Ryan Pinkerton and Kailey Skelton Win Back-to-Back Elite Downhill National Titles at the 2026 Gravity MTB National Championships

It was an electric day on the mountain at Big Bear for the 2026 USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championshipsand Round 4 of the Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series.

More than 160 riders charged down the dry, dusty course at Big Bear Mountain Resort for the Pro Downhill Finals. With the Elite and Junior 17-18 fields combined into one race, every rider pushed the limits in pursuit of the coveted Stars and Stripes jersey.

Aletha Ostgaard (Selah, Wash.; Canyon DH Racing) came into finals as the rider to beat after laying down the fastest seeding run of the weekend with a 3:14.370. As the final rider to drop, all eyes were on Ostgaard, but the rest of the Elite Women's field wasn't making it easy.

Maylei Leaneagh (Frederick, Colo.; ZFR Racing Team) threw down a blistering run, going more than four seconds faster than Taylor Ostgaard (Selah, Wash.; Canyon, TLD, SRAM/RockShox), who had been holding the hot seat. With just two riders left, Kailey Skelton (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.; Ari Factory Racing) put together the smooth, composed run she's known for, clocking a 3:14.079 to take over the top spot with the fastest time of the weekend.

As the last rider on course, Aletha Ostgaard was ahead at every split and crossed the finish line in 3:13.132, setting the fastest time of the day. The 18-year-old claimed the Junior Women's National Championship, while Skelton's time held up to earn her a second straight Elite Women's National Championship and another year in the coveted Stars and Stripes jersey.

Rounding out the Junior Women's podium, Raina Logar (Davis, W.V.; Frameworks Racing/TRP) finished fifth overall with a time of 3:21.402. Mary McLarnon (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Outlaw INTENSE Racing) claimed the bronze medal in the junior category with a 3:23.757, good for seventh overall in the combined pro field.

Elite Women’s Results:

1. Kailey Skelton (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.; Ari Factory Racing)

2. Maylei Leaneagh (Frederick, Colo; ZFR Racing Team)

3. Taylor Ostgaard (Selah, Wash; Canyon, TLD, SRAM/Rockshox)

Junior Women’s Results:

1. Aletha Ostgaard (Selah, Wash.; Canyon DH Racing)

2. Raina Logar (Davis, W.V.; Frameworks Racing/ TRP)

3. Mary McLarnon (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Outlaw INTENSE Racing)

In Saturday's seeding round, Ryan Pinkerton (Aliso Viejo, Calif.; Mondraker Factory Racing) set the fastest time of the day with a 2:50.113, but Bode Burke (Rhododendron, Ore.; Crestline Speed Shop) was right on his heels, just 0.09 seconds back, setting the stage for a thrilling final.

Dylan Maples (Orangevale, Calif.; Pivot Factory Racing) was the first rider to break the 2:50 barrier in finals. He was down on the opening split but made up time in the lower sections to take over the hot seat from Luca Shaw (Pisgah Forest, N.C.; Canyon DH Racing). Despite crossing the finish line with no air left in his front tire, Maples stopped the clock at 2:49.784, knowing there was still time to be found on course.

A handful of riders came close, but only Nate Kitchen (Bakersfield, Calif.; Intense Factory Racing) challenged Maples, finishing just 0.317 seconds back after posting a run nearly identical to his seeding time. Burke's hopes for the title ended with a crash, leaving Pinkerton as the final rider on course. Pinkerton was slightly behind at the first split, but he charged through the rest of the course, crossing the finish line in 2:48.905 to edge out Maples by 0.879 seconds. With the victory, Pinkerton claimed back-to-back Elite Men's Downhill National titles on his home mountain at Big Bear Mountain Resort.

In the Junior Men 17-18 race, Kai Burleson (Murrieta, Calif.) put together one of the biggest rides of the day, improving his seeding time by more than two seconds to finish in 2:55.348, good for 14th overall and the Junior National title. Boston Bryant (Lehi, Utah; Outlaw Intense Racing) claimed the silver medal with a time of 2:58.141, while Brent Shorter (Laguna Hills, Calif.; Bike911/Monster Energy Army) rounded out the podium in 2:58.662, just 0.521 seconds behind Bryant.

Elite Men’s Results:

1. Ryan Pinkerton (Aliso Viejo, Calif.; Mondraker Factory Racing)

2. Dylan Maples (Orangevale, Calif; Pivot Factory Racing)

3. Nate Kitchen (Bakersfield, Calif.; Intense Factory Racing)

Junior Men’s Results:

1. Kai Burleson (Murrieta, Calif.)

2. Boston Bryant (Lehi, Utah; Outlaw Intense Racing)

3. Brent Shorter (Laguna Hills, Calif.; Bike911/Monster Energy Army)

Tomorrow marks the final day of racing in Big Bear where the Amateur riders will be racing for the Stars and Stripes jerseys.