The Red Ass NSW State series kicked off over the weekend on Thredboa��s famous Cannonball run. With around 250 riders making their way down, to get some early season points in, it was going to be a wicked weekend of racing. Saturday would also play host to the Flow Rollercoaster NSW State Champs, on Thredboa��s new 5.6km beginner downhill, followed by a Pump Track Challenge in the evening!
Saturday saw practice get underway under bluebird skies but these were set to change quickly. Riders started getting some good practice runs in early in the day to try and beat that famous Thredbo arm pump come race day.
Jack Moir unfortunately had a crash in Saturday practice and ended up with quite a large cut on his ankle which ruled him out for the DH on Sunday.
The sun rose over Thredbo on the Sunday and we knew we were in for some fast racing. Saturdaya��s rain had left the track in near perfect condition on Sunday morning and riders were punching out laps like there was no tomorrow with grins to be seen everywhere. As a few sneaky race lines started to form on the hill, the talk in the pits was about who your money was on for Elite Men, now that hot favourite Jack Moir was out. The Crimminsa�� brothers were on everyonea��s minds as they had the home track advantage. As was Ben Cory, who is always one to watch at Thredbo and not forgetting the likes of McMillan, Vejvoda, Ellison and Eaton who was returning to racing from an injury.
Qualifying got underway in the Under 19a��s and it was Joel Willis who would take the top spot ahead of Ryan Oa��linn & Jackson Frew. In the Elite Female, Tegan Molloy showed her dominance in Thredbo to qualify first by over 25 seconds ahead of Danielle Beecroft & Kellie Weinert. In the mena��s it was Andrew Crimmins in 3rd, Vejvoda 2nd & Thomas Crimmins 1st. We were in for a family showdown!
Finals got underway with Under 19a��s off first. Ben Dengate set a blistering time early in the field and held the hot seat for the majority of Under 19a��s race, up until the final 2 riders. Ryan Oa��Linn then crossed the line nearly 6 seconds up on Dengate to take the hot seat. It was only Joel Willis who could now snatch the win from Oa��Linn and thata��s just what he did. Joel Willis crossing with a 5:50.73 to get the Under 19a��s win.
Next up were Elite Female riders. Sarah Booth set the early pace putting down a 6:44.47. Young Kellie Weinert was next and was just short of Booths time crossing 0.13 shy.
Danielle Beecroft then smashed Booths time by 10 seconds to go into the hot seat but was still 13 seconds back on Molloya��s qualifying time.
Tegan boosted from the final trees way up on Beecrofta��s time to cross in a 6:16.03. It is so good to see such close and competitive racing in the female classes. 3 of the top 4 girls are all 18 & under and putting down sub 7 minute times at Thredbo. WOW!
It was now time for the main event, the Elite Mena��s field were about to put damage into the Thredbo downhill. Phil Piazza set the early pace putting down a 5:38 to go into the hot seat. Thredbo local Tim Windshuttle was on for a good run but had a crash and fell just short of Piazza.
Tim Eaton then had a crack in his return to racing after an elbow injury but also fell short of Piazza. Jake Newell then came down to put nearly 5 seconds into Piazzas time and claim the hot seat. This didna��t last for long though as Ben Cory set a blistering time crossing the line slightly faster than Crimmina��s qualifying time of 5:31. Luke Ellison then sprinted to the line to slip in just behind Cory.
Dave McMillan whipped his way through the final jumps to nudge Cory to 2nd by only half a second.
Andrew Crimmins racing his first ever Elite race came flying into the finish arena on the run of his life. The crowd erupted as the 15 year old smashed McMillana��s time by 3 seconds. The machine that is Joey Vejvoda had some work to do and he came so close to knocking off junior Crimmins but fell just short with a 5:28. The look on Andrews face was indescribable, knowing in his first ever Elite race, that the only one that could take the title from him was his older brother. It was now confirmed that it could be the Crimmins brothers on the 2 top steps today!
All eyes were now on the final trees to see what Thomas a�?The Guna�? Crimmins could pull off. He launched from the final trees and it was going to be close, real close. He sprinted to the line to cross 0.59 of a second in front of his younger brother. Too see two brothers aged 15 & 17 taking out 1st & 2nd respectively in an Elite field is just unbelievable! The last 10 minutes had just been the most exciting racing I think we had ever seen in Thredbo.
Times were getting faster and faster and in the end a family showdown which nearly brought mum & dad to tears!
T. Crimmins 1st, A. Crimmins 2nd, Vejvoda 3rd, McMillan 4th, Cory 5th. Ironically the top 3 riders are all from the tiny town of Bredbo located between Thredbo & Canberra. Whata��s in the water in Bredbo you ask? Not sure as I dona��t think its drinkable!
Images and Story: A� RonnieGrammatica.com (http://www.ronniegrammatica.com)