Nate Kitchen Archives - KHS Bicycles

January 23, 2023January 23, 2023

Western Regional State Championships

KHS Pro MTB rider Nate Kitchen riding at Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City, NV

Bootleg Canyon located in Boulder City Nevada, has a legacy of mountain bike racing dating back all the way to the 1990s with KHS bicycles taking the top spot podiums for over 23 years running. It was really cool to see that legacy carry-on with riders Nathan Kitchen and Steven Walton holding it down for the team. Bootleg Canyon is located about 10 miles Southwest from the Hoover dam, which is a very unique track located on very rocky terrain, which requires much physical effort, line selection, and safety precautions all the way down from point A to B. It was one of the best tracks on the mountain, Snake Back all the way down to the parking lot, which is one of my personal favorites. It also has a midsection called Poopshoe, which was very, very steep and technical. Bootleg is known for holding some of the best Winter series races, alongside Southridge racing, in Fontana, CA.

Everyone on the West Coast is itching to get out of the snow and cold to race. There were over 1500 amateurs and pros gathered together for the Southwest state championships. It brought out some great fans as well to watch some amazing racing. Some of the best all-around riders would be attending the venue and trying to claim the title. The event would kick off Friday with two days of practice. Both Steven and Nate would be holding it down in the Downhill category. “It was great to be back in the saddle racing and seeing all the great competition back between the tape. I was a little under the weather, so it was great to grab a podium position and keep the ball rolling throughout the start of the season!” Steven Walton said. They would each get many runs Friday and Saturday and hone in their skill sets, lines, and bike set up for the finals which would be held Sunday.

Both riders would have great practice days dialing all their lines for Sunday’s finals. The track was very physical all together, putting much demand and pressure on each rider it would be Nate Kitchen holding it down for the junior pro category, he would have a blistering run and come in the top spot for KHS Pro MTB among the best junior racers in America. Nate said, “Bootleg is always a one-of-a-kind track and I am super pumped to continue my success with grabbing a win today! Bootleg is always a fun time of year to be racing and preparing for the upcoming season ahead!”

KHS Pro MTB rider Steven Walton riding at Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City, NV

Steven Walton was under some weather and had not been feeling the best. But he would push through to grab a top three podium position. Both riders would maintain great steps on the podium throughout their 2023 race campaign and keep the legacy of KHS Pro MTB on the top steps of the podium throughout the 23 years of racing in Bootleg Canyon.

KHS Pro MTB rider Steven Walton on the podium in third place at Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City, NV for the Western Regional State Championships

We want to thank all of our friends, family and sponsors who support us and get us to the races. Without everyone we could not be on the top step of the podium. As always, we want to thank Downhill Mike and his crew for putting on a fantastic race that hosts some of the best racers in the western hemisphere. We look forward to round two of the Fontana Winter series next weekend. Which will also be Kailey Skelton’s debut race of 2023! We’ll see you between the tape soon!

-Logan Binggeli, Team Management

January 16, 2023

Podiums at First Race of the year for the KHS MTB team

KHS Pro MTB rider Nate Kitchen out on the down hill course out at the Southridge Winter Series.

KHS Pro MTB rider Nate Kitchen on the podium in first place at round 1 of the Southridge Winter series.

“The Team could not be prouder to fire off the 2023 season with Nate Kitchen & Steven Walton grabbing top podium positions out at the Southridge Winter series in Fontana, CA! It was not an easy weekend of racing with California dealing with torrential downpours, we were lucky to be racing and staying safe throughout these tough weather systems. Steven Walton would grab 2nd place in the Enduro & Down Hill events in some wet conditions. Nate Kitchen would have some dominance performance in the Jr. pros taking the top spot!

“Solid weekend out here in Fontana for the first race of the year. Happy to start the season right with a 1st place finish. Southridge bringing the wall back and some rain made things tricky and super physical. Glad to keep it together and excited for what the rest of the year has in store”.

-Nathan Kitchen – Jr. Pro Athlete

KHS Pro MTB rider Steven Walton out on the soggy Enduro course out at the Southridge Winter Series.

“First race of the 2023 season is in the books! Had a huge amount of rain come in to shake things up for racing! Saturday’s Enduro race saw some cold and wet condition, and visibility was a challenge, but I stayed smooth for a 2nd place finish. Sunday’s DH race I was able to start the year with a second-place finish! I always enjoy the Fontana winter series as it’s great to see where your pace is at and what changes need to be made early on in the year before our race schedule gets packed”

-Steven Walton – Pro Athlete

KHS Pro MTB rider Steven Walton out on the podium in second-place for Down Hill at the Southridge Winter Series.

We would like to thank Southridge Racing for always putting on the best Winter series possible and all our sponsors and supporters! Bootleg Canyon State Championships will be held next weekend! Kailey Skelton will be debuting her first race of 2023 at the Costa Rica Open at the beginning of February and Shane Leslie will be debuting his first race at the Tennessee National second weekend of March!”

-Logan Binggeli – Team Management

KHS Pro MTB rider Steven Walton out on the podium in second-place for Enduro at the Southridge Winter Series.

January 27, 2022

Podiums for the KHS Pro MTB at Southridge Winter Seires

KHS Pro MTB rider Steven Walton on the track at the second round of the Southridge Winter Series.

Fontana, California would be hosting round two of the Southridge Winter series. Success was continued with our third race of the season. The race team would start off Saturday with three stages of Enduro which would keep all athletes on their toes. They would have to manage each race and have no mistakes to get the lowest time to win.

KHS Pro MTB riders, Nik Nestoroff and Steven Walton standing in first and second place in the Enduro event at the second round of the Southridge Winter Series.

It would be Nik Nestoroff who would win his second Enduro Regional race of the year, keeping his race machine ahead of all the other competitors. Steven Walton would be hot on his heels with a solid second-place finish. All the athletes have really been enjoying their new KHS Bicycles 6600 Enduro machine which is new to our fleet.

Sunday would move onto the downhill racing event; it would be another demanding physical track. Not only with many physical and mental obstacles to overcome it was quite short, so times would be tight.

KHS Pro MTB rider, Kailey Skelton standing in first place at the second round of the Southridge Winter Series.

To continue her third win in a row, Kailey Skelton took a large win in the Pro Women’s Downhill division.

KHS Pro MTB rider, Nate Kitchen standing third place at the second round of the Southridge Winter Series.

Nate Kitchen, our junior expert rider, would come in a solid third place, racing some of the fastest junior racers in the West Coast.

KHS Pro MTB riders, Nik Nestoroff and Steven Walton standing in first and third place at the second round of the Southridge Winter Series.

In the men’s division it would be Nik Nestoroff who would keep the 2022 win streak alive now claiming both Fontana’s and the Nevada State championship! Another solid podium for Steven Walton and continuous success for the whole team!

KHS Pro MTB rider Kailey Skelton at the start gate during the second round of the Southridge Winter Series.

After three straight demanding weekends of racing the team finally would have a couple weeks off to continue the preparation for the big nationals and international events. We always want to thank all our family, friends and sponsors who continuously help us achieve our goals and most of all have fun at the races.

January 19, 2022

Nevada State Championship at Bootleg Canyon

KHS Pro MTB rider Nik Nestoroff on track in Bootleg Canyon for the DVO Winter Gravity Series.

Unbelievable weekend at the Nevada state Championship race in Boulder City, Nevada hosted by Bootleg Canyon Mountain bike park. Bootleg Canyon has been on the map since the mid-80s and has always seen some of the best World Cup riders like Sam Hill and Steve Peat! It’s a one-of-a-kind terrain that is very rocky, loose and gravelly. It takes a very highly skilled athlete to navigate the treacherous terrain of Bootleg from top to bottom and put in a solid race run.

KHS Pro MTB rider Naish Ulmer on track in Bootleg Canyon for the DVO Winter Gravity Series.

Friday was the first day of practice/training. It was no walk in the park, unfortunately weather conditions with over 45 mph winds that would make it very difficult for all the athletes to get down the hill. Everyone was trying their best to maintain lines and navigate the course. Saturday would be a better day of weather for the team. With bluebird skies and a high of 60° weather, they were finally able to have a great day at practice and dial all their line selections in for the finals come Sunday. Also, with Saturday highlights the Enduro category which would be held down by our athlete Naish Ulmer, he would put in a solid three stages with some of the best racers in the West Coast competing. Naish finished a solid six place in the pro men’s Enduro field representing our grassroots program at a higher level.

KHS Pro MTB rider Nate Kitchen on the Jr. podium at the DVO Winter Gravity Series.

Sunday’s final Downhill event would start off with a super huge result from our newly signed athlete representing us in the Junior Pro division. At only 16 years of age, Nate Kitchen would take the win over a nine second gap. He was competing against some of the best junior riders in the business with factory riders from GT Racing and other top brands. We were very proud of Nate’s State championship accomplishments.

KHS Pro MTB rider Kailey Skelton on track in Bootleg Canyon for the DVO Winter Gravity Series.

To keep the ball rolling it would be the professional women’s Downhill category with Kailey Skelton to come down last, which would create a lot of pressure on herself. Kailey was used to that kind of high-pressure situation and would come blazing across the line with a +30 second lead in front of her competitors. Kailey would also take the Nevada state championship in the pro women’s category, to add another title to her trophy set.

KHS Pro MTB rider Steven Walton on track in Bootleg Canyon for the DVO Winter Gravity Series.

Last but not least would be Nik Nestoroff and Steven Walton representing the KHS Pro MTB team in the Downhill men’s professional category. They both had their work cut out for them competing against some of the best American Downhill racers in the business. With a very physically long demanding track it would be Nik Nestoroff who would claim first place by a 4 second margin. It would also be his fourth consecutive Nevada state championships, since Logan Binggeli back in 2015. That would make it KHS Bicycles 8th consecutive NV, State Championship. Steven Walton was still warming up to the season and under the weather with a cold, he would come in a solid fourth place to round out an amazing weekend with all competitors of the team on the podium.

KHS Pro MTB rider Kailey Skelton on the podium at the DVO Winter Gravity Series in Boulder City, NV.

Bootleg Canyon has always treated the KHS Pro MTB team very great, and we always appreciate all the respect we get from all the fans, family and locals. We want to thank all our sponsors who continuously dedicate their time and effort into keeping the team supplied with the best product in the market. We understand times are very tough and product is limited, we are always grateful to have some of the best equipment to support us through these professional races. Next week we will be at round two of the Southridge Winter Series in Fontana, California. We plan to keep the ball rolling and continue on the success!