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After Windham I flew home for two weeks to train and spend some time getting ready for the remaining three important races of the season. Time was well spent and I was thankful to get the chance to go home and recharge a little. back on the plane and two days later I’m in France. La Bresse is a venue that properly gets closer to Fort William for crowd and atmosphere. Track is dangerously short and fast in sections. Rain and some tire decisions to make. I don’t now why but I was struggling a little with my speed this weekend. Not sure why but I pushed through. Quali was solid but outside the top ten. I felt better coming into finals and after starting a little scrappy I rode better in the middle, still a bit messy but rode well to finish. 9th this weekend. I’m holding my position in the Top ten overall with one round to go. My goal at this point is to finish the year top ten in the standings. Top Team of the weekend in La Bresse, Trek World Racing is consistent!

Onward to Italy. Val Di Sole which means Valley of the Sun. It was spot on this year with that statement too. So what can I say about this place. It had the World Champs in 2008, I qualified at those worlds 3rd and finished 6th. Last year I got food poisoning for Quali and managed to hold together a top ten then crashed out on race day on my last practice run. I knocked myself out and spent my afternoon in the hospital not knowing where I was.

So I would say I’ve been up and down here in the past. What would happen this year? Well after walking the course with Aaron and Neko it was evident the rain had washed a lot of the dirt off the already rough, rooty and rocky course. Rough isn’t even a good description actually, most World Cups are rough this was beyond that.  Some sections you could be skimming the roots with out even touching dirt. I was a little scared to race this one if it rained, ha!

First run down I decided to chill and check it out, I slipped on a rock a little faster than walking speed and got flipped over the bars. That was almost fine except there was a tree with a pad on it and I landed head first into it and felt my neck wrench into my chest. The noise was sicking, it sounded like I had been to a chiropractor. I sat down and waited until I could feel it settle down then I rolled the rest of the run and went to hospital to get an X ray.  Four hours in the hospital and I was glad to be all clear, I had no cracks or breaks but some muscle damage and a stiff feeling neck.

I rested for the rest of the day and started to plan for how I would regather for the weekend. With Quali the next day and missing practice I decided I would ride my own pace and not try catch up, a track like this will only bite you, I learnt that lesson last year! So I put a clean solid run down and manged to come in 25th. I was actually happy with this run, it gave me confidence and I felt ready to start opening it up for the finals.

I needed to be solid for the finals to maintain a top Ten overall and I achieved that. I rode good up top, top ten split then I started to fade a little towards the finish with some sketchy moments. That type of course and I watched a lot of riders crash. 12th for the day which gave me 9th overall in the standings. I have to say, It might not be at podium finish but man I had to work hard this year and I appreciated this 9th more than any other year. I’m stoked!

So off to Chatel now and a week of chill before World Champs in Champery Switzerland. Whats my plan? I have three goals this year, have fun, ride fast and push myself. If I can achieve the first goal the other two will come. Cheers for the support!

So after the rain in Austria we headed to Mont Saint Anne Canada and in World Cup fashion back to some rainy conditions.  This track is always a favorite of mine, long and rough. We had a new rig to test this weekend, the new Carbon session 9.9 frame! All under wraps of course

Quali was in the mud and holes were getting huge, last practice run Neko went down in a fast turn so Aaron and I checked out the hole on the line we were hitting ( which took Neko down ) and decided to look for an alternative.  It’s always a risky move doing this without practicing it at race pace but one we had to take.

I went up for Quali and started fast, my speed was good but coming into that line the holes were just as big and trying to jump most of them landed hard in some deep mud, it took me off my bike so fast I didn’t even have time to blink. I was completely soaked on one half of my body, helmet , gloves and gear.  I managed to regather for the rest of the run but my gloves were so soaked I was struggling to hold on. I made it almost to the end but hitting the last rock section my hand blew off the bar and I went down again. No points for me. This photo sums it up really…

For the Finals the weather improved and after regrouping I found some safer lines. I salvaged the weekend to finish 10th.

Next up was Windham New York, short and fast. I love racing in the US! I was feeling great all weekend, and ready to attack. Qualifying was really good, I put a great run down and came in 5th. I knew it was going to be pretty tough for the finals because the length of the course and how close everyone was on this course.  I rode well however and hit the upper parts of the course good. A last second change in the final rock garden found me a little more time but being to eager to get to the finish lost a tiny amount of time “Overriding” the last 20 seconds of course. 6th place, oh so close to the podium this weekend!

So from a dry Fort William we headed over to Austria to face the mud in Leogang. Being in a valley with mountains all around, its a place where this time of year it rains more than it doesn’t. I’m used to this so it didn’t change anything really with me. A new section of corners up top was a good change to see to last years course. Being mainly on “bike park” style terrain it was good to see wet conditions as that would make it rougher and more of a challenge.

First day of training and it took me about 4 runs to get myself back up to speed. Being so different to Fort William I needed to change a few things with my setup. Dropping my forks in the crowns to raise my handle bars and some suspension tweaks got me feeling a lot more comfortable.

With a slowly drying course Aaron and I decided to use dry tires for qualifying. It was a gamble but we thought as 90% is all about rolling that could help us. Aaron put down fastest time again and I was 6th. Just like last week!

Overnight it rained again and this would mean even bigger holes in the top section. Getting through this section in the race clean would mean either a top 10 finish or off the back. We checked the lines in our morning practice but I knew in the back of my mind it would be a section you would have to just ride how ever you entered it.

Once again Aaron and I took to the dry tires, along with some others who had caught on. Starting my run I was riding messy. Hitting holes and getting sucked in. I regathered myself and started riding a lot better. The last technical section (in the photo above) was almost a gamble. Coming in I got wild and had to create a new line in the corner, after nearly throwing it away I popped back onto my line and got through the section. Crossing the finish line I had put down another solid race run and another 8th place. So close to the podium this week, just 0.7 off 5th. Aaron backed up his amazing qualifying run to take out the win. Stoked for him and my other team mates who all had great races.  Yet again we were top team of the World Cup so it was back to the podium and take the reward.

With a two week break now, I’m going to enjoy chilling out and getting some intervals back under my belt. Canada is next and now I’m currently sitting 8th in the Overall. Tracy is leading the Woman’s and Aaron is leading the Men’s. Good times!

It was a good feeling to land back into Europe and know the next two races were going to be World Cups. I really enjoyed my time racing in the US, great tracks and good team mates to hang out with. Aaron and I landed into Glasgow airport pretty early and picked up our rental car. It wasn’t a bad drive up to Fort William but the jet lag was lurking around and I was glad to get there and have the day to chill out at our hotel.

First impressions of the Fort William course was that they had built a new main jump on the final section (motorway) and a new wood section leading into a road gap which feed into some new berms. Good to see some changes but this course is a classic and will always be special the way it is. I had really good motivation this year to do well in Scotland. Its a course in the past that has been hard to figure out for me and my results the last few years have been average. I was determinated to change that this year.

Training with my team mates Aaron and Neko we sorted out our lines soon on and started to get up to speed. Our Suspension this year has taken another jump up in preformance and in the past I’ve had arm pump, well this year none! Feeling good, qualifying came around and I was ready. 6th place and my team mate Aaron posted fastest time. Good feeling and motivation to throw down in the final.

Finals day and it was time to get into it. I started my race and hit the first section really well, but as I hopped some rocks into the middle section my front tire felt like it was going flat. I started to worry and as I hit the next few corners could feel it folding a little. I slowed just a little to feel it out but then noticed it didn’t seem to be getting worse so got back into my run. I hit all my sections after that pretty solid and came into the finish on a good time. Three kiwis were sitting in the hot seat and we were all around the same time. I ended up with 8th overall, pretty stoked to be back in the top 10. When I returned to the pits I checked my tire and I was correct my pressure was sitting at a low 22psi.

With a storming run Aaron was looking good for the win, nearly 5 and half seconds up at the split time. Then without notice washed his front wheel on an inside line and lost his margin. It was an impressive ride and one that still gave him a podium in 5th.

Tracy had also done the business and taken out the Woman’s field, in doing so her 5th win at Fort William. This meant we were top team of the weekend and all got to go up on the podium. Its been a while since I’ve been up there so I was excited. A good finish to a great weekend!

I now have moved from 26th in the Overall to 10th going into Austria.

After Highland we drove my team mate Neko’s house for a few days to chill out and get some training in before the next Pro GRT in Plattekill. Being on the east coast it kept with the theme of what we had in Highland and that was more rainy conditions. I have to say from living in Dunedin I’m really getting used to the rain and how to deal with training in it. It just doesn’t bother me much anymore.  Back at Neko’s, we got a good little XC ride on his local trails followed by a good gym session and a couple of great interval workouts. Solid training that week for sure.

Thanks to Neko’s mum and Grandma for the amazing home cooked meals while there. You guys really keep us going, really!

So we got to Plattekill towards the end of the week, checked out the course which was very much a course I remember. Last year I raced here and I knew the course pretty well. Some new lines in a few sections but mainly just the level lifted of how we would ride the existing sections. Speed came quickly and we were having fun hitting some gaps.

This was a cool little section. Entry had a few roots then a hop over a gap landing on this rock, rebounding off and landing on the dirt.

Qualifing came around and I felt strong in my run. It showed in the results finding myself in the top position and just ahead of my two team mates, Aaron and Neko. I wasn’t to concerned about the positions as my goals for the weekend was to ride my lines well and keep a good race head. For finals on Sunday it was to be dry but chances of a shower right around race time.  Neko was the first to set off and just pushed a little too hard in a corner losing the front and going down. After his win in Highland he had the confidence but just pushed that little too far. Next was Aaron and he really put down a great run, he found time from his second place quailifing and was sitting in the Hot seat when I was coming down. My run went awesome, I hit all my lines and rode well. I achieved my goal for the weekend and was happy. Coming in just behind Aaron to take 2nd place for the weekend. Another good one for Trek World Racing!

Onward to Vernon and our last race for this US trip, the US Open. This is without a doubt my favorite race on the US schedule. A short but technical track, a relaxed atmosphere and good crowds which are there to have a good time. Its the only race I’ve ever been to where they setup a DJ in the main rock garden and have music blaring as you race past. Awesome!

The track this year had changes to the middle and the finish, some good some not but overall still a sick track. Days of practice burned the track in and lines came out in the new sections. I had most of my lines sorted from what I learnt last year and was feeling good. Qualifying was relaxed and once again my goals where course related.  Coming down with a clean run I slotted into 4th and was close to the leaders. That was confidence right there, I knew I had a good chance of a top 3 finish again. The weather report said thunder storms for race day and a chance of a shower around race time. Luckily that didn’t happen and what we had was the best track conditions for the weekend. Dry rocks and a fast course, it was on like Donkey Kong!

I came down 4 seconds faster than my qualifying run and slotted into 2nd behind Stevie Smith. Gee Atherton was next and didn’t beat my time, Aaron then came down and killed it going into the number one slot and moving me into 3rd. Finally Andrew Neethling came down and slotted in just behind Gee.  Stoked, I got 3rd!

It was our 3rd weekend of good solid results for our team and I’m more than happy to be riding and racing well again. It has proved after South Africa I sorted myself out and actually  might have been the best thing that could of happened. I now have a new love and motivation for my racing. I’m looking forward to getting back into the World Cup racing with Fort William next on the calender. It’s time to  keep the momentum moving forward.

Bumpy course preview….

http://www.pinkbike.com/video/198899

Its good to be back in the US racing again after a short break at home. Three weeks with my team mates Aaron and Neko racing some good old East coast venues. First up in the rain and mud was Highland Park in New Hampshire. The track was like a mini World Cup, a bit like Val Di Sole in Italy just a little slower overall. Roots, rocks and rain, a good test. This was the first Pro GRT for Trek Word Racing this year and I know I was excited to be here.

Both seeding and finals were on Sunday and official practice was Friday, Saturday. Monk driving the team Rig had some problems getting to the course on Friday so I was left bike less and resorted to walking the track a couple of times and watching practice. I got a quick dirt jump session in as well thanks to Neko bringing his bike from home.  I haven’t jumped for ages so that was awesome.

Monk arrived Friday evening and I was sorted for Saturday Practice, which I was stoked about. There’s nothing like watching people ride while you can’t to build up the desire to get out there.

Sunday morning rolled around and so did the rain. Cut spikes got mounted and we were up there. The course was even better in the wet, the rocks not quite as slick as Saturday and being a short course not having to worry about pulling tear offs. Seeding came around and I was happy how I rode, 2nd to Aaron and more importantly back on the pace.

For finals the rain turned it up another notch and the first thing I noticed as I set off was the puddles on the upper section of the course. Traction was prefect in a lot of the technical sections just hitting a little bit of chop towards the end of the course slowed a few lines down a little. Neko absolutely killed his run to stomp the victory, Aaron just behind and me in third. Trek 1-2-3, good start to the US racing for us.

Photo- Matt DeLorme

So it’s been a crazy busy few months, after finishing up nationals in NZ I headed straight out to Spain for a test camp with the team.

That didn’t go so well for me getting unlucky and crashing onto my quad really hard. It was however a good time to suss out the new bikes, suspension and meet my new team mates Willow and Aaron. After Spain I flew into Australia to meet up with Tory to spend 10 days in Port Douglas, up near Cairns. I don’t know what I picked up on the flights back from Europe but I came down with one gnarly flu and spend a week in bed. Really not what I had planned for a holiday. I headed out from Cairns to fly down to Sydney and meet up with Mick Ross from Australian Mountain Bike Magazine. We hung out for the day and checked out a bit of Sydney on and off the bike. A short drive in Micks Subaru and we were in Canberra for the weekend with Trek Australia doing a Master class. It was the first time I’ve been to Canberra to ride XC / Trail and also do a coaching day, it was pretty cool riding something new there away from DH. Coaching day was Sunday and we had a little rain but it didn’t seem to bother anyone. I was still quite sick but green tea, coffee and cough medicine got me through and in all was a successful day. Shout out to Trek Australia and Mick for helping pull this together. The article will run in the next issue so keep and eye out.

Back to NZ and in need of getting myself healthy again. I had 2 weeks at home and then it was time to pack up and get myself back on a plane to South Africa for another Team Camp this time in Cape Town. Awesome weather, and such a different prospective to what life is like over there. I did notice is was so different to what we have in NZ with the quality of life for the average. Shanty towns are a norm to see scattered along the road sides, kids out playing soccer and transport either over packed vans or walking on the motorway. The flip side to that is amazing winery’s, beautiful diverse landscapes and million dollar mansions.

After a week it was time to fly to Durban and drive with the team to our favorite hotel in Pietermaritzburg, Capulet. Pauline our host is always full of sunshine and enthusiasm. Our first race as a team was the SA National on the World Cup track. Weather conditions were so bad the DH course had to started from halfway down the hill. After seeding run Aaron was 1st, I was in second and the down pours got even harder. The event was cancelled and seeding times counted for the prize money.

The World Cup was the final part of the SA trip and it was a nice change to see the weather turned back into what everyone was hoping for, sunny warm conditions. It was evident in practice rolling speed and carrying speed everywhere was so important. Tires were pumped up and cut down and suspension setup stiff.  Being first race of the year I was nervous to see where I was at and after Qualifying sitting in 19th was a little off the mark. Another day of practice and I was feeling a lot better with my riding, yet come race day I couldn’t get in the zone and had to settle disappointed in 28th.

Not how I had planned to start the World Cup season. I went home to NZ with my tail between my legs to figure out what wasn’t there. When I think back to the last month before the race however I had some decent setbacks with injury, sickness and travel that obviously affected my preparation.

Back to the drawing board !

So its been a while since a good update. Been flat out lately travelling around the South Island racing our national series. We had a good mix of courses this year and weather for the most part was awesome. After being rainded out in Rotorua I was keen to head to Nelson to see how my form was against the rest of the Kiwi pinners. First round being kaka, a pretty gnarly course and some of the hottest conditions Ive seen for a while. A dusty blown out race track and after seeding 6th I knew the type of run I would need to trow down to win. Race run was definatly a little on the edge but I had the speed and pulled off the win over Cameron Cole. A good start and confidence going into the second race to be held once again in Nelson the following weekend.

Photo Jono Baddiley

Second Race in Nelson we were once again in the presence of awesome weather. After a week of Moto and some XC was feeling ready to get back on the DH bike. Back on Fringe hill, the longest downhill in the series and always a good time. Dust bowl again and arm pump 4 mins into the 5 min course. This time I found my speed in seeding and took top seed. Going into race run was just a push of the repeat button and a clean run just let me take it out agin over Brook MacDonald.

Thanks to Jono Baddiley and cut and paste spokemagaine.com.

After podium I was on a mission, had to drive 4 and half hours to Christchurch and then onward to Wanaka the next morning. Fox test session for 4 days to dial in the 2011 suspension. Long days testing and energy levels getting low headed back to Christchurch for the Final of the NZ Cup and on freshly built living springs course. Rocky and lose at the top and offcamber grass to high speed finish. Awesome track and hard to ride fast. I exploded my rear wheel in seeding with a little too much speed into a bridge to rock garden. To my susprise I walked away after flipping myself over the bars through the rocks and rushed to get back to the bottom to fix my bike in time for race runs. Sore and a bit over it I managed to regather and finish with an average but clean run and 3rd place. Just lucky to be healthy this week.

Back home to Dunedin and then the earthquake hit Christchurch, Scary times and my heart goes out to anyone affected. The Downhill track we raced just two days before now gone completly. Scary Scary stuff. When I got news of the quake I was filming in Dunedin with some friends from Christchurch. Plans changed and our film shoot was over for them to get back and help their families.

Dunedin was the National Champs for 2011, a course well known for techincal and wet conditons. Both of these factors in full force this year on what would have to be said the most gnarly course this year. It was apprent from first run down the hill it was going to be hard race. Gee Atherton was over to compete and I knew he would be pushing us kiwis to preform. Cameron Cole showed the power in seeding and posted fastest time.Gee then myself in 3rd. Going up for Finals I knew what needed to be done but wasnt prepared to do it. I didnt want to take the risk of an everything or nothing run. 4th was my outcome but a clean and safe run. Cameron smashed it and George brannigan 2nd.

Photo James Allan.

The Next day I boarded a flight for Europe. This was what I was saving myself for, the first Trek World Racing team testing session in Spain. I got off some crazy long flights to meet my old and new team mates and this years crew. Trek race team department and engineers were there as well as Fox to dial in our suspension. After a good nights rest I woke still feeling jet lagged but ready to kit up in our new Royal gear and get on the new rig. Unfortunitly it was not to be my week. Two warm up runs on a short course we desided to check out a longer track and while on a so called scout run got myself is some trouble. Gwin was leading and rode over what looked like a roller. All I herd was him yell about a hole and barly make it over himself. I hit the brakes a small amount but the next moment Im trying to jump off my bike. I managed to smash my quad pretty hard into the well and the next thing I know I was so swolen I couldnt walk. Nothing broken but such a hit to my quad I couldnt bend my leg for a week. Pretty much the most frustrating time, sitting watching my team mates burn their equipment in. Still the rest was needed after being so busy lately and Im lucky to have been through the setup in New Zealand just a few weeks before.

After healing up I managed to get a solid week of training in at Martins house in Granada with my team mate Neko, and now its time to board another hand full of flights to head to Australia. Ups and downs but its all part of the package.