Mt Stromlo – Australian National Round 2

For round 2 of the Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) national series we head to the nation’s capital, Canberra and Mount Stromlo. This park has held world championships, world cups, countless national and state races so it is a well known beast. A lot of riders have commented that it is fun to ride but hard to race, especially with the large sprint at the end. With the first days of practice done we have RF Photographics giving us a run down on the event so far.

We have love for all the media crew that bring you images and videos of the section, shout outs to you all!

There was plenty of line choice/discussion near the top of the track as riders could gain valuable seconds here.

The competition in the women's class is going to be tight. — The competition in the women’s class is going to be tight.

Chris Kovarik was smashing out runs all day, definitely a force to be reckoned with this weekend!

Guess who's bike.... — Guess who’s bike….

Maybe there was an unofficial whip competition?

It seems fitting to fly the flag in the nation's capital for a national round! — It seems fitting to fly the flag in the nation’s capital for a national round!

Check back soon for more action.

Words & images: RFPhotographics (FacebookA�hereA�or follow on Instagram @rfphotographics).

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December 12, 2015

Cannonball Festival – Day 3 – Thredbo

Cannonball Festival Day 3 - Australian Open Downhill! — Cannonball Festival Day 3 – Australian Open Downhill!

Day 3a��the grand finale to wrap up an outstanding weekend of riding and it certainly didn’t disappoint! A legendary track, one that will beat you and your bike up if you don’t pay it respect! That said it is a blast if you get it all right…

Angus Maddern can handle the track, make no mistake of that!

Troy Brosnan had qualified first the day before so he was the man to beatA� but with such a stacked field of talented riders from Australia and overseas it was anyone’s race to win. In the woman’s Tegan Molloy had qualified first and was set to take the win in all the events she had entered.

Troy Brosnan qualified first but there was no shortage of riders that could win it! Including the one in front of him here, Sam Hill!

Tegan Molloy was on track to take a clean sweep of all the events after qualifying first.

With the final practice done and dusted it was time to race! There were a large number of contestants and the majoirty had a great time (there were a few crashes but overall it is a fair bet they still enjoyed themselves in the grand scheme of things).

Dare we say a few old hands of the game?!

It was great to see Jack Moir back riding fast!

As the times dropped and the speeds got faster it was both Tegan and Troy who both took the win. Conor Fearon came in second after a gnarly crash in practice up on one of the big senders. Sam Hill Rounded out the podium. Tegan was joined on the podium by Sian Ahern and Lisa Mathison.

Troy Brosnan won and took home the cheque for 5K.

Connor Fearon had a huge dig in the last practice of the day, he walked away with a huge graze. He overcame that and finished 2nd.

It was good to see a strong field of women, in the end Tegan Molloy took the win but there was some competition for her!

Well this rounds out the coverage from the 2015 Canonball festival, its been a superb weekend organised by Thredbo MTB team with non stop action all weekend long. If you haven’t made it out to this event definitely put it on your hit list.

Words & images: RFPhotographics (FacebookA�hereA�or follow on Instagram @rfphotographics).

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December 8, 2015

Cannonball Festival a�� Day 2 a�� Thredbo

Cannonball Festival Day 2 - Flow Cup, Downhill Seeding & Whipoff — Cannonball Festival Day 2 – Flow Cup, Downhill Seeding & Whipoff

Day 2 was another busy day of events beginning with the Maxxis Flow Motion Cup, one run down the 8min Koziosko Flow Trail, this was one for the enduro bikes to come out and play.A�The course over the weekend had become dry, rough and dusty with the pounding of practice.

Tom Crimmins took the pro men win and Tegan Molloy once again won the pro woman.

It was Giant Australia's Tom Crimmins who took the win. — It was Giant Australia’s Tom Crimmins who took the win.

Tegan Molloy took the win in the female class.

The next event on the cards what the ODI Whip Wars, with riders throwing down the biggest, most stylish whips and any different tricks being awarded $50 notes if the crowd approved. Connor Fearon was the one judged to have the best whips on the day taking them past 90 on all occasions but really closely followed by Mayhem Dave McMillan. Also throwing down some of the biggest whips on the day.

Well it wasn't all whips... — Well it wasn’t all whips…

The 'import' rider of the weekend was Luca Shaw and he put in a good showing! — The ‘import’ rider of the weekend was Luca Shaw and he put in a good showing!

Connor Fearon took the win, not hard to see... — Connor Fearon took the win, not hard to see…

One legger from David 'Mayhem' McMillan. — One legger from David ‘Mayhem’ McMillan.

Stay tuned for Day A�3 action with the Toyota Australian open downhill to come.

Words & images: RFPhotographics (FacebookA�hereA�or follow on Instagram @rfphotographics).

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December 7, 2015

Cannonball Festival – Day 1 – Thredbo

Back in Thredbo for one the biggest mountain bike events on the Australian calendar!

Day 1 of the biggest downhill orientated mountain bike festival in Australia certainly lived up to its name. Kicking off the events for the weekend was the SRAM Dual Compressor, a 4X style knockout competition.A�Not to be confused with dual slalom, riders don’t have to stay in lanes they are free to go where ever they want, and of course rubbing is sometimes racing.A�The course offered up a variety of features from flat cut grass corners to berms, inside lines and kickers everywhere for the riders to scrub.A�Racing was close with many close battles witnessed.A�Taking out the pro men was none other than Blake Nielsen and taking out the Pro Woman was Tegan Molloy.

There was some great racing during the dual compressor.

Tegan Molloy took the win in the women's class. — Tegan Molloy took the win in the women’s class.

Blake Nielsen took the win in the men's class. — Blake Nielsen took the win in the men’s class.

Subsequently everyone wanted a piece of the action!

As the sunset and the lights came on to host the Rockshox Pumptrack Challenge.A�A freshly built course modeled after the courses seen in Rotorua and Whistler, made by the guys at Dirt Art.A�The course performed brilliantly allowing riders to tip into the corners at max angle and gain huge speed out. The riders raced against the clock with the top 5 progressing to a shootout to decide the winner. Again it was close racing with Remy Morton taking out the winA�and once again Tegan Molloy took out the pro woman.

Work was done to get the pump track dialed!

As the sun went down the riding heated up.... (sorry that was a shocker!) — As the sun went down the riding heated up…. (sorry that was a shocker!)

The crowd was kept entertained whether there were riders on track or not!

For full results see Thredbo MTB

Stay tuned for Day 2 & 3 action with the Maxxis Flow Motion Cup, ODI Whip Wars and Toyota Australian open downhill to come.

Words & images: RFPhotographics (FacebookA�hereA�or follow on Instagram @rfphotographics).

Get more content onA�FacebookA�orA�follow us on Instagram: @downhill247

December 6, 2015

Asia Pacific Downhill Challenge 2015 – Indonesia

We have been following the Asia Pacific Downhill Challenge (APDHC) over the years now and each year it continues to get more and more popular. This year names like McDonald, Thirion, Masters and Davis were all on the island battling it out. Even though it is their off season the riders love racing the event, the track is tough yet fun but more importantly the fans go wild! The location is amazing (who wouldn’t want to be riding their bike on a tropical island) and the hosts always go all out to ensure a good time is had.

Brook MacDonald was one of the riders that made the journey over.

There were a range of riders competing from locally and abroad.

The locals definitely got the biggest cheer!

For the riders who came in from abroad the humidity was a big challenge, the heat sapping energy at a rate of knots! We have a selction of pictures from the event for you to enjoy:

The loose dirt was a lot of fun, some years have seen torrential rain, not this time!

There were some brutal crashes, healing vibes to those riders!

The win was taken by reigning champion Remi Thirion, Thibaut Ruffin was second making it a Commencal 1-2,A�Wyn Masters claimed third, fourth was Hajime ImotoA�and young Jackson Davis was 5th.A�Brook MacDonald crashed out of contention.

Remi Thirion did the double and backed up his win from last year.

Next year promises to be even bigger and better!

Images: Hiroyuki NakagawaA�on Instagram: @ngawa

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November 5, 2015

QLD State Championships – Toowoomba

It all started with Saturday practice - Sam Fraser was one of the first on track and looked pinned from the start. — It all started with Saturday practice – Sam Fraser was one of the first on track and looked
pinned from the start.

The 2015 Queensland State Championships were run by the Toowoomba Mountain Bike Club
along with the support of key sponsor Zelvy Carbon. Racers from all over South-East Queensland
congregated at Toowoomba on the 27th of September to put it all on the line for one chance at
becoming the State Champion for 2015. The track was different to anything the racers had faced
all year however the biggest obstacle wasna��t found on the trail. The hardest thing for the racers to
wrap their head around was how they were going to get enough practice laps in to gain a good
feeling for the track with shuttles taking up to and over thirty minutes to reach the top of the
mountain. Most riders took advantage of slightly faster self-shuttles on the Saturday before race
day in order to gain a better grasp of what they were up against. The culmination of good weather,
a decent-sized crowd, and the willingness of riders to hang it all out for the last race of the year led
to a fantastic event to finish off the 2015 Downhill Season.

There were plenty of U/15s shuttling endless mega-trains all Saturday: Caleb Rees sends it off a rock kicker with an endless landing. — There were plenty of U/15s shuttling endless mega-trains all Saturday: Caleb Rees sends it off
a rock kicker with an endless landing.

Warrick McNab about to duck into an endless section of switchbacks.

The mid-section of the track cuts a loose path of berms and jumps through the dry scrub.

Riders couldna��t let their concentration slip as they rode through a wide range of different surfaces: from loose shaley turns to hard-packed berms. — Riders couldna��t let their concentration slip as they rode through a wide range of different
surfaces: from loose shaley turns to hard-packed berms.

SEQDH Overall Series Champion Ben Power squeezed in plenty of runs on Saturday and was looking comfortable all day. — SEQDH Overall Series Champion Ben Power squeezed in plenty of runs on Saturday and was
looking comfortable all day.

Harry Bush fresh off some World Cup and World Champs experience.

Loose dust littered with rocks. Whata��s not to love?

Ben Powera��s usual tactics of hitting lines that no other riders even know are there didna��t go unnoticed. — Ben Powera��s usual tactics of hitting lines that no other riders even know are there didna��t go
unnoticed.

Kylie Jackson was looking quick throughout Saturday practice.

Alex Schoonder gapping over a few transitions near the top of the track.

Jake Mitchell ended Saturday practice with a trip to the hospital and came back on Sunday to make his way up the track in crutches to cheer on (heckle) those who made it through the day in one piece. — Jake Mitchell ended Saturday practice with a trip to the hospital and came back on Sunday to
make his way up the track in crutches to cheer on (heckle) those who made it through the day in one piece.

Jack Wright keeping low near the bottom of the track as he caps off Saturday practice.

Sam Fraser making a few bike setup changes prior to hitting the track for a few more practice runs on Sunday before the racing started. — Sam Fraser making a few bike setup changes prior to hitting the track for a few more practice
runs on Sunday before the racing started.

Luke Butcher styling it out on the final jump.

Michael Dopson didna��t end the day as planned - a big crash on the final jump has set him off the bike for quite some time. — Michael Dopson didna��t end the day as planned – a big crash on the final jump has set him off
the bike for quite some time.

Remy a�?Rem Dawga�� Morton nosing her in post-scrub.

Ben Power seamlessly carried his pace from Saturday practice over to Sunday practice and ultimately into race runs as well. — Ben Power seamlessly carried his pace from Saturday practice over to Sunday practice and
ultimately into race runs as well.

Harrison Reibelt aboard his Glory Advanced.

Tracey Knight ended up with 3rd on the day.

Graeme Reid had an extremely unusual race run. He caught the rider in front of him in the worst place possible and they both ended up on the ground at the bottom of possibly the most technical part of the track. — Graeme Reid had an extremely unusual race run. He caught the rider in front of him in the
worst place possible and they both ended up on the ground at the bottom of possibly the most
technical part of the track.

Max Warshawsky scanned the a�?rock gardena�� for at least 15 minutes on Sunday after a full day of practice on Saturday and it payed off with an extremely pinned exit on this practice run. — Max Warshawsky scanned the a�?rock gardena�� for at least 15 minutes on Sunday after a full day
of practice on Saturday and it payed off with an extremely pinned exit on this practice run.

With practice nearly over it was quicker to walk up to some of the more technical spots to find some last minute lines than to catch the long shuttle to the top. — With practice nearly over it was quicker to walk up to some of the more technical spots to find
some last minute lines than to catch the long shuttle to the top.

Jacob Reeves - full concentration. — Jacob Reeves – full concentration.

Daniel Neumann drifting towards the trees.

Max Warshawsky taking off in his seeding run.

Lisa Mathison was crowned 2015 State Champion for Elite Women/.

Tom Searle keeping it tight and low through a section of loose berms, — Tom Searle keeping it tight and low through a section of loose berms.

The rock garden was where the majority of spectators chose to watch race runs.

Off-camber and high speed - with tonnes of different lines available racers were able to tailor the track to meet their strengths. — Off-camber and high speed – with tonnes of different lines available racers were able to tailor
the track to meet their strengths.

Daniel Hallam swinging it out and scoping a spot to land.

Jacob Reeves on his a�?loosest run evera�?.

Sam Fraser ended up with 4th in Elite Men when it all counted.

Max Warshawsky sending it big in his final run of the day!

Ben Power claimed his plate number with a 2nd in Elite Men.

Almost as soon as the final rider crossed the line it started to rain and eventually hail prior to presentations. — Almost as soon as the final rider crossed the line it started to rain and eventually hail prior to
presentations.

2015 Zelvy Carbon Elite Men State Champ - Max Warshawksy. — 2015 Zelvy Carbon Elite Men State Champ – Max Warshawksy.

Images and report: Cooper Messery Photography (FacebookA�hereA�or Instagram @cooper_messery)

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October 26, 2015