World Cup #3, Val Di Sole

The world cup series returned to Val Di Sole after a one year break, not much had changed here since my last visit, the sun was still shining as bright as ever and the temperature still set on high. It was good to finally arrive in summer over here in Europe.
The race course had definitely made a change though and for the better. The course now started off with a few short steep climbs and downhills with tight tricky sections through trees and rocks followed by two bigger climbs(steep again) on 4wd tracks and downhills before coming along the base of the hill on a flat grassy section, lots of passing was offered throughout the course which rounded off to make a really nice World Cup course.

Race day came along quickly and with the 4.30pm start time I was easily the most nervous I have ever been for a race the sun had also come out again in full colour for our hottest temperatures so far soaring into the 30s... apparently. I had a longer warm up than usual so I could avoid the burn out zone that I usually go into after the first lap sprint.
I had an awesome start going up 30 places in the first two minutes! but due to only thinking about putting power down I didn't focus enough on what I was doing and made too many mistakes on the first lap to remember, undoing all the hard work and coming around the to start the second lap in the top 60, this did not make me happy (started going green). Fortunately I was determined to make it into the top 35 and started settling into the task at hand. I started passing and dropping a lot of riders as they cracked from a mixture of heat and overdosing in steep climbing.

By the 3rd lap top 35 was within my sights. From this point I was well over excited for the remanding 3 laps, I had never been this high up in a world cup (not even close) and the legs were really burning. The only thing that helped me get through was that I knew every other rider out there was hurting and the red hot chillies songs that were running on repeat in my head.

I pulled in a couple of riders each lap and was so happy to come through in the top 30, 29th in the end. Really eager now to keep the progress going and keep lowering my finish number in each race.

For the next 4 week I will be in France racing the 2nd and 3rd round of the Enduro world series followed by the Mega Avalanche which I have been looking forward to the most this whole trip, will keep you all updated on how they go for sure.

Big thank you to the Yeti Downhill mechanics Nate and Shaun for making sure my Yeti ARC C was practically like new for the race, Adidas Eyewear for the new sunnies and lenses, and to Shimano for their awesome tech support! Rean Bowie and Sam Thompson did an awesome job feeding me. Also to my sponsors Yeit NZ, Black Seal Imports, Wildland Consultants, Adidas Eyewear, Roam Industries, Southstar Shuttles, Bike Culture, and Outdoorsman Headquarters.

Am off to Morzine in France now to start getting used to the fully again.. although did get to ride it down the World Cup downhill course here in Val Di sole.. after the racing was over.

Getting out for some backyard cricket

good times at the XCE

:D

Thanks for reading

Cheers

Italia National Series round, Vermiglio 2013

The Yellow house, our home for 3 weeks

After the world cup race in Czech I knew the legs were getting used to racing finally and was getting pretty excited for this knowing that I just had to stay up right and get a good rhythm going in the race.
It had been sunny for nearly two weeks straight here in Val Di Sole and the glove tan lines are starting to come out from hiding, unfortunately come race day the clouds rolled down the valley and settled in for a lazy Sunday drizzle. The course was pretty basic starting off with a paved road section followed by a really short but steep climb then a really short steep down hill section, followed by two more small climbs and downhills and grassy paddocks, we had 7 laps of this awesomeness.
The rain was a bit on/off leading up to the start and we were able to start dry and warm fortunately. I was seeded in 40th not far from the front row this time and had a really good start, I moved up the pack on the road sections, still having to run when the course closed in I passed more riders and got up pretty easily.

 Not even feeling puffed at this point(I did get to stand around a little bit). But I think the excitement of being up closer to the front of the race than usual was bit too much and the legs felt a bit heavy for a a little while even though I felt I had not pushed very hard yet. So I sat in a bunch for the remainder of the first lap, it then started to rain and continued to for about ten minutes(luckily).

I couldn't ride any of the grass climbs on the course and was dropped by my bunch easily passed by about 3 riders and left to ride by myself for the next 4 laps. I kept a good pace and had the top 20 in my sights but could not quite close the gap. Heading into the last lap I was caught by a group of 3 riders and sat on them.

Planning to attack on the one steep climb in the course. I cracked under pressure a bit and slipped around on the climb losing sight of the riders but fortunately there were no other pursuers close by and I held on to come around in 25th, I am really happy with that I got in a solid race over here and got a result out of it.
Am amped for the world cup next week and am looking forward to see what I can do.

Have not written much about my 29er experience yet, I think Yeti have made a great bike out of their ARC C as I am still really enjoying the ride both up and down still after spending two years on a full sus. Each day It is getting smoother,safer and faster through single track and it keeps getting better!
Big thanks to my sponsors Yeti NZ, Black Seal Imports, Southstar Shuttles, Wildlands Consultants, Adidas Eyewear, Roam Industries, Bike Culture, and Outdoorsman Headquarters.

Apart from racing I have been checking out the sights and filling my belly.. view away

Thanks for reading

Cheers

Czech XC World Cup Round 2

After staying in Albstadt for two weeks and racing the first World Cup it was time to leave and make our way over to Nove Mesto Na Morave in the Czech Republic. I travelled with Adrian Retief this time making for a quick trip, my bikes however travelled with the NZXC team in their big van, thanks guys!

                                                               The Relaxation Penzion

                                                        Everybody outside the Penzion

Our massive room

It was pretty warm when we arrived, and I was finally able to ride in just a shirt again. It was cool staying at the Relaxation Penzion again with the coolest guy I know in Czech, Milky. He was friendly as usual and egging us on to race well, even giving us wine after the race, was pretty cool!

                                                        Really intense on the start line

From then on the weather got pretty cold and there were small showers each day but not really enough to change the course, race day came along pretty quick and I was feeling pretty good and was ready to race hard. I had a good start loop coming through in the top 60 and after the 1^st lap had worked up into 52^nd,

 usually I am completely stuffed at this point in the race but was feeling good and felt like I could go faster but this is where it started turning a bit sour.. On one of the road sections a rider came across me swiping my front wheel and taking me down on the tarmac, luckily it didn’t do too much damage and I was back onto a bunch’s tail in no time,  but on the first major rock garden I had a bit of a bumpy ride down and my front tyre burped losing all the air, I went down on the rocks pretty hard but got back up quickly a bit dazed and tried running to the tech zone, after about 4mins of running

 I realized I had a CO2 (crap) and pumped up the tire like new. I was able to get in two more laps after this going from about 105^th to 76^th before I was lapped out. I was gutted after feeling so good and not being able to get a result out of it but that is racing as they say.

Big thanks to Sam Thompson for feeding me again and to Adidas for some more lenses for my Half rim pros.

It is also pretty motivating to know I can get up in the field a bit easier now so am amped for Val Di Sole, Italy (the third world cup) in 3 weeks.

                                                             Walt Disney Castle

                                              One of the best pizzas I have had, holy cow

The King's holiday home castle

Thanks for reading.

Cheers

Albstadt, Germany World Cup Round 1

I arrived in Munich, Germany two weeks ago and was picked up by the NZXC team which made for a relaxed trip to our accommodation in Sigmaringen, a big little town about 20km from the World cup course in Albstadt. NZXC, Adrian Retief and I were all staying in the same spot, a triathlete hangout of a Tri Club called ALZ that already had some New Zealanders and Australians staying which made it nearly feel like we weren't in a different country.

Sigmaringen Castle

Slide Time

After settling in we headed over to check out the course, my first impression was that it was a really fun course and I didn't notice the steep climbs that much, later on in the week though I did an effort on the course and realized how hard it was going to be to push in this race.

Race day came along quickly and I felt as ready as I could be, the sun was shinning and the birds were chirping. I was seeded back in 85th which on this track was a big disadvantage as there was no start loop and not enough passing for the 1st two laps.

The gun went off and I started my desperate charge to try and make up as many spots before the single track.

But after about a minute we were off our bikes and lining up to ride up the first climb and it was like this for most of the 1st lap, after that there was still a bit of congestion until half way through the 2nd lap, and I started to make up some places. Every climb was a sprint for the single track I was pushing my limit to make up spots hoping that it would help next weekend in the 2nd World Cup. By the last lap I was spacing out a bit, not being used to pushing the body so hard and had managed to move into 65th position sitting with a Swiss BMC rider, we could see a bunch of riders just ahead and it would be an easy 5 places, I messed this up though, crashing on a slippery downhill and snapping my seat clean off. I lost sight of the riders and was passed by six more as I did half a lap standing, trying to hold off cramp until finishing in 71st in the end.

(Where I Crashed)

I was pretty happy with how things were going until
the crash as the Swiss guy I was riding with finished up in 59th.

Next weekend I race the 2nd round of the World Cup series in Nove Mesto Na Morave, Czech republic. From memory this course has a much longer start loop and a bit more opportunity to pass.

Big thanks to Sam Thompson for feeding me and all the people out there cheering the Kiwis on! Also to Merida for giving me a new seat for free to replace the old one.

Cheers

big

Triple Crown 2013

The Triple Crown Enduro event has 3 timed downhill runs like usual but this year had a slight change in format compared to other years having shorter runs for each stage with the longest run taking around 6 min. The night before there had been a massive downpour and a good show of lightning, luckily enough for us there was only little patches of light rain on the day of the race.

The first stage started at Tihi O Tawa and finished at the end of Billy T, I was seeded first so was plowing into the puddles straight away. This stage was the most fun though with the main aim for me to stay on my bike and pedal when I could, it felt a bit slow but I was pretty happy to find out later I was 3rd overall down the muddy chute.

Next we headed up the hill and down Little Red Riding Huck to get to the the 2nd stage which went down Hot Cross Buns and Bunny Jugs, I started out going pretty fast and got a bit too much air over one of the rollers at the top of the run, my back wheel came over my head and I belly flopped onto the ground, I wasted no time getting back on the bike and had to struggle breathing for a bit, luckily just bruising some ribs and getting some scrapes. From there I used the adrenaline to boost down the track as smooth as possible and make up for lost time.

We had a good group train down Be Rude Not To on the way to the next stage which started at the top of Corridor and went though a range of tracks from there including Eastern Spice, Turkish Delight, Soakhole, Exit Track, and Old Exit Track. This was easily the stage with the most pedalling. This was made up for though with some awesome jumps and berms most of the way down. I had my best run down here riding everything pretty well and staying clear of contact with the ground.

The day finished up with some scrumptious baking made by Kim McVicker, fosh and chups, and then prizegiving. This year there was an award for the fastest time down the Hotcross Buns stage to Honour Paddy Avery's skill on the bike and the fact that he smashed us all down there last year. Murray Avery (Paddy's dad) made an awesome trophy which I was lucky enough to take home.
I also took out the overall win by 15 secs which was good motivation for upcoming enduro racing in Europe.

Big thanks to everybody who helped organize the Triple Crown this year, it is one of my favorite races!

Also lately I have competed in the NDuro 24 (12hr team event) and the NZ Single Speed Champs for some fun and they were both awesome events with racing not the main focus.

At the moment I am in Germany preparing for the first XC World Cup round, and will be tripping around Europe to compete in all sorts of events (check my schedule). I flew over on Emirates again this year and am now a silver member which was awesome. When I got to Dubai I was able to chill in the Business Lounge with access to free food, wifi and showers. We arrived to good weather luckily and I didn't feel too jet lagged until bedtime which is the first time that has happened. I have ridden the world cup course and really enjoy it with some good climbs that allow for passing and some fun rocky descents.

That is all for now, will keep posting when the racing begins.

Cheers

Xterra NZ

With UCI's new rule about licence holders not being able to race non UCI sanctioned events I wasn't so sure about racing this year but just a couple of days before the race the rule was postponed until next year.. luckily I had been for some swims and runs just in case.

The swim went pretty well and I came out 3rd in the pros but due to a slow transition I started the bike in 10th, moved back into 2nd place by the top of the major climb and towards the end of the ride I could start to see 1st but I needed to start spinning the legs to prepare for the run by now.

I always find the run the hardest part by far as there is no letting up even on the downhills. I was caught in the first 3km of the run by a speedy South African.. there was no way I could hold his pace, then at the 5.5km point my cousin Ollie came past, I tried keeping up for as long as possible to make sure this was the last time I was passed. For the last 4km the focus was just on keeping a solid pace and it went pretty well. I came across the line in 4th place in the Pro field, pretty stoked with that!

New Zealand MTB Marathon Champs/ Highlander

After a two year break the New Zealand MTB marathon champs made a comeback joining into the Highlander which has also been missing off the bike calendar for a few years, it had rained over night and the tracks were in mint condition.

We had a casual start with everybody bunching up and no attacks happening so I jumped into the lead after the first single track section, we then headed straight into the first hikeabike section and I opened a small gap surprisingly. After that I knew there was a good chance of winning so I settled into a comfortable pace with 3 riders on my tail. By the first climb up Direct I had a gap again but kept the pace at comfortable and after a while Carl Jones caught back up just as we headed out around the Green Lake on the forestry roads. After this section there was only one last major climb so I used that to make my final breakaway, I attacked up the hill and lost Carl, quickly opening up a good gap and used the remaining 20km of single track to extend the gap and take out the New Zealand MTB Marathon Champs title - woohoo. This was a big relief as I really wanted to back up my Huka Challenge win with this race, so am happy everything went to plan.

Big thanks to my sponsors Yeti NZ, Mulebar, Roam Industries, Southstar Shuttles, Endura, Adidas Eyewear, Wildland Consultants, Outdoorsman Rotorua, and Aroha for feeding me.

Peace out