new sponsor #4 and #5 for 2012

Thankyou very much for the support in 2012! check out: www.flexfit.co.za for some awesome headwear or email John@science2sport.com if you want to get in shape!

Pietermaritzburg World Cup Race Report

Hi all!

I am so happy right now, yesterday we finally picked up our new Canfields and gear from Oneal!

Getting back to the WC, we left last Tuesday for Piertmaritzburg and as per usuall there was drama...
First of all, never fly anywhere after the Argus cycle tour! Before we left from CPT they told us our bikes would'nt make it to PMB before Friday! That was not on, so we tried to sort it out but it was taking so long and we had to fly, there were 6 of us, myself, Pottie, Darryn, Tamara, Christian and Tommy. I had safely boarded the plane while the rest were still checking there bikes in! It took so long, they delayed the plane for them and they were sprinting to make it on board, thankfully they all made it with no bikes.

When we got to PMB we all spoke to the Mango customer service and managed to get them to send the bikes up on the last flight at 19:40, it was 12:45 at this stage.... this meant a long wait. Finally they all arrived except for darryns bike. They did deliver it the next day though.

We had a rough start but we were finally settled in at the Brownings and were really excited about the track. Pottie and myself decided that we were going to hit the gully and tables first run which might not have been the best idea as we both came up way short! We did get them 2nd run and I got the money maker 3rd run. I was feeling good and really happy to dialled with the jumps as there were a lot of riders struggling with them.

With 8 runs under my belt it was time for qualifying.... I was really excited and tense at the same time, I knew I had the speed, I just did'nt want to crash.  Thankfully I had a great run and ended up 55th which was my first ever world cup qualification in downhill! I was so pumped!

On the Saturday we watched the XC and just did 2 runs in the morning, I did'nt want to get tired for the final on Sunday, it was a long track. On Saturday afternoon it poured down with rain, I thought it was going to be comedy show case on Sunday. I picked up my new Dbx Pro from Leatt which cheerd me up! Luckily we woke up to warm dry weather,I did 2 runs in the morning which were a bit slippery but not as bad as I thought so I was ready for the final.

I wanted to improve my position from qualifying so I pushed hard, I had a good run, 4 sec faster than qualifyling but only good enough for 54th, one place better. I was happy because I was only 2 sec off the top 40. This is a great start to the year and a huge confidence booster for me! John Wakefield knows how to get you in shape!
Also just imagin what I would've done with a Canfield and a dropper seat post :)

I want to thank my awesome sponsors who make this possible, Canfield Factory team, Seattle Coffee Co, Leatt, Virgin Active, Csixx, Adidas eyewear, Evoc and Red Bull ZA!

I would also like to thank my parents, the Browning famliy and Avis Van Rental for the help and support in PMB!

Untill next time...

New Sponsor #3 for 2012

Thanks so much to Evoc for the support in 2012! Check out http://www.hullabaloo.co.za/ for more info.

Pre - Pietermaritzburg update

Hi all,

Its been a hectic few weeks prepping for the first world cup of the season!

I have been training hard with John Wakefield and feeling strong at the moment, can't wait to hit that N3 at PMB :). At the moment I have Tamara Ulrich staying with me, she is out here from Austria to do the world cup. I also had Christian Textor and Tommy Herman staying with me over the weekend, they are here from Germany for the world cup so its been pretty busy. Espesially when you have to wait at the airport for 4 hours to get your luggage with no bikes.... trrust South Africa to get it wrong, haha.

We have been doing loads of dh as well, had some sick rides at Tokai and Contermans, although the pushing up really sucked at Contermans, wow, cant wait for chair lifts!
Pottie and myself have been riding together quite a bit lately and doing some dirt jumps sessions too, we went to the Night harvest which was awsesome thanks to Jonty and the boys. Also been booking flights and cars etc for the WC, what a mission, nothings easy it seems. A couple of days ago I took Tamara to the Virgin Active with me and they would'nt let her in without seeing here passport... haha, eventually we managed to make a plan.

This week I am super excited because our bikes are supposed to arrive so lets keep those fingers crossed! Cant wait to swing a leg over the Canfield, wow, what a bike! I am also doing another shuttle day at Paarl this weekend for those inertested and hopefully I will be riding on the new machine ;D

We fly out to PMB on Tuesday so closing stages now, it feels like just yesterday I was getting back from Europe and now its starting all over again. The only difference is that I am fit, have awesome new sponsors and am ready to start winning races!

Thats it for now, just a big shout out to the Canfield Factory team, Leatt, Seattle Coffee Co, Virgin Active, Csixx, Evoc, Adidas eyewear and Red Bull for making this year possible!