| Cam Cole - South Island Cup |
| Written by Administrator |
| Sunday, 22 February 2009 22:11 |
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The last few weeks have been packed full of sickness. The NZ mountain bike/DH scene has been blowing up all over this summer with numerous international acts coming down to see how all the kiwis on the world cups got so fast. So far in the series only 3 races have been won by kiwis out of the 6 contested. I have been in and out of Christchurch training and working during the weeks and travelling and racing at the weekends. Sabrina Jonnier has been chilling at the household preparing for the World Cup season. She is around till after National Champs in Nelson. Get there next weekend to see some of the best riders in the world at 42 below. Not a common occurrence. Queenstowns Coronet peak was the venue for the second SI Cup DH race. Welcome returns to the MTB scene were made by numerous riders including NZride.coms Aaron Fernandez and Blair Xmas who have both recently moved to Queenstown to start new lives. The DH course was much the same as previous years but still as much fun. Seb Kemps week of wonder went off the chain and should attract many more next year. Check some of the videos on the cuffo video page to gain more of an insight into NZ mountain bike/downhill culture. Snow and rain hindered DH practice on day one of the NZMTB cup. Riders were forced indoors to drink coffee, talk shit and eat pies to stay warm as chairs at the top of the lift were powder coated white. By the time I got on the course in the afternoon the dirt was tacky but soon dried out as the skies went blue. Race day dawned fine and sunny helping the atmosphere at the bottom of the course. Coronet draws good sized crowds for downhill quite the opposite for the XC race the following day. DH is not dead! So... Danny Hart won New Zealands tightest national race ever 1.68 seconds back to 7th or 8th I think. WOW! I was 6th 1.13 off the win my best result at the Peak ever stoked with that. After match functions went on at various locations and good times were had by many at Blair and Holly's house out 3 mile way. Queenstown always steps up for one of the best parties of the series. Back to CHCH it was for a few days of work and bike riding then we swam up to Blenheim last Friday in 20mm of rain. Li bios were low for most on the Saturday morning of practice except the returning Nathan Rankin and Des Currie. The course was similar to what was raced on in 2005 when half the current pro field was 10 or 11 but with some added turns in the top section. Still fast as hell and fairly steep especially at the bottom. Two flat skidder sites linked the top to the bottom sections. In qualifying I had an off track excursion down a bank off one of the berms at the bottom I managed to climb back up the back in about 1 minute. My race run was better however I didn't scare myself which you have to in Blenheim to do well. Otherwise I am happy I made the most of an average weekend. Team flat mate Justin Leov won his first National this year on ex home turf. This will be good for his confidence for next weeks National race. The arm band rule i think has been signed for NZ so this may draw a larger field and fights will be had for the top podium spot and the title unlike past years. We will see if they change the rules again though so this may not be the case come Friday practice in sunny Nelson. Nelson recently lost its title of sunniest town in NZ to Blenheim believe it or not. See you in Nelson. |
| Last Updated ( Sunday, 22 February 2009 22:19 ) |
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