NZ Secondary School - Levin 27-28/03/10

Saturday was the xc race and the dh practice. I decided to do everything this year since it was my last year at school. Borrowed my dads bike to do the xc on the saturday and the hill climb on the sunday. The xc was knackering, the only reason i didnt come last i would have to say would be because i managed to make up time on the dh parts over some of the slower xc riders. I swear the dh on the xc course was harder then the actual dh track. the xc was slippery as, i was shitting myself on my first lap round, was so not used to riding downhill with my seat up, especially when my front wheel just started sliding sideways. I reckon that the downhill bits were fun as, made me not mind so much having to do another lap. I was knackered by the end of it. Ended up 7th for the xc. Then it was into the dh practice. we were only allowed 2 runs which sucks. I walked the track before the xc race, it was the same as last years so wasnt to worried. both runs were pretty averaged. getting stuck behind the slower xc riders on both runs. One of me mates, cant remember who, said they were letting people get a third run, so i went up for a third. that was a better run, didnt get stuck behind some people. The track was a little slippery in places for all 3 runs. was looking forward to race run on the sunday.

Sunday came and i was dreading it. Having to get up early to race the uphill, wasnt my idea of fun. Had to wait around a bit, it was pretty boring. I was glad with how i went on the uphill. I managed to ride the whole thing without getting off, so i was happy. i was pretty knackered by the end. Hung around the top for a bit waiting till charlotte and sophie decided to ride down so i could ride down with them. We cruised down together eventually, was a pretty good ride back down the single track next to the road we just rode up.

Had a bit to wait till our race runs started, so i just walked up the track a little bit and watched some people come down. then just hung out the bicycle tent we brought up with us till they told the nationally ranked riders to go up in the transport. Once i got to the top, caught up with Kaytee and walked down the first bit of the track to see how slippery it was, because on saturday it was the slipperiest part. It was still a little slippery so i came to the conclusion that i was just gonna cruise through that bit, then start riding a bit faster after i was through that bit. my main goal for that race was just to stay on, i didnt really what place that i came, as i wanted to finish the season with a race that i didnt crash on. Ended up 2nd behind maddy, i was happy with that. wasnt far behind her either.

Oceanias - Dunedin 19-21/03/10

Thrusday mourning me and dad flew down to Dunedin. Went and walked up and down the track after putting bike back together and emptying the car. Looked at some different lines. The track was completely different to the SI cup round there earlier this year. Pretty much the only part that was the same was the first lot of corners before the first jump and the end of the second rock garden to after the Tripple jumps. After we had finished walking the track, dad gave me some shuttles. Just spent this time cruising down the track looking at how to get into some different lines, and deciding what things i wanted to focus more on doing.

Friday had the practice in the mourning and the 4x racing in the afternoon. Did the friday practice, still just looking at different lines, and watching different people doing different lines in the rock gardens. Raced the 4x against Sarsha Huntington who races 4x professionally at world cup rounds, and Maddy and Kaytee raced to fill in the other two spots. The race was pretty crap, I tried to cut Sarsha off and ended up sliding out and crashing. Ended up pretty much having to sprint my arse off in order to get past maddy who i just managed to beat on the finish line, and she was just cruising.

Saturday was a full day of practice. Caught up with fellow Bicycle rider Brandon Lumsden and did some runs with him, following his lines and also followed him off the first jump a few times, but gave up on that after i relised it wasnt too much slower to go around, and was way less riskier for me to do. so just practiced going around it faster instead of trying to hit the jump. Tried some different lines in the rock gardens and stuff after watching others doing it. Was kinda tired by the end of the day, should properly stop doing do many runs.

Sunday was race day. It was a good day. did 2 practice runs, and that was it. Seeding was shit, i was just cruising, and managed to crash when i decided to pedal. clipped a root that was sticking up and rode the front wheel for a bit then half bailed half crashed when I realised I was still on the front wheel heading off a drop. As i was about to get on the bike, Georgia Wight who started after me passed me, so i just cruised down following her for the rest of the track. Seeded last obviously. Race run, i started first as i seeded last. I knew where i was back off and that was in the rockgardens, but i didnt even get to the first one before i crashed, i was just pedaling along a flat bit into the first rockgarden and clippen a small rock that was sticking up. Flipped over the bars, bike landed on top of me. got up while chucking the bike away, walked over, picked it back up and got back on it. Cruised though the rock gardens then pushed it a little bit trying to make up for my crash. Ended up 4th not too far off 1st. My whole race run went good as. better then any of my practice runs apart from the crash, i thought i rode the rock gardens the best i had all weekend. was just pissed off that i crashed.

National Champs - Wellington 26-28/02/10

Took the friday off school to do the downhill practice in the morning. That went all good, i just cruised down the track, looking at what had changed since i checked out the track on tuesday. I didnt think anything would have changed, but they boarded up a couple of parts to help stop the track disappearing down the banks, which also made a couple of lines a bit more easy.

After a the 3 hours of practice had finish, we headed to the 4x track to go and watch the dual slalom and 4x races. I thought a bout doing the dual slalom, but decided i couldnt afford to do both the dual slalom and 4x, and i would rather do the 4x. Harriet Harper and Sarah Walker raced the dual slalom. Harriet Harper ended up winning by about .6 or .06 of a second or something like that i think. For the 4x Sarah and Harriet raced that as well, and also Naomi Wilson and me of course. We only had one race run, cos there was only four of us, so no elimination rounds for us. We all did an individual timed run at the beginning to sort out our race orders. It ended up Sarah, with the fastest time, then Harriet, then me then Naomi.We did muck around runs while the guys were doing there race runs. When our race runs came around, we all lined up on the start gate. Sarah was first out of the gate of course, then Harriet, then Naomi and me (not sure who got out last, was one of us two tho). Sarah was first out of the first corner, then me, cos i cut the other two off cos they got in my way. Tried to catch up with Sarah down the rest of the track, but couldnt. She ended up first, me second, Harriet third and Naomi 4th. I got $100 for 2nd place which was pretty mint.

Saturday was a full practice day for the downhill. Just did some cruisey runs at first, hit up the pig chute a couple of times. Then decided to leave it for a bit, as i was still not comfortable on it, and decided that i know how i can hit it and where to go, so i dont need to keep to doing it, and that i would rather concerntrate on other parts of the track. By lunch break, i had got pretty much most of track sorted to a level i was happy with. After lunch i started hitting the pig chute up and doing some runs with Carl Edmondson. Started getting pretty comfortable on the pig chute, didnt really hesitate coming into it by the end of day.

Sunday was race day. First practice run down the hill, and i stuffed up the pig chute, which resulted in me crashing down it. I think i got the run into it wrong, and drop down low into corner into the pig chute, instead of going left and up a bit higher. Ended up going of the drop into the bank and rolled the bank i think. Mustve hit something on the way down, ended up with bruised ribs and a little sore. but was all good after i had a bit of a rest at the bottom while i waited to stop shaking. Cruised down the track after that. Went up for the next run, and cruised down to the pig chute, and made myself do it again. Did it all good, so left the practice ending at that run. Decided that i didnt want to risk crashing, and risk knocking my confidence or hurting myself anymore. Seeding run came and went. Was a pretty poor run, stuffed right up at the top, helmet got caught by the wind and i couldnt see, so i just cruised down the rest of the track, and didnt bother pedaling at all. Seeded 2nd about 5 or 6 seconds behind Charlotte Clouston, who

seeded first. Race run was going good. Had taken visor off my helmet to prevent it getting caught by the wind like it did in seeding run. Got the end of the track with only a few small mistakes, pedaled everywhere i could, only to crash literally 20meters from the finish line. I was guttered as, couldnt get up cos my shoelace was stuck on brake lever and bars. Didnt get to finish either, cos some dude pulled my bike off the track and walked away with it. He properly thought he was doing the right thing, i was still gutted tho and not happy. Charlotte took the win of course.

full results here:
http://www.vorb.org.nz/download/file.php?id=127590