Melissa Buhl has won the overall title for the Jeep 48 Straight, taking out what Jeep describes as the richest prize in mountain biking – $5,000 US for each win, an additional $5,000 for series win PLUS a 2 year lease on a new Jeep.

The race is dual slalom format over 3 rounds. Check out this vid of round 2:

The final was held in San Luis Obispo, California. Jeep 48Straight writes of the womens race:

In the women’s competition, Chandler, Ariz.’s Melissa Buhl put an exclamation point on a brilliant Jeep season that saw her finish second in New Jersey and first in Utah, not to mention earning the U.S. National Championship and the World Championship. Her second place finish in San Luis Obispo earned her the season championship, and further solidified her standing as one of the most dominant racers in the sport. Buhl earned victories over Leslie Slagle of El Cajon, Calif., and Lisa Myklak of Boulder, Colo., before reaching the Championship Heat against Fionn Griffiths of Great Britain. Griffiths, a three-time World Cup winner who has never missed a Jeep race during the event’s six year history, was dominant throughout the day, beginning with a win over Folsom, Calif.’s Joanna Petterson and a subsequent stunner over season points leader and National Champion Kathy Pruitt of Santa Cruz, Calif., to reach the finals. Griffiths pulled out the victory over Buhl to earn the individual event title. Pruitt topped Myklak in the consolation heat to earn third place.

“I felt confident today because I really liked the speed and layout of the course, which matches my race style,” said Buhl. “This whole season has been amazing for me, and is by far the best I’ve ever ridden. I am having a great time, and I know that I’ll now have a target on my back and I’ll have to work harder and harder to stay at this level.”

Older: Hucker Heroines, part 2 - Anne-Caro Chausson

Fresher: Norco have made you a bike, and called it Vixa!

Published on 27/10/2008 by Martha Hucker.