World Cup 5 - Hafjell - Practice Day 1 -

First day of practice and riders were throwing down the style! This isn't Brendan Fairclough as first impressions may suggest rather Zakarias Blom Johansen... Can't saw we had heard of him either but with style like this who cares! — First day of practice and riders were throwing down the style! This isn’t Brendan Fairclough as first impressions may suggest rather Zakarias Blom Johansen… Can’t saw we had heard of him either but with style like this who cares!

Round 5 of the World Cups and we are off to Norway, more specificallyA�the bike park of Hafjell (pronounced huff-yell incase you are wondering!). We first saw the track on the calendar last year as it had the honour of hosting the final World Cup of 2012. You will probably remember the big jumps up near the top which saw riders throwing down big whips, well guess what? Not much has changed!

Sik Mik gets his whip on! Getting up to speed quickly Mik was gapping a few of the more extreme lines in the rock gardens that littered the course. A few crashes were maybe a hangover from World Champs excitement but nothing major for the silver medalist! — Sik Mik gets his whip on! Getting up to speed quickly, Mik was gapping a few of the more extreme lines in the rock gardens that littered the course. A few crashes during practice were maybe a hangover from World Champs excitement but nothing major for the silver medalist!

So the track here is in a bike park but it has all the A�big berms and cool jumps of bike parks you find the world over but to ensure it is World Cup spec there are multiple rock gardens that caught plenty of riders out during practice. Riders are saying it is one of the most fun courses on the calendar.

With his amazing World Cup season so far Gee Atherton has put his disappointing (by his standards anyway) World Champs result behind him and wants to make a mends here in Norway.

Timed practice showed Gee was up to speed early with last years winner Stevie Smith hot on his heels, followed closely by Mik Hannah, always hard to tell from timed practice exactlyA�how much everyone put in but don’t be surprised if it is one of these three is on the top step comeA�Sunday.

It is not just the guys throwing down on the jumps! Emmiline Ragot mixing it up with the boys, interesting that some of the Lapierre team are still running the 650B bikes as per their Worlds set up. Clearly they believe this is the future and the advantage is there. — It is not just the guys throwing down on the jumps! Emmeline Ragot mixing it up with the boys, interesting that some of the Lapierre team are still running the 650B bikes as per their Worlds set up. Clearly they believe this is the future and the advantage is there.

Bit of a surprise to see Kovarik Racing make the trek out from their current Whistler base to race this round but you know this track should suitA�Chris well though.

Not afraid to jump and not afraid of rocks, that pretty much ticks of a lot of the track here in Norway, always a dark horse you never know with Chris Kovarik.

And another rider throwing down the style, yes there is more to the track then just the top jumps! Tune back soon for more action.

We will leave it there for now, check back soon for more Norway action!

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