For this race, Dad took me, Lloyd, and Robert up after we had finished course/school on Friday. By the time we got to Rotorua it was about 9.30pm. First we dropped Robert and Lloyd off at the campground at which they were staying then me and Dad continued to my uncles where we would be staying. Once we got to my uncles, I unpacked the car, and thought long and hard about whether to chuck a mud on the front and rear, or just front or just leave drys on altogether. I eventually came to the conclusion that I should chuck a mud on the front and take the other mud with me to the track tomorrow in case I thought two muds would be necessary.
Wake up time on the Saturday was 6.45 in order to get ready and leave by 7.45 to pick Lloyd and Robert up at about 8. We made good time and were ready in time and sorted. We got to the bottom gate and Dad was allowed to drop us at the bottom of track and drive back out, so we did that. On the way up, Dad told us that we would not be getting picked up as he didnt want the car to get dirty, so we would have to ride to the campground after practice had finished. Not the best way to end a day of practice, but still better than not racing or riding at all. It had been raining a bit over night, and a little bit during the week. The track was still pretty tacky for the first few runs, until more riders went down the track and tore it to bits. The lines were pretty open, and by the end of the day a few sneaky lines had begun to show themselves. The lines that were ran were Teamline, into Stepdown, down Couch, Into 24 Carrot and finally into the last chute but only the left side entry of last chute before hitting the right side jump. Throughout the day the rain couldnt decide if it was coming or going. Ruts appeared and got bigger, by the end of the day, some ruts (especially on Teamline) were so big that your pedals scrapped so that line was pretty much out of the question. About half way though the day i started having trouble with the track, crashing on pretty much every run, either down Teamline or Couch. This continued through to the end of the day.
Sunday was race day, and it had rained a little over night, but the track was the same it had been on the last run on Saturday. Big ruts, impossible to ride with feet on, more impossible with feet off. 1st run down the hill I saw some of the sneaky lines that had developed and avoided the ruts, Was a bit harder to get into from the line i was taking, and never successfully got into without having to drag my bike back on line. I did 2 or 3 runs, and every run was essentially the same. Not making the sneaky line (now the main ridden line) and losing it down couch chute. As usualy girls were first down the hill for race runs. we had 2 timed race runs and no seeding, so we just seeded ourselves. When i got to the top for my first race run, i went to change gears and the wheel said no. Turns out my disk was horribly bent, so with the help of the other girls we attempted to bend it back enough so that my wheel would at least spin while pedaling. My first race run was probably the best all weekend. Managed to get into the sneaky line by slowing down a bit more and remembering where it was. Got down the track nice and fast and clean. But unfortunetly that run wasnt timed, No one got there first run counted, but at first they thought it was just the first 2 or 3 groups of riders so we had to go straight up for another run. which once again didnt count. I was fine with that one not counting as it was crappy as, but pretty guttered about the first not being counted. 3rd and final race was also good like my first one, but not as fast, as i was beginning to get tired by this point, especially with the bent disk. Once again, managed to stay on, and put a nice clean run together. Ended up winning by 2mins 24secs ahead of Sophie Tyas in 2nd place.
Sunday was race day, and it had rained a little over night, but the track was the same it had been on the last run on Saturday. Big ruts, impossible to ride with feet on, more impossible with feet off. 1st run down the hill I saw some of the sneaky lines that had developed and avoided the ruts, Was a bit harder to get into from the line i was taking, and never successfully got into without having to drag my bike back on line. I did 2 or 3 runs, and every run was essentially the same. Not making the sneaky line (now the main ridden line) and losing it down couch chute. As usualy girls were first down the hill for race runs. we had 2 timed race runs and no seeding, so we just seeded ourselves. When i got to the top for my first race run, i went to change gears and the wheel said no. Turns out my disk was horribly bent, so with the help of the other girls we attempted to bend it back enough so that my wheel would at least spin while pedaling. My first race run was probably the best all weekend. Managed to get into the sneaky line by slowing down a bit more and remembering where it was. Got down the track nice and fast and clean. But unfortunetly that run wasnt timed, No one got there first run counted, but at first they thought it was just the first 2 or 3 groups of riders so we had to go straight up for another run. which once again didnt count. I was fine with that one not counting as it was crappy as, but pretty guttered about the first not being counted. 3rd and final race was also good like my first one, but not as fast, as i was beginning to get tired by this point, especially with the bent disk. Once again, managed to stay on, and put a nice clean run together. Ended up winning by 2mins 24secs ahead of Sophie Tyas in 2nd place.
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