Since it was Oceanias, we had two days of practice plus race day. We got a 3.30pm flight from wellington on the Wednesday afternoon. Didnt get to where we were staying out of Shepparton till about 10pm Australian time which was 12pm New Zealand time. We were staying at the Dookie Uni Campus with pretty much the rest of the nz team apart from a few that chose to stay else where. Thursday we slept in till about 7 Aussie time, as we had to be up by about 7 in order to get breakfast. We spent the day going to Shepparton to get food and water bottles for the following days riding. I also walked the track once with dad, and again later on with the nz downhill team that was staying at the campus.Friday was race day for the cross country (xc) riders and the the four cross (4x) riders and also practice for us downhill (dh) riders. Once again it was up at about 7 for breakfast, and since the dh practice wasnt starting will the afternooon and there wasnt anything else to do, so i decided to go and the xc riders race in the morning. In the morning it was all the female riders racing. In the Elite field, kiwi Rosara won followed by another fellow kiwi Karen. Katie got 2nd and Samara got third in the under 23. That was all i got too watch before i headed off to get ready for practice.
When walking the track, it seamed pretty below average and way too pedaly and boring and basic. Riding the track wasnt quite as bad as i thought it would be. The Aussie soil over here is so different to the soil back home. I found it quite a bit more slippery then our soil, and found myself drifting around a few of the corners. First run down i remembered most of the track from the two walks i had done the previous day, and knew what rock obstacles i was going to hit on the first run down, and what ones to have more looks at and do runs into. I rolled down the first rock obstacle, which was just a rock face. Cruised around the chicken line of the next two rock drops and dropped the 4th which was also the last rock obstacle. The next run down i did the same thing pretty much, but stopped and looked at lines and the 2nd rock obstacle and rolled down the 3rd rock obstacle. Pretty much the rest of my runs went something like that, while trying different lines through everything else and trying to go faster. Towards the end of the shuttles i went up with Cam, Amy and Bryn and did a track walk with them, discussing different lines and comparing lines. After the track walk i decided to up and do at least one more run to some of the lines that we talked about that were slightly different to the ones i was doing. Ended up doing two last runs. For the last run of the day i stopped at the 3rd rock obstacle and decided i was going to drop off it instead of rolling off it, and that i wasnt going to leave untill i got it. Ended up pushing up about 3-5 time before i hit it properly, then pushed up another 3 times to make sure i was all good on it. I then pushed up another two times a bit further back. Back to where the 2nd rock obstacle was so i could practice that a little bit more and also see what speed i came into the 3rd rock obstacle with and to also hit it a few more times. After that i just cruised down as that pushing up in the heat takes it out of you pretty quick. Hung around around at the bottom for a bit, having a drink and some food before heading back up to watch the 4x racing.The atmosphere at the 4x was non existent untill one of the two kiwis came down. Dan McCombie got 6th and Dan Franks got 2nd.
Saturday was practice day, with our practice in the afternoon and seeding after that. Practice was pretty good, hit the rock obstacle to flat (3rd rock obstacle) first run down, so pretty glad i hadnt hesitated and managed to hit it straight up after yesterday. Practice was pretty much the same as Friday, just trying different lines still and trying to work out what ones were faster. Had a bit of a break before seeding so sat on the last lots of shuttles. just before we all went up for our seeding runs, we got together as a group to remember a fellow rider, Dave Balderstone who passed away on the Monday before. Found out that Tom and Nick were going to be riding in Daves tops to give him one last run down the hill this weekend. This weekend we were all riding in memory of Dave. Was feeling alright going into seeding, wasnt too worried as i was doing everything i wanted to do, and wasnt crashing or struggling too much. Seeded first about a second in front of Sophie and 5 seconds off the fastest female elite which left in 2nd place over all for the females seeding runs.
Sunday was race day. First practice run down i decided i might give the hip jump at the at the end a go. Ran into it and decided not to do it that run, but that i was definately going to give it a go next run down. So next run down i hit it. I didnt fully make it, and was a bit surprised i actually managed to turn a bit off the lip and not ride straight off the track and through the tape upon landing. I pushed back up quite a bit to try once again. Got the hip all good this time, and went for the finial jump, but got on the pedals too late and braked too much after the hip so ended up casing the last jump a bit. But i knew what i did wrong and knew that i would make it, so once again i went back up to the same spot to try again. (this time Mildy pushed my bike up for me while i walked next too him and had a chat with him.) Had a bit of a break at the top, and went for it once again. This time i made both pretty easy, and knew i would be able to do them both no sweat on race run, but figured i should do at least one full run and do them w
ithout stopping so i could see if i would be in the right gear coming into them and if not, if i would have enough to change to the correct gear. The answer was yes i was in the right gear, or i was one gear too low and had more than enough time to change if i came in in the wrong gear. In memory of Dave we all wore black duct tape around our arms for race run. Sophie and I were first out of the gate. My run went pretty good, hit all my lines i wanted and remember where to change gears and how many to change and stuff. I did a one or two lines a bit slower than i would have liked, but i stayed on so wasnt too worried. I hit everything i had been hitting with no problems or hesitation. Came across the finish line with a time of 2mins 34.73secs which landed me with a 6-7 sec lead over Sophie making me 1st in the under 19 womens catergory. My time also held up against all the women elite riders, so i was the fastest women of the day, which i was pretty stoaked about.
Sunday was race day. First practice run down i decided i might give the hip jump at the at the end a go. Ran into it and decided not to do it that run, but that i was definately going to give it a go next run down. So next run down i hit it. I didnt fully make it, and was a bit surprised i actually managed to turn a bit off the lip and not ride straight off the track and through the tape upon landing. I pushed back up quite a bit to try once again. Got the hip all good this time, and went for the finial jump, but got on the pedals too late and braked too much after the hip so ended up casing the last jump a bit. But i knew what i did wrong and knew that i would make it, so once again i went back up to the same spot to try again. (this time Mildy pushed my bike up for me while i walked next too him and had a chat with him.) Had a bit of a break at the top, and went for it once again. This time i made both pretty easy, and knew i would be able to do them both no sweat on race run, but figured i should do at least one full run and do them w
ithout stopping so i could see if i would be in the right gear coming into them and if not, if i would have enough to change to the correct gear. The answer was yes i was in the right gear, or i was one gear too low and had more than enough time to change if i came in in the wrong gear. In memory of Dave we all wore black duct tape around our arms for race run. Sophie and I were first out of the gate. My run went pretty good, hit all my lines i wanted and remember where to change gears and how many to change and stuff. I did a one or two lines a bit slower than i would have liked, but i stayed on so wasnt too worried. I hit everything i had been hitting with no problems or hesitation. Came across the finish line with a time of 2mins 34.73secs which landed me with a 6-7 sec lead over Sophie making me 1st in the under 19 womens catergory. My time also held up against all the women elite riders, so i was the fastest women of the day, which i was pretty stoaked about. 
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