It's a simple question: Who are the #1 Male and Female Mountain Bikers in North America. Who's won the most races? Who's going the fastest right now? Who's going to be the fastest when it counts this summer? Who's taken home the most prize money? ...Maybe it's not such a simple question.

I guess "Best" is open for interpretation here. With Championship season right around the corner, I got to thinking on my ride today, who should be the #1 ranked rider? There are more "rankings" and "series standings" out there then there are pro mountain bikers, and they all tell you something different. After a couple hours of single track, here's what I came up with...

Women #8: Willow Koerber. At her best, Willow has the potential to be much higher on this list. She started the year with a great ride in South Africa for 6th at the first World Cup, but in the US she's struggled to find those same legs. She's said the World Cup Series is her main goal for the year so maybe she has been training through the US races, or maybe all the early season travel has taken it's toll. It'd be nice to see her at the front of US races more often, but then again, If she has great rides at the Canadian World Cups and the final two East Coast Pro XCT's (which is likely) she could easily make her way towards the top spot.

Men #8: Sam Schultz. Let me start by saying that you could make an argument for any one of the next eight men for being ranked #1. Sam makes the list for consistency over anything else. His 2nd place finish at the Pan Am Championships in March was easily his most impressive ride of the year. Nationally, his consistent finishes on or just off the podium have him ranked 5th in the US Pro XCT. A strong race at Nationals next month could really make his season.

Woman #7: Kelli Emmett. Kelli's had a good season so far, but with so many women having a great year, good just isn't going to win you any races. Her consistency (and a strong 3rd and 5th at Sea Otter and Bump N' Grind) has earned her a 5th place ranking in the US Pro XCT series standings after 4 rounds. Most recently she found herself outside the top 10 at her home race in Colorado Springs. Hopefully she can put it back together in time for Nationals in a month. If not, there's a pack of women nipping at her heels.

Men #7: Jeremiah Bishop. JB hasn't stood on a Pro XCT podium all year. At the same time, he's probably won more races and taken home more prize money this season than any other US Mountain Biker. He's won Kenda Cup XC's, NUE 100 milers, and 12 hour races this year, all while creating a nice collection of oversized cardboard checks. From the outside, you might look at his schedule this season and think "Huh?", but he seems to have it all figured out. He's putting money in the bank, and if all goes to plan, he'll be standing atop the box at the US Marathon National Championships (and who knows, maybe even Marathon Worlds...)

Women #6: Pua Sawicki. A long time star in the Endurance world, she has started to become a consistent podium finisher at the Olympic XC distance this year. A string of high finishes at the US Pro XCT's has landed her 3rd in the series rankings. She is attempting to make the transfer to the shorter stuff this year with the hope of becoming one of the top women in the sport. With a little more speed work, she could be scary fast in the next year or two. Then again, she's riding scary fast Now!

Men #6: Derek Zandstra. In my opinion, the most underrated mountain biker of the season. For those back in Canada, you know better, but here in the US, people still overlook Zandstra as a serious threat. A strong 7th at Fontana put his name in the conversation, but a disappointing 15th at Sea Otter took it out just as fast. His three strait UCI C1 wins at the Canada Cup series this past month have gone relatively unnoticed here in the USA. But a 5th place ride this past weekend at US Pro XCT #4 in Colorado Springs ought to get more people talking. It wont be easy with Kabush and Plaxton riding so well, but a National Title is not out of the question this July. He and Kabush will face off again this weekend at the next round of the Canada Cup Series.

Women #5: Heather Irmiger. "Ir-miger", not "Irm-IN-ger", has had a great 2009 thus far. Like teammate Koerber, she started things off with a strong finish at the first world cup and has more or less carried that fitness through the season thus far. Not bad considering the numerous trips back and forth across the globe. she has become such a staple on the National scene, it's hard to imagine this is the same women who only a few years ago was a Colorado pro riding for the local Japanese restaurant. Her win last Friday in the Sand Creek Short Track shows that her form is coming along just in time for this summer. Altitude + Climbing = Good News For Heather. July 18 2009 could be a day she remembers for years to come...

Men #5: Geoff Kabush. I can hardly press the keys on my computer for this one. Geoff Kabush, 5th? This just can't be right. Mr. North America? The guy who's won every NORBA series and every NMBS race he's touched this decade? It doesn't make sense, but I just can't put him any higher. His win at US Cup round #1 at Fontana looked to be the start of another dominating year in North America, but since then his performances here at home have been very un-kabush. He missed the podium in Alabama and while 4th in Colorado Springs, he was never really in the mix at the front of the race. A strong World Cup in Offenburg was nice, but this ranking is based on this side of the pond... Like Koerber for the women, a few top finishes at the Canadian World Cups and East Coast PRO XCT's could easily move his name to the top of this list. (And another Maple Leaf Jersey this July couldn't hurt...)

Women #4: Katie Compton. The long time Queen of 'Cross, Katie has started making a serious dent in the Mountain Bike scene this year. Her summer skills are nothing new (She is the defending Short Track National Champion) but her regular appearances at the biggest races this season has been a pleasant surprise. It all started with a local CO win that saw her better Georgia Gould by a couple minutes. Since then, she's taken a quality win at the Teva Games, a pair of 2nds in Colorado Springs, and a Who-knows-what-could-have-been after an asthma attack in Alabama. She could potently make history and win Cross Country, Short Track, and Cyclocross National Titles in the same year. Impressive when you consider her main objective is still eight months of racing away at 'Cross Worlds. Hopefully she'll have a sponsor by then...

Men #4: Sid Taberlay. Welcome to the USA Sid! A several time Australian National Champion and long time World Cup racer, Sid has focused his efforts on the US Calendar this year after an off-season switch to Team SHO-AIR. He got the ball rolling with a couple wins at the Kenda Cup West in the early season. He impressed with a second place behind World Champion Sauser at the Sea Otter Classic. And in Alabama, he left the field in his dust to take his first Pro XCT win of the season. His work has earned him the win in the inaugural Kenda Cup West series and a 3rd place ranking in the US Pro XCT. A few broken ribs effected his ride in Colorado, but a long gap between US Cup races should let him make a full recovery.

Women #3: Georia Gould. Ever since her "Georgia Who?" win at the 2006 National Championships in Sonoma, Gould has been the top dog in North America. For a while, her winning the women's race was the biggest no-brainer in the history of sport. That is, until Cathrine Pendrel. In 2009, Pendral struck first beating Gould at Pan Am's. In Pro XCT races, it's been Gould, Gould, Pendrel, Pendrel after four rounds. Only recently has she shown any sign of weakness, finishing 4th in Colorado Springs. After so many National wins, a 4th for Gould might as well be 40th. Her next stop will be the BC Bike Race later this month. She won't have any Canadians to worry about at Nationals, but a hard charging Compton and Irmiger could give her trouble if she doesn't come around. (Not to mention a one Mary Mcconneloug...)

Men #3: Todd Wells. Coming off the best year of his career in 2008, this season has comparably been a bit down. His STXC wins at Sea Otter and Colorado Springs have been impressive, but he has yet to see the top step in XC. He's shown over and over again at the World Cups that he has what it takes to be the top North American male, but he just hasn't been able to take over and dominate here at home. His strong rides these past few weeks show he could be getting closer to that point, but until he is on top of the box on the big day, he'll always be just another contender. That Red, White, and Blue jersey has been alluding Wells for quite a while in Mountain Biking. With Nationals at home in Colorado this Summer, could this be the year he gets it done?

Women #2: Emily Batty. Oh Canada! Emily Batty has arrived. 4th at Fontana, 1st at Sea Otter STXC, 1st U23 at World Cups #2 & #3, 1st at Ontario Cup, four strait wins at the Canada Cup series, and a U23 Pan Am Championship. If you haven't been following this story, get on it. You're looking at the future super star of our sport. Seeing her race at the Canada Cups feels like watching Lebron James when he was in high school. Coming up she'll have her hands full trying to win an Elite Canadian National Championship and do well at the Canadian World Cups. The next time we'll see her in the States will probably be Windham Mountain this August as she get's ready for the World Championships in Australia. If she's not wearing rainbows by the end of this season, I'll eat my hat.

Men #2: Max Plaxton. After winning the US Pro XCT race in Colorado Springs this past weekend and Leading that series, how can "The Mountie" not be #1? I guess I don't really have a good answer for that. I went back and forth my entire ride, and while all the "rankings" out there say Max should be the top rider in North America, I just can't shake the feeling that JHK has that extra 1% in the tank. With each contesting their own National Championships next month, the two won't meet again until The Canadian World Cup Rounds at the end of July. At this point, it only takes one good or bad race by either to see their spot change.

Women #1: Catherine Pendrel. This one was nearly as hard as the men's rankings. Pendrel and Gould have gone back and forth all season long, but at the end of the day, Pendrel has the clear advantage over all competition. With wins at the Pan American Championships, Bump N' Grind, and Colorado Springs, she has been making a statement this season. Add to that her 6th, 5th, and 2nd place finishes at the World Cups this year, and she takes it hands down. Could this be the start of a new era of women's dominance in the USA? Georgia Gould might have something to say about that, as would her fellow Canadian Emily Batty. The second half of the season will surly tell...

Men #1: Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski. The deeper you dig into this years results, the clearer the picture becomes that JHK is the best Mountain Biker in North America right now. While trailing Plaxton by 10 points in the US Pro XCT, the truth is Jeremy has had the edge on Max this season (but just barley.) In six meetings between the two, they are split three and three. (Max at Fontana, Sea Otter, and Colorado Springs. JHK at Pan Ams, Teva Games, and Bump N' Grind) The tie breaker? After close to 12 hours of head to head racing this season, JHK has a 13 minute and 2 second advantage over Max. Then consider that while Max was home training, Jeremy was making 3 trips back and forth across the globe chasing the World Cup series. Add to that Jeremy's strong showings in Short Track while Max has chosen to sit them out. and I think you can't help but give the nod to Horgan-Kobelski. The next time the two meet, we might very well be talking about the battle between US and Canadian National Champions...



This is my two cents. I'm comfortable with it for now, yet something feels wrong about leaving off the likes of current US National Champions Mary Mcconneloug and Adam Craig, along with a handful of others... Now I want to hear your thoughts. Who's impressed you this season? Who's your pic for Nationals, World Cups, World Championships? Who's #1?