Minnesota State Championship Series

ROCHESTER -- Minnesota mountain bike racers were blessed at the Steeplechase Sunday.

Not because of the race course -- a 5-plus mile loop of technical singletrack  in near perfect condition.

And not because of the turnout. (More than 200 racers showed up to compete).

No, racers were blessed Sunday because of the weather.

While it rained pretty much throughout the rest of the state Sunday (the Twin Cities recorded more than a quarter-inch), the tiny area of Steeplechase remained relatively rain-free.

That hadn't been the case Saturday: Organizers had to  actually close the course to preriders because of torrential rains.

"It just downpoured," race director Jeff Robertson said.

Sunday's race would have run regardless, Robertson added, but would have been held on an alternate course had it actually rained.

As it was, the weather couldn't have been better. Cool temperatures and cloudy skies tempered what could have been a long, hot race.

And aside from a few slick rocks, roots and bridge crossings, the trail conditions were near perfect: Hard pack with very little mud.

And it was awesome trail.

"This is the best course I've been on in a while," said Michael Bolinske of Hopkins. Bolinske took third place in the Comp division.

"It had good flow and good singletrack," Bolinske said. "It had a good mix of power sections and climbs.

"This was a great course."

Sunday marked only the second MNSCS race at Steeplechase, which itself has been in business for just over seven years.

While Steeplechase is a privately owned ski area, the trails were first built and  cleared with the help of the Rochester Active Sports Club. And they were assisted two years ago by the visiting IMBA trail-building school.

"We couldn't build the trails fast enough," Robertson said. "We've been adding to them ever since."

Proceeds from the race go to support the nonprofit club, which in turn helps maintain the trails and support other active sports in the southern Minnesota region.

As for winners, Logan Schlough of Menomonie won the Kid's Comp Class race, Scott Spoo of Deer Park, Wis., won the Citizen Class race for men and Elizabeth Shedd of Shakopee won Citizen Women.

Seth Bell of Mason City, Iowa, won the Sport Class race (as well as the Sport's Single Speed division), Rebecca Grissom of Apple Valley won the Women's Sport class, and Jonathan Finnoff of Rochester won the Comp division.

Jenna Zander of North Mankato handily won the Expert Women class and Sam Oftedahl of Shoreview won the Expert Men class.

Contender for the furthest-traveled racer goes to Caitlin Trahan, who hails from Raleigh, NC, but is living and working in the Twin Cities over the summer. She finished fifth in Expert Women.

Trahan said she's raced out east coast, but has enjoyed the MNSCS trails thus far. She also raced at Maplelag Spring Opener May 13.

As for Steeplechase, "It's the best one yet," Trahan said. "I liked the mud and roots and stuff."

Trahan thought the mid-course climb was the worst of the race.

"I'm not one for going up," she said. "I like going down the hills instead. It took a lot out of me."

Best of all, though, the course was pretty much dry.

"To all the non-believers out there, you missed a good race," Robertson said.

Troy Melhus is a Minneapolis writer and Comp Racer for the Peace Coffee Bike Team. He can be reached at tmelhus@mac.com.