This was my first ever world cup and it was wild! Tapped out off the line and then BOOM! It was just nuts, fighting for position the rest of the way. I loved it – this is how racing is meant to be. Tough as! All the thick mud forced everyone on and off their bikes, for the first two laps it was a running with bike race. People were just crashing everywhere, pushing others off the track and causing pileups it was mad.
I was quite far back in the starting grid so was caught up in this chaos from the start. After the short start loop, laps were just over 4km long. After a couple of laps I was able to start making my way through the field but since the race format was a short start loop + just over 4km length laps I didn’t have much time. I had one big crash when I lost it down a rutted shoot, head and shoulder into a tree and cracked my helmet – bugger! In the end I was lapped out in 65th place (18th U23), only 46 riders finished from the 100 + starters.
This race was a really good experience and I learnt a lot. Definitely I can think of things to improve on, mainly to do with the start as it is so crucial. I hope to learn and learn fast as this Saturday is another WC round in Val di Sole, Italy. I think I am capable of riding further up the field I just need to make it happen, mtb racing here is not a TT.
Meanwhile I have been adopted by the Belgium team – they are the best! I was stuck for a ride to Italy from Champery and they said I could go with them! Now I am staying with them too and have been training with their riders. I am stoked – how lucky am I??!! 
The amount of support laid on to the Belgium riders covers everything they could ever need, the environment is perfect for getting top results which is of course their focus. Les Belges sont tres bien!
I have arrived in Morzine where I will be for the next couple of weeks. The 36 hours of traveling to get here wasn’t even that bad – Pip was on the same flight over with me and from NZ to LA I scored a row of seats to myself! The AirNZ hostesses were also very kind in letting me have left over meals so I didn’t go hungry. Only downer was breaking my phone somehow? So this will be an interesting nine weeks without texting!
Morzine is beautiful. All the roundabouts, roads, gardens and everything really has been manicured for the Tour de France which will be passing through this weekend! (Pics up soon) Morzine will host three days of the tour Sat – Mon. Today I went and rode the 13km climb up Avoriaz to check it out, heaps of campers were all ready parked up along the road sides getting ready to see Lance. It will be pretty exciting seeing the tour live, I can’t wait!
Over the next 9 weeks I will be taking my bike for an educational tour through Europe and Canada. Morzine in France will be my base, this is a small town surrounded by mountains full of ski/mtb trails. It is summer there now so an ideal place to stay and get some good fun training in… Not to mention a chance to see the TdF LIVE!!! I have four races lined up – the Champery and Val di Sole World Cup, a Swiss Power Cup and the World Champs in Mont St Anne, Canada. These will certainly be tough races with the World’s top riders lining up… I have so much to learn so why not learn from the best? The experiences and UCI points I hope to gain will be a huge help for my final race – the 2010 World MTB Champs (2nd of September). I will keep my site up to date with all the goss so watch this space!
2009 Jamis Carbon Xenith Pro – Size Small
Sram Force Componentry
FSA SLK Light Carbon Cranks
Carbon Seat Post
Easton EA70 Stem
Mavic Ksyrium Equipe Wheels
After $3000 ono
** Please note peddles and cycling computer shown is NOT included **
2010 Jamis Carbon Dakota DXC – 15″
4 months old
Sram XX Componentry
Ritchey 4 Axis Stem
Ritchey Pro Carbon Bars
Ritchey Carbon WCS Seat Post
WTB Silverado Saddle
Mavic SLR Wheels
Maxxis Ranchero Tyres
Sid Carbon Rock Shox with ‘Pop Lock’
After $7000 ono
Shortly I will be off to Europe racing my first international season, building up to the World Champs in Mont St Anne, Canada. As part of reducing the impact on my parents bank account and Westpac profits, I am having a fund raising quiz night this Sunday the 20th June. It will be held at Monteith’s Brewery bar in Khandalah (Wellington) kicking off at 7:30pm. A $10 donation can be paid on the night and teams are of 4 and 6 people. It will be a fun night that is open to anybody however, numbers are limited so if you are interested please email me (samarasheppard@gmail.com) by Friday the 18th.
I have just signed up with team Wide Open! Ross and his team at Jamis have been fantastic at supporting me over the years - thanks guys! But this switch to Wide Open has provided me with the opportunity I needed to step up on the international mountain bike scene! I am now being looked after by Wide Open director Matt Whitaker. Known for treating his riders like gems, Matt takes care of the business so all that is left for me to think about out riding fast – which I will now be doing on my new Wide Open carbon hard tail! I can’t wait to put it to good use with some hearty racing in Europe this July. What a cool way to kick off a great season!
Check out Wide Open Distributors.
09 Jamis Dragon Team 15inch frame
I have only used this bike for four months before I received my 2010 bike. Since then I have replaced some of the old running gear – a new XT cluster, chain and bottom bracket is now on the bike, never been used. The forks work mint, gear cables work well, every thing is in great condition – pretty much a new bike again.
Componentry:
> Shimano XTR Breaks
> XTR front derailer
> XTR Shadow rear derailer
> XTR Cranks
> XT Cassette (NEW)
> BBB light weight carbon bars
> FSA light weight stem
> Mavic Crossmax SLR rims
> Maxxis CrossMark tyres (NEW)
> Easton EA70 carbon seat post
> WTB Saddle
> Top of the ine Fox forks
SOLD
I have always wanted to compete in Xterra – it is an event everyone rates to be so much fun, so this year us Waiariki chicks thought we would get out there in full force and tear it apart. With some outstanding team work Luuka, Katie and I managed to take home the woman’s team title and Monique Avery monstered the Under25 woman’s grade, overall finishing just moments behind the winner Nic Leary.
It was a stunner of a day and all the competitors and supporters were getting the atmosphere pumping. The individuals kicked off first, mixing it up in the water then onto the bike, showing us teams how it is done before we had started.
With all the training my team had done to prepare for this event (Luuka – 6 swims, Katie 3 – weeks tapering and me – one handful of runs) our game plan was to just bust it out! Execution went well, Luuka splashed out the 1km lake swim, Katie pulled through with a fast 29km mountain bike ride and then all I had to do was finish it off with an 11km run – mean! Getting back running was such a buzz.
As Monique puts it, all up it was a “primo extremo” day out! Thanks Waiariki!
Here are some more pix from the day: Continue reading ‘Xterra’
