifying and continued with strong runs to take the title in the championship round against Christian Erdei (Los Angeles, Calif.). Petr Hanak (Fraser, Colo.; Elevated Roofs) took the win in his bracket to get the bronze medal.

Results:

1. Jarrett Kolich (Goleta, Calif.; Jarrett Kolich Performance)

2. Christian Erdei (Los Angeles, Calif.)

3. Petr Hanak (Fraser, Colo.; Elevated Roofs)

Joslyn Feild (Big Bear Lake, Calif.) threw down all day to secure the national title. 

Results:

1. Joslyn Feild (Big Bear Lake, Calif.)

Complete Dual Slalom results can be found here.

171 of the best downhill racers in the country took on their seeding runs today for the Elite and Junior 17-18 Men, along with the Elite and Junior 17-18 Women. The top qualifiers of the day were Ryan Pinkerton (Aliso Viejo, Calif.; Mondraker Factory Racing) and Aletha Ostgaard (Selah, Wash.; Canyon DH Racing).

Complete results can be found here.

Saturday is all about the downhill racers. The rest of the Cat 1 racers will take on their seeding runs at 1:45pm PT, then it’s time for the Pro Finals to close out the evening.