Oceanias, what a race to finish the season on!!! Down in hot sunny Nelson we were given a new course to race on, a change from the brilliant one WE had used for years, well other people had anyway… Initially pre-riding the track I thought it was quite boring. Consisting of one long untechnical climb followed by a downhill that had several switchbacks and only one short technical section on it. However, come race day this course became a challenge, taking down many riders, me, me and others ok… Funny how going race pace changes the nature of a course. A lot of blood, sweat, skin and muscle fibres were shed but it was all totally worth it… Being the Oceania Under 19 champ is something I’ll be able to smile about for another year yet (and my skin will grow back). Continue reading ‘2008 Oceanias’
Quick note to say Samara won U19 W Oceania MTB XC at Nelson just now, was running third with a lap to go in the combined U19 and U23 race a wee bit down. Fired up the afterburners on the last lap, and got past the leading U19 on the last uphill and then past Monique (leading U23) on the next section of narly downhill (go the Wednesday night rides and a fully suspension) so won her grade and would have taken out the U23 as well.
Karapoti AKA the show down race between me and my old man shouldn’t count due to unfair circumstances…
It all started nearing the end of 2007 when I stole his credit card to enter myself in the Karapoti. Being the kind of person that I am I thought it would be funny to enter Dad in it as well… after all he was the one paying. At this stage he had never ridden Karapoti and except for the Wednesday night rides he wasn’t doing much in the way of cycling… Perfect!!! Continue reading ‘Karapoti’
