Canadian Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) and Czech Katerina Nash (Luna) have spent the better part of the 2006 season confirming their dominance in short-track cross-country racing. That’s why few were surprised when they crossed their respective finish lines, arms raised, to win at Sunday’s Deer Valley NORBA National Mountain Bike Series race, the fourth event of the 2006 NMBS calendar.

Kabush now owns 11 NMBS short-track wins — more than any man in the history of the series.

"Every one I start I want to win," Kabush said. "I’m not winning any cross-country races this year, but I still have the confidence to come back and have the fitness to win a short-track."

Still, Sunday’s win was not exactly a textbook effort for the sideburned Canadian. Kabush, who usually waits to light a last-lap match, spent the lion’s share of the 20-minute race riding solo off the front. That’s because Ryan Trebon (Kona-Les Gets), who beat Kabush at the June 18 NMBS in Mount Snow, Vermont, ramped up the pace on the first lap, dropping much of the field.

The lanky Trebon, who won at Mount Snow by soloing off the front, admitted his primary goal was to take the $80 prime for the first lap. Shortly thereafter, Trebon dropped his chain and was forced to dismount. His day was over, and he was eventually pulled.

"Once you’re 25 seconds down, it’s not worth it to try to catch up," Trebon said.

But the damage had been done. Trebon’s effort separated Kabush, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher), Barry Wicks (Kona-Les Gets) and Ross Schnell (Trek-Volkswagen) from the rest of the field. With more than 10 minutes still remaining in the race, Kabush saw the group easing up, then launched an attack on an uphill section. Horgan-Kobelski, who was riding a bike with 29-inch wheels, was the only racer to respond, but he couldn’t catch the streaking Canadian. Kabush spent the next 15 minutes spinning solo laps around the course.

A bitter fight ensued between Wicks, Schnell, Adam Craig (Giant) and 19-year-old Kiwi Clinton Avery (New Zealand National) for the final spots on the podium. Craig, who was riding a single-speed, couldn’t match the speeds on the flat sections. Wicks attacked on the final lap to sew up third, with Schnell and Avery coming in behind.

"The first short-track race I’ve done was two weeks ago," Avery said. "It’s a lot more intense than a cross-country race."

That was echoed by Avery’s countrywoman Rosara Joseph, who raced her first short-track in the women’s race.

"It’s super exciting, it’s like a criterium but off road," said Joseph, whose national team has spent two months living and training in Boulder, Colorado. "It’s a good learning experience."

Providing the education was the Luna team, as Nash finished atop the podium ahead of teammates Georgia Gould and Shonny Vanlandingham.

Canadian veteran Alison Sydor started things off in the women’s race, getting the hole shot and pushing the pace early. Sydor was eventually joined by Gould, Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkswagen) and Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher), with Nash and Vanlandingham dangling off the back.

But the two Luna riders clawed their way back on. Nash joined the front group, and immediately she and Gould took turns attacking Haywood and Sydor. Eventually, the speedy Czech took a sizable lead and never looked back.

"I’ve been having bad luck in the cross-country, and I get to short-track and I’m pissed about the cross-country," said Nash, who finished a distant eighth in Saturday’s cross-country. "I seem to get stuck in the first uphill."

Hannah, Minnaar take downhill
Although she lacks the brawn of her competitors, 17-year-old Tracy Hannah (Orange) overpowered American April Lawyer (Maxxis) and defending World Cup champ Sabrina Jonnier (Monster-Iron Horse) to win the second NMBS race of her young career at Deer Valley.

"Regardless if I do good or bad, I’m having a good time. But to be able to get on the podium with a lot of good girls here is a bonus," said Lawyer, who plans to retire at the end of the season.

Streaking to victory in the men’s race was Greg Minnaar (G-Cross Honda), who used the win to rebound from a disappointing finish at last week’s No. 5 World Cup race in Brazil, where he suffered a puncture. That mistake likely put Minnaar out of contention to win the 2006 World Cup overall.

"Hopefully I can win another NORBA title. I’ve won two already and I’d like to have three," said Minnaar, who will race the rest of the NMBS series. "I think the World Cup may be out of reach right now, so I’m putting all of my focus into the world championships."

NORBA No. 4, Deer Valley, Utah
Short-track (unofficial)
Men
1. Geoff Kabush (Can), Maxxis
2. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Subaru-Gary Fisher
3. Barry Wicks, Kona-Les Gets
4. Ross Schnell, Trek-Volkswagen
5. Clinton Avery (NZ), New Zealand National

Women
1. Katerina Nash (CZ), Luna
2. Georgia Gould, Luna
3. Shonny Vanlandingham, Luna
4. Willow Koerber, Subaru-Gary Fisher
5. Dara Marks-Marino, Titus-Kenda

Downhill
Men
1. Greg Minnaar (SA), G-Cross Honda
2. Sam Hill (Aus), Monster-Iron Horse
3. Bryn Atkinson (Aus), GT
4. Matti Lehikoinen (Fin), G-Cross Honda
5. Jared Graves (Aus), Yeti

Women
1. Tracy Hannah (Aus), Orange
2. April Lawyer, Maxxis
3. Sabrina Jonnier (F), Monster-Iron Horse
4. Amelia Colasurdo, Bear Naked-Cannondale
5. Lisa Myklak, Morewood