TRP Athletes Take on Big Bear for Pro Downhill Round 4 & U.S. National

TRP Athletes Take on Big Bear for Pro Downhill Round 4 & U.S. National Championships

The Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series headed west to Big Bear Lake, California, for Round 4 of the 2026 season, with an added layer of pressure as the weekend also served as the U.S. Downhill National Championships.

With national titles and Pro Downhill Series points on the line, some of the fastest riders in the country lined up at Snow Summit for a stacked weekend of racing. TRP was well represented across the field, with athletes from Frameworks Racing, INTENSE Factory Racing, ZFR Race Team and more battling for positions throughout the weekend.

Nate Kitchen Puts TRP on the Elite Men’s Podium

INTENSE Factory Racing’s Nate Kitchen led the way for TRP in the Elite Men’s field.

Kitchen put together a 2:50.101 in his final run, finishing 3rd overall and just 1.196 seconds off the winning time. It was another strong result for Kitchen in the 2026 Pro Downhill Series and put TRP on the Elite Men’s podium at one of the biggest domestic races of the season.

Behind him, Frameworks Racing / TRP’s Aaron Gwin continued his strong return to racing with a 5th-place finish, crossing the line in 2:51.788.

Cole Suetos of ZFR Race Team followed immediately behind in 6th, giving TRP three riders inside the top six.

Further down the field, ZFR teammate Aiden Chapin finished 10th, INTENSE Factory Racing’s Dante Silva took 13th, and TRP athlete Christopher Grice finished 16th.

It was a deep showing for TRP in a highly competitive Elite Men’s field, with six TRP-supported riders finishing inside the top 16.

Maylei Leaneagh Lands on the Elite Women’s Podium

TRP also landed on the podium in the Elite Women’s race thanks to Maylei Leaneagh of ZFR Race Team.

Leaneagh delivered a 3:15.276 in finals to take 3rd place, finishing just over two seconds off the winning time.

The result continued a strong stretch of racing for Leaneagh and added another podium to TRP’s weekend in Big Bear.

INTENSE Factory Racing’s Teagan Heap also lined up in the Elite Women’s field. After posting the fourth-fastest seeding time, Heap’s final run was disrupted, leaving her 17th on the day.

Strong Results Across the TRP Roster

Beyond the podiums, Big Bear showcased the depth of TRP’s growing presence in U.S. downhill racing.

From established veterans like Aaron Gwin to rising riders competing across the Pro Downhill Series, TRP athletes were represented throughout the field and fighting at the front of the race.

Elite men

Nate Kitchen — 3rd
Aaron Gwin — 5th
Cole Suetos — 6th
Aiden Chapin — 10th
Dante Silva — 13th
Christopher Grice — 16th
Austin Haessly — 27th
Jack Zenoni — 31st

elite women

Maylei Leaneagh — 3rd
Alyana Van Horn — 15th
Teagan Heap — 17th

With two Elite podiums and multiple riders inside the top 10, Round 4 at Big Bear delivered another strong weekend for TRP athletes as the 2026 downhill season continued.

Next up, the focus shifts back toward the remaining Pro Downhill Series and international race calendar as TRP athletes continue chasing podiums through the second half of the season.