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
