Kaiwara Classic 2013

Last year I didn't get to compete in the Kaiwara Classic Mountain Bike race so I was looking forward to racing again in an event that always gets a great turn out and has a good name for itself.
The course now has two options, the challenge and the bigger course being named the Epic.  The Epic follows the same course as the Challenge but ventures off up into some steep farm track and along the top before meeting up with the bottom of the first major climb in the Challenge course.
The race started off with a bit of a game of tiddlewinks with a few riders not wanting to pull there weight on the road.  I made a cheeky attack to get things moving but after that it went back to how it was until Jeremy Inglis had a nudge up the front to get to the hill.  I was wanting to hit the first climb hard and I quickly opened up the field to just four riders, Logan, Ben, Craig and myself.  I was working the pace hard but the boys held on up the first climb, I was thinking these boys might be hard to crack today!  Once at the top we dropped down then started our climb up the Epic farm track.  The course took a steep left and I kept in my big chain ring and I looked around and I was by myself.  The lads had started to drop off.  I kept the pressure on and rode strong all the way over the tops and along the middle gravel road passing the Challenge riders and hunting down that finish line.  The final climb was good and after a traverse along the top of the hills and down the final descent it was a tough head wind along the tarseal just to keep everyone honest all the way to the line!
I held onto my lead and took the line honors really happy with how I rode as I also now have the course record for not only the shorter course but the long course also!

2013 National Championships

This year the National Championship was held in Rotorua amongst some of the finest trail network New Zealand has to offer.  The course started off the same as last years Oceania set up firing up the tarseal climb but shortly after snuck up into the trees and followed around until the first downhill section.  Continuing on through some fast trail blazing sections it then climbed up and into a valley climb and onto the shingle road and nailed through another short downhill.  After a quick skid on the shingle road again then came one of my favourite parts of the race course as we fanged down a small drop, launched over some rocks and into a bermed corner,  onto the next banked one and so on for another couple of times!  Super fun!  As the course came toward the finish there was one final pinch climb in the trees around a dogs leg corner that then flowed onto the final downhill.  It was full of ridable drops and tight corners and I was sure glad I had the big 29er wheels to cope!  Not only was it rough but was a bit loose so my Maxxis Aspens got to use there side bite and keep some serious momentum flowing on down.

The race for started off rather interesting.  I was seated at the back of the start grid, a bit confused to say the least after finishing 3rd last year but so be it.  Not alot I could do 2 minutes before the start of a National Championship!  Anyway all that was required was a bit more gas off the start line.  I managed to sneak up the side and gain a few places and once onto the single track I was sitting somewhere in the top 10.  As the pressure went on the Rotorua boys were taking full advantage of there home course and were flying round and I couldn't quite hang onto the pace.  As I battled on I started to make up some ground and entered the Top5 of the race but just after the half way point I lost a position and struggled to gain it back.  The last few laps completed saw me come over the line in 6th Elite but 4th Under 23.  A little disappointed but all things considered and ok result for the year being.  Big thanks to Mat Waghorn for helping out,  the Millers for getting some accommodation for us, also to  my sponsor Matt Bailey/Cycleways and Maxxis Tyres!

NZ CUP ROUND 2

The second round of the NZ Cup was held on a brutal course at the Mt Vic park in Wellington.  While similar to last years Cup Round the course included a couple more super steep sharp pinch climbs that sucked a fair bit of fuel out of the engine during the race.  Neat tight and fast trails all made for a good lap keeping the eyes wide open on the loose terrain that Wellington had to offer on a fantastic day, a little too hot maybe but same conditions for all!

I started off the race in the same fashion as my previous event in Nelson not blowing myself but keeping a bit in reserve so I made sure I lasted the 6 lap distance.  The boys quickly spread out and I was sitting around the top 8 or so during my first lap but jumped up to the 5th position and had a couple of the others in sight.  While I was starting to get some good forward momentum and getting very close to the next couple of riders ahead of me I got to the fourth lap and realized that they were starting to pull away from me again.  A bit frustrating but I think I started to go a bit slower as the body battled on during the intense afternoon race.
I finally came onto the last lap - yep, here we go again! Looking forward to getting that final climb done and completing the event and came over the line holding my 5th in the Elite men.

Thanks to Mat for the weekend's help and to Jack and his family for hosting us, another one down and less than two weeks until Nationals to go - looking forward to some sharp racing!