Auckland Cycle Courier and top female downhill rider Jenna Makgill is one of the many kiwi riders who choose to make Morzine their home during our off season and spend the European summer traveling around racing and riding in more different countries than most of us can possibly imagine. 

Jenna keeps us up to date on what’s going on in Europe, what she’s been up to, how the other kiwis are performing and why you should be booking yourself a ticket to France, or Germany, or somewhere like that!

 To get here it took 34 hours that included food that gives McDonalds a run for it shittyness and enough movies to occupy you once you have finished talking about the weather to the weirdo sitting next to you. I consider this torture but a bearable one that in the end will result in being able to rise every morning at 9 to summer, chair lifts and as many DH runs you could throw a stick at.

MORZINE: The backyard more and more kiwis are choosing to make their home every year.

Welcome to Morzine, population 3000 and home to just over 15 New Zealand Down Hillers during the French summer. Morzine which is situated in the French Alps offers plenty of DH riding without the obligatory push back up. If you pay your dues you get the use of 15 gondolas and chair lifts which stretch across the Portes Du Soleil and can take you through to Switzerland. The lifts open at 9am and shut at 5pm, an 8 hour window to do with as you please. I have been coming here since I was 18 and it seems to be becoming more like home each year.

Our second weekend here and we were up the road at Montriond for round 3 of the French cup. The last snow fall was 7 days earlier so the track was cut through snow which made the mud muddy and the rocks like riding on an ice skating rink. This track was known for being I prick and it exceeded its reputation. Practice was hell and all enjoyment was sucked out when it ate my derailleur on my first practice run. Somehow 3 crashes on my race run got me 3^rd spot, a weekend IV already forgotten. Nathan Rankin and Cameron Cole used there heads and ventured to Switzerland instead and competed in an IXS cup in Scuol. Cameron managed a 12^th position and although having a few digestive problems over the weekend Nathan got 6th. The next race was a German IXS cup which was a delightful 9 hour drive from our happy home. A handy tip when traveling is to never say that you’re not lost till you’v driven around in circles as that will be what is about to happen. Some how we managed to make it to Steinach where the track turned out to be real awesome but the transport was horrid. To get to the top it took 35minutes if standing in line and a 15 minute chairlift which my nana could overtake. Peter and I managed a whopping 10 runs each over 2 days. All that aside the track was enjoyable and we cherished every run as though we only got to ride it once an hour. There were a few ladies in the lineup whom I had no idea as to who or how good they were so I just went about my own and seeded 5^th which didn’t make me feel so great even though I crashed. Feeling the pressure and the fear from a rather masculine, intimidating  German lady and her friends I managed to whip out a 1^st place, 7 second ahead of 2^nd in the final. I was mighty happy and even told peter Ill shout dinner with my prize money. Prize giving came and the masculine woman didn’t eat me though there was a moment I wasn’t too sure, got my winnings and continued to break it to peter ill shout dinner provided he paid me back.

Next up was Spain a far cry from our back yard but races are not so popular to organize anymore as there don’t seem to be any. This was a Spanish Maxxis cup so our hopes were high as to it being a goody. Well thankfully Mr. Maxxis delivered and Port Aines was a beaut.  It was a long track that had open fast, steep rocky and enough tight flat turns to make any NZer proud. Most the kiwis liked the track and were definitely looking good. We got 2 race runs which I really liked but that might have something to do with the fact that I won both of mine. The kiwi lads were doing us proud and really made for some good watching.

Nathan Rankin 2^nd

Mike Skinner 6^th

Blair Xmas 10^th

Peter Fitterup 14^th 

Cameron Cole 1^st in juniors which would have gotten him 6^th in Elite

Craig Pattle and Tom Holland managed to get their new wheels rolling after some trouduc stole them from Willingin World Cup. This was in time for a mid week race in Avoriaz, a wee town just up the road. This Lisbon inspired biker cross though the city centre saw Cameron and Glen Hadens BMX skills shine. Cameron took the honors and the cash in the man final. I managed 1^st even though it was only out of 2 of us. That evening turned out to be interesting with sumo wrestling suits and a free pasta dinner.

As of this week it’s all chillen by the lake after a days riding in the 27 plus degree heats. The next race will be at Les2 Alps on the 23^rd July which will see a high quality NZ contingent.

Au revoir, bon voyage
Jennifer Makgill

Stay tuned for more euro stuff, or checkout Jenna's Blog:
jennamakgill.blogspot.com