Monte Tamaro Race Report

As I wright this I am sitting here in Schladming with a cast on my wrist....

As you can imagin, the weekend didnt go according to plan, I broke my wrist in my first run of Saturday practice. Well to begin with Johann and myself were really stoked to get our new canfields all blinged up for the first event of the European season. We had never imagined that the bikes would look this amazing... really these bikes are awesome!

Our team mate Motte picked us up on Thursday morning to go through to Monte Tamaro, but we had one stop to make first. We stopped at team manager, Sabine's house to pick up some awesome new Oneal gear!

We drove through Thursday and were ready to go on Friday! We walked the track and were really excited to test the new machines, we new it would be tough on this track because it was close to 5 min long and so rough..... bearing in mind that we hadnt ridden downhill in a month. While walking th track we came to a drop onto a road, it was pretty wide but we thought it might be possible to gap although it wasnt a road gap. So rode on Friday and did just 2 runs because of the insanely long wait at the gondala, but then first run on Saturday morning I decided it was time. Johann had jumped it twice and it looked ok so I went for it..... that was the end of my weekend. I came up a bit short in a slight nose dive, it just shot me over the bars and dowb into the woods. I knew imediately that it was broken, I didnt want to admit it but I knew I had made a big mistake.

After getting it checked out and spending 80 Euros on a taxi to get back to the track it looks like Im out for 6 weeks which sucks but it could be worse. Getting back to the race, it poured with rain on Sunday and the the race was cancelled because of the heli not being able to fly in the fog. So after all that it turns out I didnt even need to ride... :) I just happy because I gapped the road with only 3 others!

So all in all the weekend was a bit of a disaster but thats the way it goes sometimes, next time I will make a better decision and will have learned from this. I will be back on the back asap and ready for action!

A big thanks to all my sponsors who this all possible, Canfield Bros Factory Team, Red Bull SA, Seattle Coffee Co, Virgin Active, Leatt, Adidas eyewear, John Wakefield @science2sport, Evoc and Csixx.

Week 1 in Austria

Well the first week in Austria is in the books now and so far so good, Pottie arrived on Tuesday afternoon. It was really nice to be picked up from the airport and not have to take a train or whatever, so thanks to Canfield TM Sabine Bachler for that!

After I arrived in Salzburg I spent one night there and had a chance to go to Red Bull Hanger 7! Yes that’s right, Hanger 7! It was pretty amazing to see it all there, planes, bikes, cars, you name it, they’ve got it. Which ever way you cut it, Red Bull is pretty awesome, I am stoked to be there friend ;)

This week Johann and myself have just been chilling out, unfortunately we have’nt had any  parts for the bikes yet so it has forced us to just rest out. We have just been doing some fitness training, thanks to John Wakefield @science2sport for setting up a programme for me over here. We got the news that all our parts from Kore, Sram and Maxxis have now arrived so on Tuesday we will be testing out the new ride! Whoooop whoooop! Cant wait, and just in time for the first IXS cup of the season in Monte Tamaro, Switzerland.

Unfortunately the Planai bike park here in Schladming only opens on May 25^th so riding will be a bit difficult here for the next month, we will have to do it the old fashioned way…. Shuttle! I cant wait to test all the new stuff on a proper downhill track here in Schladming and another bonus is that we have an Austrian cup here this here so watch out!

This season we will mostly be staying in Maria Ulrich’s apartment in Schladming so our lives here will be a lot easier! Its warm, has a kitchen a shower and toilet too…. so it’s a bit of an improvement from last year accommodation in the trusty camper…. Haha! One thing I do miss not having here is Seattle coffee and a Virgin Active to train at but hey, in a few years who knows?

Anyway, that’s it for now, there will be more updates as the season unfolds J

Thanks again to my awesome sponsors: Canfield Factory team, Seattle Coffee Co, Virgin Active, John Wakefield @science2sport, Leatt, Adidas eyewear, Evoc, Red Bull SA, Csixx and everyone else who supports me!

Short UK update

Wow!

Finally in the UK. The trip has fianlly started...

I got here on Saturday 31st March, so still feeling pretty fresh :)

I am staying with my aunt in Oxford and it has been a cool couple of days so far. I went for a short road ride yesterday, wow it was cold! So weird riding in sun shine but not really feeling your fingers. So far I have managed to get my van in to be fixed and road worthy etc. So I still have plenty of time, only heading over to Schladming on about the 14th of April, unfortunately not with the van, going to have to let her go.... so I will be flying there at least :)

I am so ready for this season, cant wait to get to Austria now, I want to test out the new Oneal gear and new baby fully built up ;) Also ampd to test out the new Canfield yelly screamy 29er, oh yeah, finally going to dominate at xc haha.... Now I can train properly in season too thanks to John Wakefield.

I must when you travel with great luggage like Evoc and Leatt it really makes life easier although I still dont know how I am going to get 2 bikes and all my luggage home with me come September?? Its going to be interesting!


Anyway, thats it for now, another update will come after I get settled in Schladming....
Untill then...

Thanks to: Canfield factory team, Leatt, Adidas eyewear, Seattle coffee co, Virgin Active, Evoc, John Wakefield, Flexfit, Red Bull and Csixx, you guys make my life much easier!