Sea Otter Classic – Gravel, Grit & Game On
SCOTT athletes headed to Monterey, CA, to officially kick off the 2025 gravel season at the iconic Sea Otter Classic. As the opening round of the prestigious Life Time Grand Prix series, this race often sets the tone for a season of fierce competition — and the SCOTT squad wasted no time pushing their bikes and bodies to the limit on the steep, sandy, and rut-covered course in the hills behind Laguna Seca Raceway.
Hot off an international flight from New Zealand, Cameron Jones hit the ground running and pushed the pace from the gun—charging up the first climb on the Laguna Seca Raceway and hitting the dirt in second position. Cam flew down the steep descent at over 40 miles per hour on his Addict Gravel and fought hard all day, trading pulls with the leaders in the front group. Eventually, as the front selection formed, Cam was slightly distanced, but he put his head down and rode all-out to the finish, bringing home 12th place on the day!
In addition, Cam is in the hunt for one of the three coveted Life Time Grand Prix Wild Card spots. He currently sits third in the Wild Card standings and is looking to race his way into peak form over the coming weeks—building toward Unbound Gravel, where the Wild Card contest will be decided. Stay tuned for a deeper dive into Cam’s Hunt for the Wild Card.
Soon-to-be mom Isabel King hit the gravel to do what she loves: race her bike! Iz enjoyed her time on course, and at five months pregnant, she listened to her body—pushing when it felt right. She received the loudest cheers through the feed zones and crossed the line to meet her mom with a big hug and a small, happy cry.
Brennan Wertz, the National Gravel Champion, tackled the course aboard his freshly built custom Addict Gravel RC. Brennan rode at the front of the race, crushing the dusty roads and skillfully handling the treacherous descents. On the final lap, he became disconnected from the leading chase group but rolled strong into the Raceway. Brennan now heads home to Mill Valley to refocus and prepare for Unbound Gravel.
Check out all the details of Brennan’s one-of-a-kind Addict Gravel, celebrating his 2024 U.S. Gravel Championship title! The frame was designed by SCOTT, painted by Spectrum Paintworks, and brought to life by Above Category. It celebrates not only the title, but the journey that led there.
Ryan Standish took on the course with a Scale drop-bar monster truck—built to conquer the deep sand and chunky ruts. He descended the first steep section with ease, placing himself in the lead pack and later in the main chase group after the front splintered. Ryan fought through the final lap and crossed the line strong.
Looking to rack up miles for future ultra-adventures, Ryan also lined up for the Fuego XL MTB race, swapping his gravel monster for the full-suspension Spark RC to crush the 65-mile course. He dove into the singletrack with the leaders, battled on tired legs, and secured 8th place with a sprint to the line!
Erin Huck kicked off her Life Time GP campaign by tapping into her MTB skills on the first descent, which kept her near the front. She pushed hard all day with the lead group, and as the race broke apart chasing the day’s winning move, Erin stayed calm and kept the pedals turning—earning a top-20 finish and 12th in the Grand Prix standings. She now heads back to Boulder, Colorado, to reconnect with Team Huck Yeah and strategize for Leadville 100, building on her impressive 4th-place finish from 2024.
Hannah Otto came into Sea Otter with strong fitness from her recent race at the Mediterranean Epic. Her race started strong as she powered her Addict Gravel through the sandy ruts snaking down the course. Unfortunately, a poorly placed nail forced her to nurse a soft tire to the tech zone. After a quick fix, she fought to make up time but had to settle for a finish below what her legs were ready to deliver. Hannah now heads home to build big miles for the next stop in the Life Time Grand Prix at Unbound Gravel.
From podium pushes to personal triumphs, SCOTT athletes gave it everything this weekend—and they're just getting started. The season ahead is full of promise for this talented crew.
Photo Credits:
Ri Ganey // @ri_ganey
Kyle Thornhill // @kylethornill
Jim Merithew // @Tinyblackbox (Brennan’s Custom bike build photo)
