World Champs 2012

NZ junior team
 

Just finished up at World Champs in Leogang Austria. Great time alround really, different than last year.. as Chris Mildon wasn't running the team. Last year was probably better in the organisation side of things, as they managed to leave the riders with nothing to worry about. But the team of riders this year was probably better, just chilled out and we all had some good laughs.

The track was different, pretty much just a bike park track with nothing rough or loose to seperate all the riders up. Also so much pedaling, was crazy, thought I was going to die.

They change around practise this year too, rather than having short sessions all week, we only got 6hours spread over four days, which wasn't much compared too the usual amount. The rain turned up on the second practise day.. just like usual and the track became a mud bath for the rest of the weekend until race day. The sun shone and the mud slowly turned into thick, slow rolling goop for the juniors and dried up mostly by pro-men. It was allgood though as pretty much all the junior field had the same conditions which made things fair.

In my race run I came down into 4^th postion and was pushed back to 18^th out of 81 riders by the time every rider had come down. 1^St , 2^nd and 3^rd had a good lead on everybody, but the rest of us were really close from about 7^th through too 20^th were all within 3 seconds.Was abit anoyed as I was going for a top 10, and I made a few little stupid mistakes in my run... I managed to lose a foot off my pedal out of the start gate which didn't start my run on a great note, and stalled in a corner further down. Easily 2seconds lost and with times so close several positions lost too.

I was the 1^st Kiwi junior by 6seconds Louis coming in behind me at 34^th , but that doesn't mean anything in the big ceem of things.

Owell Champs is all over now and I am top 20 in the world, onwards and upwards.

A big thanks to Rob from Zerode bikes for helping me out with the Zerode G-1. Best bike Out! The Quiet Revolution Cycle Shop for helping me out over the years, Golden Bay Mountainbike Club and of course Mum and Dad.

After my seeding run

A human YOLO

Swiss IXS cup

The past week, me and all the NZ crew drove to a few hours from Morzine to Wiriehorn to compete in the Swiss round of the IXS Cup. As per normal the trip was fun and full of activities from the start till the end. One of the boys managed to buy a tazer at some market which keep us all on our toes for most of the trip as everybody was a target.

We had a special group of hecklers to keep the NZ riders on form, this consisted of Matt and Jack the broken Kiwis that weren't able to race. They managed to make a hell of alot of noise just for the two of them, the peacefull French spectators didn't know what had hit them.

The track was different.. really awkward and rough in places with about three corners that flowed, followed by a massive uphill pedal near the end of the track. Not my ideal track, but after a few runs down the track I started to get the hang of it and pick the pace up. After the first day we decided a dam would be our project for the afternoon, as we needed somwhere to cool off after each run. We even brought rubbish bags to block up the holes for maximum depth. Everyday it was in the 30's so the dam was used by pretty much every rider at somstage! we tried to say "you swim you build" but they would just looked at us wierd and talked back in swiss haha.

After two days of practise the kiwi hecklers managed to con everybody into renting mountain scooters to bomb down this big hill. This was the loosest thing ever, we probably reached speeds of about 60km then the speed wobbles would start to kick in. Dez managed to over cook a corner and wash out in the gravel. I had a tyre blowout mid run on one of the fastest sections, causing me to slid down the road out of control and just about went off the bank.

We managed to catch it all on GoPro.

Check it out.. http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=4613742220875

After my near death accident (well thats what it felt like) race day seemed some what easy compared to mad scooter riding. But First run down I ened up having a huge one. When a rider went down on a fast blind section and I came over and smoked him at full speed sending me flying down the track and causing my second set of bars to snap! I was very lucky to walk away with only two dead legs. After a poor start to my day, I managed to pull out a 10^th in Pro men and 4^th in juniors only a few split seconds off 3^rd. The weather was perfect dry and dusty all weekend and the same for everybody.

And as we were in the middle of nowhere.... there was no after party, so we had to make our own. This involved trying to get some cow bells off some of the cows in the field opposite our place. We were gutted to find out the cheecky Swiss cable tied them on so we couldn't get any. The following day the drive back to Morzine was full of activities. We stopped at lake Geneva to do some cannon balls and what not off some huge diving boards. We then continued onto some choice gokarts, where all the DH boys got rowdy and let loose on the track. Matt coming in at 1^st and me back in 4^th. All in all it was an insane weekend full of good times and some good results.

Off to World champs next week, so lets hope for some good results there too!

THE KIWI'S DAM

Some round about on the edge of lake Geneva

Second Pair

Racing with the boys

V iew down the vally from Val d'isere

Van all packed and ready to go.

Hey everybody, sorry I have been so slack over the past few weeks.

It has been full up with traveling and racing from Val d'isere France, too Pila Italy. Internet has been pretty patchy as wee have been gypsying it at cheap camping grounds or on random pieces of grass.

The racing has been going alright, would have liked to be doing abit better but the weather has been playing havoc with me and my results.

The road trip to Val d'isere was a huge mission as we had to fit 9 people, gear, riding gear and 8 bikes in our small van, and try get there without being pulled up by the local police Bags and bikes were stropped to the roof so everybody could pile in. The rubbish bag tints came out to stop things looking so bad from the out side, this wasn't the smartest idea as we soon realized it was imposible to see out when reversing. Owell all played out well and we arrived at the 6 round of the World cup safe and on time.

Val d'isere is a small but expensive wee town with huge mountains towering up either side. The World Cup track was pretty old school, all out in the open winding its way down the side of a ski slope with loose rocky turns. Practise day rolled in and everybody started loving it as the loose rocks started rolling off to the side, and huge breaking bumps started to form. All Practise the track was bone dry, with loamy corners and piles of rocks either side of the main line. This turned the track into pretty much one line because if you went off main line you were highly likely to crash in the fist size rocks. Photographers and spectators weren't aloud in certain areas as the risk of rolling rocks from bikers or animals was too dangours. This wasn't taken every well with many, but there was nothing that could be done.

Qualifing came around fast, and I was amped, feeling fast and ready to try get top 80! The Start list was orded from fastest too slowest, the top 60 riders getting to ride down in the bone dry and then the storm rolled in. Leaving the rest of us to pretty much battling it out for the 20 spots left. I ended up coming down in 100^th two seconds off the pass. So gutted as I knew I could have made that time up easy, was just to cautious as I hadn't riden the track in the wet. I just wish everybod had the same conditions so I would have an idea where I am at, but thats racing I guess. Big ups to Brook Macdonald though, who took the Win! Go Kiwis.

Next race was in Pila Italy, land of the pizza and pasta. We arrived a day earily to get some extra riding in but this didn't end up happing, instead we ended up going to a pool party with all the kiwi boys. Not much riding was done the following day...

Pila accomadition

The Pila track was aweosme, had abit of everything, rocks, roots, berms and jumps. For some reason most of the weekend I was on a down buzz and couldn't get amped or excited about the riding. Was a weird feeling that I hope doesn't come back next race or any day I go riding. With 300 hundred riders the track was getting rougher every run, the zerode g-1 was loving it, just not me. The weather played games with all the riders once again during seeding, being dry for the first half of the field and then raining for me and the rest. To my suprize I ended up seeding 36^th out of 300 riders, putting me back in the start list for the following day. Over the next day and a half the track slowly dried out for racing..... but again only for the first half of the field which I wasn't in! I Rode down in the poring rain into 71^st, place. I was out the arse, I have never in my life raced in rain like that before, it was so loose and fun. Changing conditions are starting to get anoying, but owell racings hard, got to pick up my balls and go faster wet or dry.

Hopfully I have some better results next time I update my blog.

Catch yous up.

Good Times

The boys ready for battle

Thought I better update my blog with all the adventures that I have been partaking in.

Well since I last wrote much has happened starting with all the kiwis arriving, so now the flat is packed and the caos began. The tidyness soon vanished and the place turned into a war zone as all the boys 6-7 of us brought 5euro BB guns and fireworks to keep our selves busy one rainy day. Every body was running around with full face helmets on throwing bangers and smoke bombs into rooms, then storming in to finish each other off with several shoots of the BB Gun. As you can imagin it was awesome times, but the cheap bb guns were exactly that and broke after a few days much to the girls dilight. As they could now come out of there locked room without been seen as a target.

Well Morzine has lived up to all my expectations and I have been riding most days, rain or shine. This has been taking its toll on my bike and to my suprize keeping my bike going and running well has been one of the most expensive parts of the trip! But thats why I am here and what I love doing so it isn't as hard to spend money on. I have also had a few close calls, one was caused by disc crumpling which through me over the bars. The others just have been because I have been pushing the limits and getting too loose , but thats all part of the game.

After all the fun and games in Morzine we headed off to the European Crankworx in Les Du Alpes about three hours drive from here. The track was fairly interesting, nothing like I had really riden before. Started with a wild first straight with a mad side wind and big road gaps, then into really narrow and tight single track, and finished with some huge jumps near the end. I Wasn 't really enjoying it throughout the first day, but when I got some flow going I started to get into it and ended up qualifing 1^st in juniors. On race day I placed 2^nd behind one of Italys fastest juniors and 26^th in Pro men, I am still happy with this as It gives me an idea of where I am at and where I need to improve. So back to Morzine for some chilled riding with the boys! Sadly this hasnt' happened as we went and watched French Nationals and I have managed to pull somthing in my back while walking down a steep drop. So now i can't do much for a while  and am off to the physio now to see how long i will need to rest. And if she can put it back in place as i seem to have a wonky body shape right now. I wasn't even riding my bike! Owell these things happen, i shall just move on.

Doig it on the cheap at Crankworx

The Racing weapons,  this is the point that we
decided we were lost on our way back
to Morzine.

Mt Blanc, 4808m

Just like to say a big thanks to all the people that have helped me get over here. The Quiet Revolution, Rob from Zerode bikes, Tasmine, and of cause Mum and Dad.

Catch you next time.

Morzine

Guess where I am staying

Chalet Eria: where Amani is staying.

Muddy Riding Kit

 

Hi My fello blog followers. The past week and a half in Morzine has been choice as, full of riding! In the dust, in the mud, and inbetween. I have brought myself a season pass so I am now set for a season of riding most days. The flat I am now based at is perfect and jus what we need, although it is rather small, and going to become very conjested with 8 of us here. Its so funny we are surrounded by big flash Chalets which makes ours standout like dogs balls. Look at the first Photo and guess which one we are staying in..... also we only get the top floors as below us is a cafe.

But I do feel like I am living the life, just waking up everymorning and knowing I can just go riding when ever and where ever I want and don't have to rely on anybody eles to drive me.

I mean a day in Reece's life these days consists of me waking up around 10-10.30 looking out the window to see what the weather is doing.. make the decision wether or not to wear my mud kit or causal kit out for the days riding. Then Shovel my Breakfast down fast as I can, as I am either amping and just want to get out and ride or I am usally running late and others are waiting around for me. It's mean as I can just roll to the base of the chair lift or gondola from where I live (Honestly one of the gondolas is about 30seconds ride.) and then the days riding begins!

The tracks are off the hook, theres anything you want, you just have to ask about to find them, bermed tracks, muddy tracks, root filled tracks, jump tracks, loomy tracks, XC tracks, steep tracks, rocky tracks just anything you can think of.

I have also found another fello Takaka rider, Amani from Wai Nui who is over here with a mate from West Port. They also have the life, they work in the flashest chalet but really their work is to put breakfast out in the morning clean up and then go riding all day! They have free accomadation, food, and get paid for that.. what a way to live. Since I found them I now spend most my time at there Chalet as it's so flash and I get FREE feeds. Look at their Chalet compeared to mine... (photos above) you will now understand why I am always there. We have been dabbleing in abit of Table tennis in our down time, I found that I have another hidden talent as I am rainning champ! Good times.

By the end of this week most of the kiwis will be here so the riding trains will begin! But the old event calendar starts getting busy from the end of July, as we are off to CrankWorx at Les 2 Alps, then either going to the mega or an IXS cup and then the next week after that its the 6^thround of the World Cup. After that excution I am hoping the chilled life in Morzine will begin again.

Mt Blonk in the clouds somwhere

Chur.

Wales



river leading into the falls

Trail ride on "the board walk track"

Bonjour everybody, I have now made it to Morzine France where I will based for the rest of the season.
The past week I have spent in Wales living it up with Dafydd and his parents. Full of trail riding, rain and AWESOME meals!
We left for Wales after the race on the sunday around about 10pm, pretty big job ino. But with racing driver Dafydd and co driver Reece... and several redbull we made it to his around about 4am. Driving back through Scotland we saw so many Deer on the roads, herds of them. Pretty dangous but an awesome sight, no need for a gun.. all you would need is a big set of bull bars and you would be away laughing.

Dafydd having a snack before the climb

Once in Wales the fun began, cooked breakfasts alround and Dafydd showed me around all the local trails. To my suprize the weather was fairly good (cloudy) not hot but the usual, untill the last couple of days which rained. The rain was welcomed though, because it alowed for some out of control trail riding! The photos I have up loaded are all from one of the trail rides we did "The Board walk", which was great riding in big open fields. FREERIDE. (reminded me of home, Birds clearing) The water fall was spectcular, aparently higher than Niagara falls... mind boggling stuff.
All in All was a great week, good catch up, and managed to get some good training in for the Mega Avalanche.

Just like to say a big thanks to Dafydd and his Whanau for putting up with me and keeping me well feed.
P.S To be honest i am not sure anybody lives in the UK though, when after a 90min flight you can be in Europe in 32degs and blue skys all around. No smog, dark loom/grey cloud that hangs about for days.




The falls




Fort William WC, round 3

My handle bars after qualifying

Road gap on WC track

 Hi everybody, hope winter is going great back in NZ, not to cold? Well the past week has been great, i have been competeing in the Fort William World cup. Leading up to qualifying i was feeling really good and just having so much fun on my  bike!  The Zerode G1 was on form and with some help from marshy, she was set up perfectly. Qualifying started off great being up 73rd overal at the 1st split and 4th out of the juniors. This was good as the track just suited me better and better as i got further down the hill, so all going well i should have qualifyed.. However abit of bad luck caused my weekend to come to a short end. As my handle bars snapping in half off a drop half way through the 2nd split causing me to crash off the track! I was really gutted, but am just thankful i didn't get injuried and very luckly it happened in a slower section of track.
At least i know i am up there and if i put a good run together i should qualify. Next Time!




First rocky section of WC track

I would like so say a huge thanks to Liam and his Whanau for looking after me and Ronnie and keeping us feed. Also cheers to all the local Fort William boys for showing us how things are done in Scottland, and big thanks to Alpine Bikes for putting up with us mulling out in the bike shop 24/7.. And helping with bike maintance. You are all Mad Dogs! Has been a choice few weeks.



I am now off to Wales with Dafydd for a week of trail riding and maybe some Downhill on the Athertons tracks. Amped as!
Dafydd says hi to all the fello Takaka riders, he will be back soon as.


Catch you up.