Meribel, France World Cup
27th/105 in U23
As soon I walked into the Brisbane Airport. An old lady recognised my Green and gold tracksuit, shaking my hand, well done for 'representing us'. She thought I had just come back from Commonwealth Games.
As I tried to check in early the Kiosk was not very helpful. But then I had he great idea of taking off my jumper, revealing my green and gold shirt and boom, she booked me in and even tried changing me to a better seat. Yep looks like I’m a Com games super star.
This trip iv been travelling with Scott Bowden from Tasmania. Scott's first flight was delayed, said he might not catch the Sydney to London. But then our SYD to LDN was delayed also, so he made it.
After the 180 or so hours of flying we arrived in London. Did you know they actually OFFER you FREE trolleys!
The plan was to sleep off the flying till our next flight in the morning. Not me and Scotty. We spontaneously went to London City. London Bridge was pretty boring but wow the food is great, so much natural organic food. Best part of the day was catching up with my cousin Gina Croke who lives in London. We finished the night at '6 bells pub' a pub between a grave yard and a church.
27th/105 in U23
As soon I walked into the Brisbane Airport. An old lady recognised my Green and gold tracksuit, shaking my hand, well done for 'representing us'. She thought I had just come back from Commonwealth Games.
As I tried to check in early the Kiosk was not very helpful. But then I had he great idea of taking off my jumper, revealing my green and gold shirt and boom, she booked me in and even tried changing me to a better seat. Yep looks like I’m a Com games super star.
This trip iv been travelling with Scott Bowden from Tasmania. Scott's first flight was delayed, said he might not catch the Sydney to London. But then our SYD to LDN was delayed also, so he made it.
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| Gotta Elivate when you can, Reppin QLD Socks. |
After the 180 or so hours of flying we arrived in London. Did you know they actually OFFER you FREE trolleys!
The plan was to sleep off the flying till our next flight in the morning. Not me and Scotty. We spontaneously went to London City. London Bridge was pretty boring but wow the food is great, so much natural organic food. Best part of the day was catching up with my cousin Gina Croke who lives in London. We finished the night at '6 bells pub' a pub between a grave yard and a church.
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| Scotty had wayyy too many waters at the Pub |
First day of practice.
Turns-out we are 1200m elevation below the race. So we
rode up mountain - 1h20min
Did 4 laps of the course. Great Course, Rooty, Rocky, Mossy and plenty of pinch climbs. The best way to describe the course is it had lots of diffferent textures, Muddy, Dusty, Loose Gravel, Timber, Creek Bed, Shaly Rock.
Turns-out we are 1200m elevation below the race. So we
rode up mountain - 1h20min
Did 4 laps of the course. Great Course, Rooty, Rocky, Mossy and plenty of pinch climbs. The best way to describe the course is it had lots of diffferent textures, Muddy, Dusty, Loose Gravel, Timber, Creek Bed, Shaly Rock.
We then Rode back home down the mountain.
I had the chance to meet Martin Whitley, the Owner of Trek World Racing. He gave me a tour of their pimping truck of the Pro downhillers.
After day 2 of course practice Scott Bowden and I descended down the road, we took a wild fire-road that unfortunately ended at long skinny stair way that we had to walk down.
Now, keep in mind everything is in French. I went to have a shower and took the soap we just bought. It kept disappearing. I washed my face, arms, legs and um.. yeh..Turns out it wasn’t soap..it was honey!!
Friday
We had to catch a bus and a gondola to get to the race course.
My heart was racing when one of the ockey straps came off leaving my bike hanging off bus trailer by 1 ockey strap. It was dangerling near rock faces. I yelled to get the bus driver to stop, I got off and fixed it up. Could have been bad.
Spent 2 hours trying to tubeless tires at a bike shop. My dad bought the mechanics croissants. They fought over them.
My first lap I sliced a tire.
Spent another 2 hours trying to tubeless a new tire on.
By then it was too late for another lap. Course closed.
Race Report
Started 44th
Good start. Avoided crashes
Got punched in chest by a some euro rider
Sat in comfortable heart rate zone..even tho heart rate was 180 I think.
End of lap 1 accidentally took 2 gels out then panicked and took a bottle at the feed zone at the same time.so I was going no hands over logs trying to sort my shit out. Ended up throwing the full bottle away. Got passed by 3 guys. A guy jumped some rocks and face planted right in front of me. I kept my heart rate under control try hard not to stay on peoples and ride my own race..but then I saw U23 Australian National Champ Cam Ivory so I hung onto him and passed him on 2nd lap.
Slammed my shoulder into tree and got winded..then hit a guy’s bars after going down a shoot.
Another guy face planted in front of me down some roots
I was able to make up a lot of time on the descents. Saving energy at the same time. And always catching whoever was in front.
There was a long old school fire road decent that launched you into a big roller into the last climb where I was able to fly past riders.
I had a scary moment when I launch down a shoot and burped my front tire. Thought I was going to die.
The euro crowd was nuts. So loud, so many air horns. I think I even heard a 'olay! Forbino'
I'm stoked with 27th place, making up 17 places. From this point Scott Bowden and I have four days in Meribel to train up in some altitude before heading to Norway to meet the Australian Team.
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| Training ride- Up and down is the only direction |
Wednesday Trail Ride
Caught the bus to Meribel-Mottaret.
Chairlift to 2800m
Enduro track all the way down....................................
Lift up to 2600m
Road to start of track 21
Got a flat about 10min in
Spare tube had bent valveRoad to start of track 21
Got a flat about 10min in
Walked back to start of track where there was a French man who knew no English
We tryd talking and he gave me a lift down to the chairlift.
Chair lift down to Meribel
Got a spare tube of scotty
Replaced tube
Back brake pulled in while I was doing a manuel down road, fell off the back of the bike. Bit sore.
I then watched a pony knock out a 12 year old. Then the pony went crazy and crashed on the concrete.
Road back down the mountain
My bearings came loose. From using American Classic wheels as spares which turns out don’t fit the bike.
Had to back off the bolts on my caliper to get home.
Meribel last day
9am left apartment to walk to bus stop
Can’t catch bus with bike
So waited for the 11am shuttle to top of mountain
Walk to bike shop
Book bike in
They started having lunch
So I had lunch
They finish lunch and tell me they can’t fix it
Wait for 2hours for the next bus down mountain
Walk back home at 3pm
So no luck on that day
After dinner we decided to let off the fireworks I bought. Scott threw our tiny lighter as well as the rocket. So we spent a good 5 minuets looking for that in the dark.
9am left apartment to walk to bus stop
Can’t catch bus with bike
So waited for the 11am shuttle to top of mountain
Walk to bike shop
Book bike in
They started having lunch
So I had lunch
They finish lunch and tell me they can’t fix it
Wait for 2hours for the next bus down mountain
Walk back home at 3pm
So no luck on that day
After dinner we decided to let off the fireworks I bought. Scott threw our tiny lighter as well as the rocket. So we spent a good 5 minuets looking for that in the dark.
But in the end we had great time and looking forward to Norway World Championship!
R.I.P Annefleur Kalvenhaar - Who Tragicly had a Crash on course during the U23 Women's Qualifying for XCE.
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| #Ninoselfie |
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