Stereotypical Norway shot, grass on the roofs of houses. In case you’re wondering it is cooler in summer and warmer in winter with grass roofs.
Hafjell, Norway, home of the 2014 World Championships and today was track walk day. For most of the elite riders today was pretty standard, especially as they have seen the track before because it has been used for two world cups now. However, a lot of the junior riders have not been here and for them it was their first look at the track. Not a lot has changed since the world cup last year, to be simple we can break down the track into two sections roughly, the top is bike park and the bottom is natural. It’s a good mix though, you won’t hear riders complaining about the overall nature of the track.
Looking up to the start hut across some of the biggest jumps on the circuit, who will be the style champion here?The bike park corners here mean riders are going to hold speed, as we walked down riders were saying the speeds will be higher than any race here previously, possibly up to 70km/h!We talked to Wyn as we made our way down the track and he informed us the gentleman who built the bobsled track here had a part in the downhill track as well, hence the luge smooth corners that are banked super high!Of course the track isn’t all just bike park corners and jumps, it has some teeth! The shoes should indicate just how big some of the rocks here are, this one goes well out of the frame of the picture too…G – Spot! This tree decided an overall world cup series, named as Gee Atherton shouldered this tree in the 2013 finals effectively giving Stevie Smith the overall title.This wooded section features a mix of rocks and roots, if it rains this will be even more wild!This is the aptly named ‘No Brakes’ a high speed left hander out in the open on the grass.There is a campaign to keep the Hafjell bike park open as the owners are planning to shut it down which would be a real shame.Those views… Not that the riders will have much time to be taking them in.
The first day of practice will be upon us soon, check back soon.
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