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Gary Fisher News

02/15/2007 Team

Greg Watts Jumps, Pumps, and Rides to Second Overall at Ray’s 3-Ride Invite

While it was cold and blustery outside in Cleveland, Ohio, the country’s best riders were stepping it up at Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park for the annual 3-Ride Pro Invite.

The competition features 4 different events- timed sport course, pump track, streetpark, and jump comp. Cash is awarded to top finishers in each event, but the big payout goes to the overall winner.

Defending overall champ and Subaru-Gary Fisher team rider Greg Watts threw down consistently great riding over the course of the two day event to finish second overall. Greg was the only rider at the event to finish top-five in each of the four events.

The overall title was based on 3 out of 4 events, so riders could elect to skip an event. Greg was planning on passing on the Subaru Steetpark competition, but at the last minute was talked into riding. That was a good thing. Greg’s flip whip (back flip with a tail whip) off a box jump was one of the event’s highlights. Check out the photo of Greg getting upside down and whippin’ his way to a 5th place finish in the Subaru Streetpark Competition. Not bad for an event he planned to skip.

Other highlights of the weekend included Greg’s 4th place finish on the Gary Fisher Pump Track. The pump track finals saw 17-year old JD Swanguen up against legend Brian Lopes. JD edged Lopes out by the thinnest of margins on his way to claim the overall title. In the jump comp Greg was able to link big tricks (360 X-up, back flips to tail whips) to score a fourth place finish.

For his second overall finish, Greg was awarded on the podium over two grand in one dollar bills. Surprisingly, on the flight back to California, no one questioned the shoe box stuffed full of one dollar bills.

It should be noted that Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park put on a smoothly run, great event for riders and spectators alike. Ray Petro (the “Ray” of Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park) and crew hosted a Saturday night party for the riders at Dave & Buster’s. Congratulations to Ray’s for another great event and the growing popularity.

Specifics on Greg Watt’s performance at Ray’s 3-Ride Pro Invite:
• 2nd Overall
• 5th in the Moen Sport Course
• 4th in the Gary Fisher Pump Track
• 5th in the Subaru Streetpark
• 4th in the Jump Comp

For more coverage and pictures from Ray’s 3-Ride Event, check out Bike magazine’s exclusive online coverage.

To plan your trip to indoor mountain biking’s mecca check out www.raysmtb.com