Go Time!!!!

After the MTBNZ selection panel finally addressed the riders who were to compete in the 2010 World Mountain Bike Champs in Canada, my name was in the team!
After a bit of deliberation deciding what to do I came to the conclusion that I would grab at the opportunity to race and also compete in the final World Cup round in Windham, U.S.A. as well. Last year I was chosen as a reserve in the 2009 World Moutain Bike Champs in Canberra as a first year Under19 rider and but unluckily I didn't get to race. However, I competed in the New Zealand Relay Team and what an awesome experience and atmosphere that was! After thinking back to last year I would be crazy to miss that feeling again, now racing in the race I should have been in last year but as a second year Under 19 rider more experienced and race savy!
As I count down the time it's only a few hours till I head off to the Airport and begin the big flight over to the States and just to add to the trip we are sight seeing in New York for a day!
I would just like to say a huge thanks to Geoff Franks for helping out with getting everything sorted and organised for Windham and getting to Canada from there and also an even bigger thanks to my parents as well as my sponsor Cycleways, in particular Matt Bailey for having my bike in good fighting order!!!
Leaving 22nd August
Windham, U.S.A. World Cup Round-28th August
Monte Saint Anne, Canada World Champs-3rd September
Return home 9th September

Lake Tekapo MTB race 2010

After wanting to get a few longer rides under my belt over the winter time the 2010 Lake Tekapo MTB race was going to be a good one to enter with a long 90km distance around the lake. On Sunday morning I was up at 4.15am to be ready for the boss Brad Williams, to pick me up and take me to my longest race I have done so far. I was feeling pretty excited about this race but the closer we got to the race the more white the surroundings became-SNOW!!!!! Once we got out of the car and got layered up in gear it was time to hit the start line in the sub-tropical conditions. I was going quite well doing some good work with the second leading bunch I was with concentrating on nurtition/eating while the snow came in but it was the river crossings that really got the body feeling the cold! After the 2 hour mark on the way back my hands and fingers started to freeze up making gear changing a mission on its on so a fair bit of single speeding went on! Unfortunantely while my eating was good up to the 2 hour mark I was not drinking enough due to the conditions and I ended up finishing the race solo after the legs were shot and I had slipped away from the bunch I was with. After just under 3 and a half hours I came across the line frozen, winning my class and about 15th overall. Big thanks to the Pearson family (Fiona) for taking me back to their unit to warm up with a nice hot shower, Matt Bailey (Cycleways/sponsor) and for the nice booties he lent me which are highly recommended as I found out and to Brad Williams for looking after me!

Mt Isobel race

After a bit of a motivational kick from the boss at work I decided to get my running legs on and entered in the 2010 Mt Isobel duathlon race. Little did I know was how hard this gruelling run would be with a 1000m ascent over 8km to the summit and a nice 22km mountain bike to put me back at home! Once arriving at race venue trying to keep relaxed with the 1-2 degree start race briefing came around rather fast and it was time to hit the start line!
Due to my lack of training for this event after being stuffed for training from a recent cold I decided to take a relaxed approach and after the starting gun went I eased into my work instead of bolting like a usual mountain bike race. This worked out well and I managed to pick off quite a few competitors up the narly hill and after an over-cautious downhill in my road running shoes on the slippery loose terrain it was time for transition onto home turf-the bike! Here I thought I would go out and smash myself but after the epic run my legs were feeling it and the 'zing' just wasnt quite there but I pressed on. After catching a bit of pre-race competition toward the end of the race I managed to keep the pressure on and ended up finishing 2nd in Under19 and 11th overall-stoked with my result!!!

2010 Autum Adventure Off-Road Duathlon

This event was a new one on the calander this year and I thought it was a good opportunity to team up with an old school mate to go for gold! Race day came and turned out a stunner with the sun blazing in the Greta Valley hill range. Team mate Sam Bell was first up with a 7km off-road hill run and with the teams starting 2 minutes after the individuals he managed to come in 2nd overall closely followed by 3rd overall, individual junior Ben Oliver, a few minutes behind 1st place. After a quick tag I was off to hunt down fastest run time winner and individual junior Craig Oliver and after the first major climb leading onto the two lap loop over the farm hills I was onto him. I kept the hammer down and ended up bringing the win home for our team overall comfortably winning the junior and team catagory. Thanks to Sam for an excellent team mate and run!

Terrace Downs Multi Sport race 2010

After teaming up with my boss from Halswell Butchery, Brad Williams and I were set and ready to compete in the 2010 Terrace Downs Multi Sports race with the rather appropriate name Team Bradz! The days weather didn't turn on a stunner with a rainy overcast throughout the event which kept all honest and on their game! The first stage of the race was a 30km Mountain bike that involved 4wd farm tracks and roads on undulating terrain. The second stage was a Kayak leg up the Rakaia River for 37km which then lead onto a 47km road stage. A 15km run finished the race off. I did the cycle stages with Brad taking good care of the run and Kayak. We both had a fantastic race and all went to plan coming in 3rd overall and 2nd in the Team catagory (open mens). I really enjoyed the different atmosphere and the thrill of follwing my team mate around waiting to do my stages in the race! A huge thanks to Brad Williams for being an awesome team mate and to all the competitors who finished along with our supporters and of course to my sponsor Cycleways!

Mt Somers MTB race 2010

The Mt Somers MTB race turned out a good field for yet another well run Lions Club event! The day was a cracker and after only riding on one of the days during the week I was keen to have a good hit out. The race ended up being mainly between Anton and myself where we both managed to get ourselves lost on one part of the course losing minutes before we were back on track! By this time another rider called Brett Leyden was not far behind us but once on another climb we got out of his sights. Toward the end of the race on the final few kms of tar seal Anton and I knew it would come down to a sprint finish between us so we had a bit of a chat on the road (as you do!) While this was happening Brett had caught us up and boy did we get a hurry up! About 200m from the turn into the finish field Anton and I took off and I thought I had a good shot in the sprint as I had the inside line into the corner however there were a couple of slower riders in the shorter race who were right on my line! I lost most of my speed having to jump in behind Anton on the corner and after one final effort I got right beside him in the final few metres but had to settle for second. Even though I couldn't quite get the win it was an awesome finish to the race!

Blue Mountain MTB race

The 2010 Blue Mountain MTB race was a 63km event that doubled as the final round of the South Canterbury Cup. I went into this event feeling fresh and ready to race as I have been having a break from training. The day turned out to be a cracker with the sun blazing high in the sky but with an 8.30am start there was still a chill in the air! My aim for this race was to have fun, keep my nutrition up and not go out hard so I was still feeling good toward the end and that all went to plan! After the first few stages of the race there were a few undulating hills and I managed to break away from the rest of the leading pack on one of these. Instead of smashing it to secure my break away I just kept on doing what I was doing and got further away. At the 2 1/2 hour mark I decided to start winding it up as I knew I would be around the 3 hour mark finish time. This worked out well because my legs were feeling it on the final climb of the race that was before the shingle and tarseal road back to the finish line. I won overall and set a new course record to also win my catagory in the South Canterbury Cup. Big thanks to the Prestidge family for taking care of me over the weekend!