Barjarg Archives -

Adam Aldous makes his way down the second part of the shoot, super loose and dusty by the end of racing.

Welcome to Barjarg, the first round of the Alpine Gravity Elevation Series, after last yeara��s success this year was highly anticipated with well over 200 riders showing up for the weekend of racing. Alpine Gravity put a large emphasis on making their races casual, relaxed and inviting. The first round of this series was no different, with friendly staff everywhere to help, but strict guidelines and rules to keep everyone safe, plus it helped the event run as smoothly as possible.

Lucy Crundwell makes her way down track.

As practice begun the dust stared to fly. With no rain to settle the ground over the past fewweeks, the track was dry and it didn’t take long for riders to have to space themselves quite a ways apart just to see the track. The dust being lifted also began revealing some surprise rocks, changing lines and at times catching people out. The elevation tracks have been designed with every rider in mind, from beginners to world cup standard riders.

Chris Panozzo pushes limits entering the valley kicking up the dust as he does so!

Mid-way through practice the shady areas became very popular spots to stop, watch, and practice as the sun got very warm in the midday sky. As practice wrapped up on Saturday there was many a dusty rider, with sizable smiles all round, though the track was slightly challenging the consensus was overwhelming amounts of fun.

A photographers life isn't all that bad at times - taking a break from the sun! — A photographers life isn’t all that bad at times – taking a break from the sun!

Todd Palmer pushes hard through a flat corner, holding in a big smile - riders really enjoyed themselves and turn around times were quick! — Todd Palmer pushes hard through a flat corner, holding in a big smile – riders really enjoyed themselves and turn around times were quick!

Race day arrived as did the sun again, though it was warm, the weather was outstanding with perfect blue skies. Morning practice saw a very efficient shuttle send plenty of riders down the hill pre-race runs to dial in any final lines and suss out any rocks that may of moved or appeared late Saturday afternoon.

Sean Frith somehow manages a run after Saturday nights shenanigans... — Sean Frith somehow manages a run after Saturday nights shenanigans…

Jackson White pushes through a corner in the afternoon sun.

Racing began and riders started flowing down the hill, and up the hill! With so much downhill under the belt it takes some getting used to seeing riders go up! Alpine Gravity Elevation allows riders two runs, taking their best run for the final result, meaning ita��s a very fair racing system which allows you to have a mechanical in one run and still be competitive, it also allows for personal competition to try and beat your own time! As the first runs finish up we see Dan MacMunn on top, looking good to keep his unbeaten streak at Alpine Gravity Elevation going.

Dean Lucas navigates through the rocky shoot mid track.

Dean Lucas shows brother Jake Lucas a thing of two about cornering.

The second runs begin there are many more accidents and slip ups as riders become tired and fatigued. this provides excellent entertainment for the spectators in the final valley section near the bottom of the track who see plenty of riders become unstuck, and also plenty stay rubber side down at high speed, which is just as exhilarating.

David Ferroni showing that the big wheels keep up with the rest of the pack!

Chris Panozzo shows off some of the skills which had him looking quick all event.

As racing wrapped up Dan MacMunn took the win keeping that record perfect, followed by Kaine Cannan and wrapping up the podium Dean Lucas.

Dan MacMunn pushes hard in the valley to claim top spot and keep his Alpine Gravity Enduro record perfect.

You can never take the downhiller out, Dean Lucas powers over the line.

Final Podium; Dan MacMunn, Kaine Cannan, Dean Lucas.

Report & images: Jason Stevens Photography

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The Alpine Gravity race at Barjarg, Victoria was held just recently and by all accounts it was a super sweet event.A�Ben Watkins from Alpine Gravity knows how to hold a race, combine it with some of the best tracks going and everyone wins. Check some of the footage from the race if you don’t believe us. David McMillan took out Elite, that is good because Dave is heading overseas soon to take on the rest of the world at the World Cups, so a definite confidence boost for him. Dean Lucas just missed taking the win on his new bike (check out our Inside Info with him hereA�if you haven’t already) so that is also good, as it shows he is comfortable and when he goes overseas with David he should be feeling confident too.

So, the race was good, everyone was happy! But that’s not what this article is all about, we love downhill and it is not just about riding your bike. There are plenty of cases where some of the best times aren’t even your bike! It is the ‘vibe’ of a whole event, as they say. So lets go behind the scenes a little… We all know the fast racersA�seem to have infinite style and skills, plus they always look good on a camera! But what if they were on the other side of the lens? Wouldn’t it be annoying if they were super good at that too? Maybe modern day cameras do all the work? There is always ‘down’ time between practice/seeding and finals (excuse the pun) so with camera in hand let’s see what Andrew Crimmins, David McMillan, Jake Lucas, Joey Vejvoda, Phil Piazza and Timmy Eaton came up with…

A very serious Timmy Eaton gives us his insight to his pre race rituals "Pre race I listen to music and try clear my head and only think about the track, things like my lines and anywhere I've had issues throughout practice and eliminate them mentally". — A very serious looking Timmy Eaton gives us his insight to his pre-race rituals “Pre-race I listen to music and try clear my head and only think about the track, things like my lines and anywhere I’ve had issues throughout practice and eliminate them mentally”.
Solid first photo, we like the lighting on one side of the face.

Cash for comment? David McMillan giving JL Media a plug here and he is not even on the cover! This photo does suffer from a messy background and Dave's head has been slightly cut out, as his elbow... — Cash for comment? David McMillan giving JL Media a plug here and he is not even on the cover!
This photo does suffer from a messy background and Dave’s head has been slightly cut out, as his elbow… Number two is the quality slipping?

A confident Ben Crundwell, unfortunately it wasn't the best weekend for Ben and his Swift Rocky Mountain team, high off the recent signing of Ben Hill (who wasn't at this race) it was a lack luster weekend which saw a puncture and an over the bars experience close out the weekend for the rest of the team. Nice photo as it has captured emotion well and doesn't look fake. — A confident Ben Crundwell, unfortunately it wasn’t the best weekend for Ben and his Swift Rocky Mountain team. High off the recent signing of Ben Hill (who wasn’t at this race), it was a lack luster weekend which saw a puncture and an over the bars experience close out the weekend for the rest of the team.
Nice photo as it has captured emotion well and doesn’t look fake, this saves photo number 2!

What is Luke Ellison’s pre race routine? “Between practice and racing I just try not to be too serious. Just do whatever really, usually stuff that’s funny”
Selfie? Surely the guys haven’t got FB profile pic on us have they? We don’t think so, good depth of field really makes Luke pop here, good stuff guys!

Time for a little bit of a review, David McMillan looks in why Joey Vejvoda reviews the action. Good to see the guys taking their photo challenge seriously and reviewing! — Time for a little bit of a review, David McMillan looks in why Joey Vejvoda reviews the action.
Good to see the guys taking their photo challenge seriously and reviewing! Focus is a little soft but we will let that slide as they are doing the right thing!

Whoa unlucky 13 or maybe it's lucky for some? Luke Ellison suggesting he would prefer the number one plate... Solid photo, nice colour! — Whoa unlucky 13 or maybe it’s lucky for some? Luke Ellison suggesting he would prefer the number one plate…
Solid photo, nice colour!

A not so serious Timmy Eaton, we asked him what should event organisers to do make races more fun or kill time during the day "I like pump track events at the end of the day of practice for a bit of fun! Maybe cutty comps or bar scraping comps would be cool haha". Sounds good to us! Someone has photo bombed the top right of this shot... — A not so serious Timmy Eaton, we asked him what should event organisers to do make races more fun or kill time during the day “I like pump track events at the end of the day of practice for a bit of fun! Maybe cutty comps or bar scraping comps would be cool haha”. Sounds good to us!
Someone has photo bombed the top right of this shot…

So much of downhill is just hanging with your mates, travelling, random laughs and good times, that's why we love it! This shot captures all that, the portaloo adds to it if anything, we have all seen them at the races! — So much of downhill is just hanging with your mates, travelling, random laughs and good times, that’s why we love it!
This shot captures all that, the portaloo adds to it if anything, we have all seen them at the races but not sure what the car door brings to the equation!

Someone has been twisting the dial for this shot, look at that depth of field. Andrew Crimmins practicing his ‘Blue Steel’.
Another well executed profile pic, we mean image!

Oh no what happened here?! A prime example of what happens if you don't get it right, the subject is way out of focus here. The price you pay for sharp shots, this drops the score for the guys... — Oh no what happened here?! A prime example of what happens if you don’t get it right, the subject is way out of focus here. The price you pay for sharp shots, this drops the score for the guys…

that's a better shot of Phil Piazza, really like the lighting, lifts the score back up and on we go! — That’s a better shot of Phil Piazza, really like the lighting, lifts the score back up and on we go!

When you get it right, everyone wants to see!

Very cool David! Nicely framed, good subject matter and golden light this shots a winner! — Very cool David!
Nicely framed, good subject matter and golden light this shots a winner!

Dean Lucas had a busy weekend, was the unveiling of his new bike (which you saw here on downhill247.com) playing on his mind? So much of photography is timing... — Dean Lucas had a busy weekend, was the unveiling of his new bike (which you saw here on downhill247.com) playing on his mind?
So much of photography is timing…

Watch out Europe! This face is coming at you soon... What more needs to be said about this shot haha! — Watch out Europe! This face is coming at you soon…
What more needs to be said about this shot haha!

David McMillan lets everyone know he finished in first place, nice work! The other person (who we guess was asking if David finished first?) has blocked this shot slightly though, in turn lowering its score. — David McMillan lets everyone know he finished in first place, nice work!
The other person (who we guess was asking if David finished first?) has blocked this shot slightly though, in turn lowering its score.

So there we have it, Pick of the Pics, Pro Edition! How did the guys fair? Pretty well, we can’t see the 200 other shots taken to produce these but that is the joy of digital. The next Alpine Gravity race is at Bright, maybe we will get the guys to take shots of moving targets!

Images: Andrew Crimmins, David McMillan, Jake Lucas, Joey Vejvoda, Phil Piazza and Timmy Eaton (just don’t ask who took what! Also thanks to Jason Stevens Photography for the editing!)

Tag: Barjarg

Alpine Gravity Series – Round 1 – Barjarg

Alpine Gravity Series – Round 2 – Barjarg