Inside Info: Connor Fearon – Hafjell

A slight break since the Mont Sainte Anne World Cup saw Connor off to another awesome Canadian race - Crankworx before heading back to the World Cups. — A slight gap between World Cups after the Mont Sainte Anne World Cup saw Connor off to another awesome Canadian race – Crankworx, before heading to Norway to continue the season.

After Mont Saint Anne World Cup there was about a month gap until the Norway World Cup. In this time I went to Whistler and raced in Crankworx where I scored a 2^nd place in dual slalom and 10^th in the Canadian open. After the event was open I stayed there for a couple weeks riding with my friends from home. This was refreshing to take time off from the world cups and racing in general to just have fun and hang out.

Last year for some reason I didna��t really like the track. There are a few good bike park turns which I like but all the technical sections were awkward slippery rock gardens. This year it was really dry and therefore I liked it a lot better. I was feeling really good in practice straight away. Ia��ve been changing my shock setup a lot recently between a 350 and 400 spring. Sometimes Ia��ll swap back and forwards a few times at a race but here I felt comfortable on the 400 in my first run so it stayed like that.

I was really excited for qualifying and was confident and not too nervous. Unluckily for me I got caught off my line less than a minute into my run and hit my derailleur into a rock which got my chain jammed. This meant I had to coast the rest of the track and actually having to scoot some sections I thought I wouldna��t even qualify. I ended up 55^th and I was left pretty sad thinking of how I could have qualified.

When it came to race day it started to rain heavily. This was not to my discretion and I was a little disappointed as I know Ia��d be stronger in the dusty conditions then in the wet. My practice runs in the morning were pretty good. I didna��t push it too much and tried to keep the same lines I was riding in the dry. In conditions like this every rider is faced with a decision to attack really hard at a high risk of crashing or just try to stay on the bike because a lot of people will crash. I think I opted for the latter but maybe took it too easy. After a couple of bad choices to pull tear offs and a costly mistake in the main rock garden my hopes of a good result here were gone. I ended up 39^th which is a disappointing result. Luckily Ia��m still in the top 30 overall and will try to improve it as much as possible in Leogang.

September 18, 2013

World Cup 5 – Hafjell – Finals

Sunday came and the weather showed up. What an epic day of racing, did anyone see that coming? As the end of the season nears and points become crucial, the weather really threw a spanner in the works for some. Another amazing world cup race, here’s our account. Enjoy, and try not to get mud on you!

Stevie on the gas, he has shown up and performed once again to take the win - taking the World Cup overall isn't out of reach. — Stevie on the gas, he has shown up and performed once again to take the win – taking the World Cup overall isn’t out of reach; Gee’s got some ground to make up with only 17 points between them! Austria is going to be a big race for everyone!

Rachel Atherton had some sketchy moments through the ankle-deep rutted mud in steep forest sections, but here she looks natural and confident. A solid run for Rachel to take 1st place. We bet underneath all that mud there’s a huge grin and wide eyes!

Tracey Hannah went well with 7th place, holding it together with a fast, edgey run. This has got to be a confidence booster for next weekend! — Tracey Hannah went well with 7th place, holding it together with a fast, edgy run. That’s got to be a confidence booster for next weekend!

Troy Brosnan screaming through here, out of the wood section and onward to 10th place, and the best-placed Aussie in Mens ahead of Sam Hill in 15th. — Oi! Oi! Oi! Troy Brosnan screaming through the frame, out of the wood section and onward to 10th place, and the best-placed Aussie in Mens ahead of Sam Hill in 15th. Troy has been up there all season, what will the final round bring?

A tough race for the Aussies I guess you could say we don’t like riding in the wet; “your bike gets muddy” Sam Hill, Schladming 2008. That’s a pretty good assessment.

Here’s how the Elite Men lined up at the bottom in Norway:

Mens Finals:

1. Stevie Smith 3.40.174

2. Danny Hart 3.41.815 + 0.110

3. Andrew Neethling 3.42.957 + 1.837

4. Samuel Blekinsop 3.44.039 + 2.527

5. Greg Minnaar 3.44.163 +2.594

a��

10. Troy Brosnan 3.47.544 + 3.251

15. Sam Hill 3.49.926 + 4.904

28. Michael Hannah 3.54.323 + 14.720

29. Jack Moir 3.55.102 + 16.370

39. Connor Fearon A�3.57.916 + 18.994

UK rider Michael Jones took the Junior Men's title by a comfortable 3 seconds. Amongst the carnage and mud he held it together and it paid off. — UK rider Michael Jones took the Junior Men’s title by a comfortable 3 seconds. Amongst the carnage and mud he held it together and it paid off.

Dean Lucas came in 29th place, keeping it together and dirtying up the Aussie kit. Dean will be out there for the win next week in Leogang, more exciting racing action!

Will the weather have a say in deciding the World Cup Champion? We’ll catch you in Leogang, Austria to find out. Stay tuned!

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September 16, 2013

World Cup 5 – Hafjell – Qualifying

A fresh set of stripes for the newly crowned World Champ, Rachel Atherton put down a strong display in qualifying to take first place by just under a second. Emmeline Ragot and her 27.5" wheeled Lapierre right behind her! — A fresh set of stripes for the newly crowned World Champ, Rachel Atherton put down a strong display in qualifying to take first place by just under a second. Emmeline Ragot and her 27.5″ wheeled Lapierre right behind her!

Well qualifying here in Norway has revealed a super tight field with the top 10 being separated by less than 5 seconds! In the end it was another dominant performance by the Athertons with Gee and Rachel sitting atop of their respective classes.

The man to beat in the World Cup series this year, Gee Atherton, took the fastest qualifying spot by just over 0.1 seconds, he will have to throw down faster come Sunday to keep the rest of the pack from bettering him.

Mens Qualifying:

1. Gee Atherton 3.30.051

2. Mik Hannah 3.30.161 + 0.110

3. Loic Bruni 3.31.888 + 1.837

4. Greg Minnaar 3.32.578 + 2.527

5. Stevie Smith 3.32.645 +2.594

…

6. Troy Brosnan 3.33.302 + 3.251

10. Sam Hill 3.34.955 + 4.904

43. Jack Moir 3.44.771 + 14.720

55. Connor Fearon 3.46.421 + 16.370

72. David McMillan A�3.49.045 + 18.994

99. Chris Kovarik 3.56.466 + 26.415

101. Sean McCarroll 3.56.901 + 26.850

Three Aussies in the top 10 is always good! Loic Bruni looks like he is really stepping it up for third, will he come through on race day? Jack Moir continues to impress, this time with a 43rd. We know Connor Fearon doesn’t rate this as his favourite track, struggling to find his flow on it and stoked to see David McMillan sneak into the top 80 in 72nd place.

Frustrating wouldn't even begin to explain what Chris Kovarik would be feeling when he punctured near the bottom of the course, missing qualifying by 19 places. His partner in crime, Claire Buchar, qualified 8th in the woman's field. — Frustrating wouldn’t even begin to explain what Chris Kovarik would be feeling when he punctured near the bottom of the course, missing qualifying by 19 places. His partner in crime, Claire Buchar, qualified 8th in the woman’s field.

Australia’s sole female competitor, Tracey Hannah qualified 5th after missing this round last year due to injury, she would be expecting a podium this week and we all know she is capable of doing so!

Just like brother Mic, Tracey Hannah is looking stron on course too, fifth in qualifying should set her up nicely for a podium this weekend. — Just like brother Mic, Tracey Hannah is looking strong on course too, fifth in qualifying should set her up nicely for a podium this weekend.

Junior men saw Dean Lucas, who is battling for the overall, qualify 9th 7.944 seconds back and Luke Ellison had a shocking run coming in last in 42nd place but he qualifies to line up for finals come Sunday.

Dean Lucas on the hunt, he wants that junior overall jersey!

Sam Hill clearly impressing a few spectators on what is really the only new section on the course - a jump over the cross country track! — Sam Hill clearly impressing a few spectators on what is really the only new section on the course – a jump over the cross country track!

So what’s left now? A few more training sessions then race day! Check back soon.

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September 14, 2013

World Cup 5 – Hafjell – Practice Day 1

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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September 13, 2013

Inside Info: Connor Fearon – Hafjell

downhill247com Hafjell D2 Fearon1 — Connor Fearon was having fun on some of the big jumps in Norway, the added style was a bonus for everyone watching!

We finish our wrap up of the 2012 World Cup series with Connor Fearon’s Inside Info from Hafjell, Norway. This is what he had to say;

Norway was the final round for the season and I was hoping to finish it off on a high note. The team got to Hafjell a few days prior to the race. Turns out there nothing to do there when ita��s freezing cold and raining. Despite being labelled a�?Europea��s #1 bike parka�? it turned out to be below average and we couldna��t ride the race track until official practice. The exchange rate there is through the roof as well it felt like I spent more coin in the last week in Norway than the other 4 months of the tripa��

So the start of the week wasna��t all that exciting I was hoping I would cheer up after walking the race track on day 1. The track has a few different sections. Some jumps and corners in the open sections I really liked. Once the track weaved into the wooded sections it became my nemesis, it got pretty slow, technical and awkward. Definitely far from my preferred type of course.

downhill247com WC7 D4 Fearon1 — Connor hitting the main rock garden (or jungle as it was being referred to!) on the course, not sure if that is optimum foot/pedal position this time round!

During practice I tried my hardest to pick lines that would open up the track a little bit even if it meant going over rocks and taking wider corners. The coolest obstacle on the track was the massive natural gap halfway down the track. I dona��t think the course builders meant for this to be jumped but it happened anyway. I hit the gap in practice and race run for the fans even though I cased it every time and might have been slower it was still the most fun I had on the track!

My race run was pretty solid until the last sections of the track where the wind picked up a lot and it felt like I was going backwards. I got blown badly by the wind on the last jump and almost crashed, doing this I stomped the ground pretty hard with my leg and hurt my knee which stopped me from pedalling to the finish. I got 38^th position in the end which was disappointing because I moved back in the overall (Although beating Peaty still who had a problem in his run).

So my first full world cup series is done and dusted and Ia��m just about ready to head home now! Ia��ve learnt a lot in this season that will help me improve myself for the next world cup season. For now ita��s time to go back to Australia just in time for summer, have a good off season and come out swinging next year!

So Connor’s last race of the season might not have quite gone to plan but he still finished up 34th in the overall, combined with his 3rd place at World Championships, that’s a very impressive season! What will happen next year, downhill247.com will keep you in the loop!

September 20, 2012

World Cup 7 – Round Up – Hajfell

downhill247comthibautru — Wild times here in Norway, as Thibaut Ruffian proves, drifting his way around one of the grassy turns on the track!

The race here inA�Norway ran to a different scheduleA�compared to the six previous World Cups.A�With it being it the last race of the season apparently the decision was made to hold the finals on Saturday allowing spectators to party on Saturday. The flip side of this is that crowd numbers were possibly a little less as the locals had to work on Friday!

Elite Men:

1. Steve Smith 3.31.76

2. George Brannigan 3.32.16 + 0.40

3. Greg Minnaar 3.33.90A�+ 2.13

4. Gee Atherton 3.34.05 + 2.29

5. Nick Beer 3.34.90 + 3.13

…

7. Sam Hill 3.36.51 + 4.75

11. Mic Hannah 3.37.41 + 5.64

20. Bryn Atkinson 3.39.06 + 7.30

38. Connor Fearon 3.43.12 + 11.36

47. Mitch Delfs 3.46.50 + 14.73