It’s one thing to beat Max Nelson, Phil Tinstman and Kyle Leduc consistently, but it’s quite another to smoke not just one, but two national champions simultaneously. That’s exactly what Dave Klaassen Van Oorschot did at the Southridge Winter Series.
BIG NAME = HUGE MARGINS
Southridge California State Championship course measures 1 1/2 miles and is fast, technical and rocky. This means that you have little chance to beat the two national #3 cms. Dave was able to beat the times of Eric Carter, Dual-Slalom Champion, and Todd Leduc, Downhill Champion, by three and six seconds respectively. This is huge! Klaassen van Oorschot usually wins by ten seconds when the National Champions aren’t there.
MBAS RIDDER TO WATCH
Before they became mountain bike heroes, we knew Tinker, Tomac and Lopes. We were captivated by them and told the rest of the world to keep an eye out. We were correct.
We were captivated by Dave’s win over Todd Leduc at the Southridge Challenge Fall event last year. He had been racing downhill for two years, and only three years on a mountain bike. Klaassen van Oorschot was not only a champion, but also because of his rare natural talent. His style is fluid, effortless, and fast.
MBA wanted to know more. Just moments before Dave left for Ortega, California to compete in the California State Championship opener, we sat down and chatted with him.
DAVID KLAASSEN KAN OORSCHOT :THE MAN
NICKNAME: Alphabet
AGE: 19
BORN: 4/14/83
BIRTHPLACE : Palm Springs. When I was one year old, we moved out. Hot weather is all I can recall.
HEIGHT: 1.8m
WEIGHT: 79kg
SIZE OF THE HOOE: 13
HELMET SIZE: Medium
WAIST: 34
EYES: Hazel
HAIR: Brown
Riverside is the CURRENT REIDENCE. It’s beautiful. It’s close enough to the mountains and great riding, but not too far from the beach.
CARS: 98 Ford Ranger. It is red with custom wheels and race pedals.
VO2 MAX: 64.
FASTEST ONE MILE TIME: RACING SPIALTY: A good all-around rider. I consider myself a consistent and smooth rider.
FAVORITE COURSE : Vail World Championships. As a junior, I was 7th last year.
FAVORITE FOOD – In-N-Out Double Double. With fries and a strawberryshake, of course.
GOALS: To be a member of the U.S. World Team this year. This time, I am eligible for the elite division.
HERO: Steve Peat. He’s quick and does it for fun.
FAVORITE ARTIST – Linkin Park It can be called rap/alternative.
FAVORITE HOBBIES : Spending time with friends. It’s a hobby as long as you are active.
EDUCATION: I am studying to be an electrical engineer. I am currently completing two years of general education at Riverside Community College. My goal is to transfer to a Cal State University.
JOBS HELD: Snowboard instructor. The last two years I was a Snow Summit instructor.
MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT EVER: Ghost riding my bicycle. It was a Team Big Bear race, and I crashed just before the finish of a slalom. I got up and ghost-rode my bike to the finish line. It was quite embarrassing. That was a moment I regret.
If a bike racer is not available, you can still race an off-road truck
BEST FAN GIFT: Support. It is a huge compliment to receive encouragement from someone who enjoys riding with me.
ALWAYS TAKES ON a TRIP: VCR. I get pumped up to race by watching mountain bike videos.
SPONSORS: Intense, Spy, Sun-Ringle
TRAINING TIP – I still do long road rides to build endurance, and one minute sprint intervals for my threshold to increase my threshold. But BMX is a great way to improve speed and handle the bike. I ride my slalom bicycle at Lake Perris BMX.
THE MACHINE
BIKE: Red factory Intense M1 SL, lightweight prototype
SIZE: Medium
WEIGHT: 17 Kg
BAR WIDTH: Easton Monkey Lite carbon, 5 cm rise, 69 cm width
GRIPS: Black Intense lock On by ODI
STEM: Easton MG60 50mm
SEAT: Black SDG Satellite
SEATPOST Easton EA50
PEDALS: Shimano M646
CRANKS: Shimano XTR, 170mm
GEARING: 40×11-25
CHAIN GUIDE: MRP
FORK: Manitou Carbon X-Vert
FORK SPRING Medium
SHOCK: Progressive 5th Element
CHAIN OIL: Triflo
BRAKES: Shimano XT disc, 200mm rotors
WHEELS: Intensely-built Sun Singletrack wheels, Hadley hubs, and 14-gauge spokes
SHIFTER: Shimano XTR
TIRES: Sticky Rubber 50 compound, Intense 909 front, Zero DH Slick Back
TUBES: Intense, DH
TIRE PRESSURE: Front and rear 20 psi
SETUP SECRET – I prefer a stiff fork and shock. You can pedal the bike better, and the suspension is only needed for the tough hits.
THE BODY AROR
HELMET: Carbon Black Troy Lee D2
GOGGLES Travis Pastrana’s Spy Alloy MX signature, mirror lens tint
GLASSES: Brown Spy Clint and bronze lenses
JERSEY: Red/black/yellow Intense from Fox Racing
GLOVES: Red/black/yellow Intense By Fox Racing
SHORTS: Red/black Intense from Fox Racing
SHOES: Silver Shimano M220
PADS: Body armor for the Dianese DH Shuttle