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