One of the original and still one of the best enduro series in Australia, the Alpine Gravity series always delivers.
It is on again! The 2014/15 Alpine Gravity Elevation Enduro Series will shortly be upon us, we always love heading out to the races that Ben and his crew put on, in fact talk to any of the riders that have raced one and they will tell you much the same! There are some changes for this upcoming series which will make things even better but we will let this video tell the story;
For more information head over to the Alpine Gravity Facebook page hereA�or head to their websiteA�www.alpinegravity.net
Expect coverage from Downhill247 as usual, see you out there!
Is it just Fox Creek that makes Mother Nature bring the precipitation, you have to think so…
Round 4 of the South Australian Insideline downhill series finds us back at Fox Creek for another weekend of wet and wild racing. Leading into the race with weather forecasts looking worse than average a last minute track change was in order to keep riders flowing all weekend!
There was a last minute track change due to the weather.The locals came out for a look despite the conditions!
Saturday rolled around and found riders all around SA sweeping in to there favorite coffee shops for a morning cuppa before heading out to brave the slick conditions that Patto’s Curse was sure to offer. With plenty of fast off camber, tech switch backs and spectator favorite jumps the track is plenty fun to ride and tested many racers fitness.
There’s always fun to be had on Patto’s Curse, big jumps, rocky corners and some technical sections, all amplified by the weather.
Sunday came around and the weather cleared up mid way through morning practice, making track conditions change dramatically and put last minute tyre changes for some racers at the top of the to do list.
It is all about preparation, some riders were dialing their rigs in for the tough conditions and some just didn’t care!
As racing started first up was elite and under 19 seeding, with mostly familiar names at the top of the list race runs were sure not to disappoint! As riders came down cleaner and cleaner it was sure the track had gone from a mess to hero dirt and times kept inching closer to that sub 2 minute mark.
Times kept dropping as the conditions continued to improve.
Elite women came next and Philippa Rostan put in the fastest time of the field, followed closely by Moira Love and Laura Kelly rounding out the podium.A�As the racing was coming into the business end of things under 19s came down the hill, with the crowd getting rowdy and commentators getting more and more excited. Darcy Grooby came down to put down a smoking time of 2.06.93 to put him into the hot seat. Cameron Heading, Henry Hunt and Drew Gartery came down the hill getting close but no cigar, as Darcy Grooby took out another under 19s podium by a considerable margin of 4.6 seconds.
Darcy Grooby took the win in under 19s with a solid ride.
With only the elite men’s field left at the top of the hill racing got underway and saw times dropping considerably. As racing goes some pushed too much and got caught out, while others managed to stay rubber side down and put down quality race runs. Sully Fleming came down and put down a solid run to put him into the hot seat, only to be knocked off by Conor Clancy by less than half a second. With big names left at the top we were sure to see the bar raised and Luke Reynolds was the first to do so sitting himself into the lead with 5 riders left to go. Cam Ryan once again came down on his trail bike and was the first to break the 2 minute mark for the day with a 1.58.44! With everyone waiting for the top seeded rider to come down it was a green light for Angus Maddern as he crossed the line with a smoking time of 1.57.63 to take out the elite men’s field for round 4 at Fox Creek Patto’s Curse.
Matt Taylor on the hunt.There were still smiles despite the mud (except for whoever had to do the washing!)And maybe not for bike mechanics who would be dealing with the aftermath!Angus Maddern took the win, what a great season he is having and we expect this to continue as the season rolls on.Our intrepid reporter getting into it, jumps for show and style for dough as they say!
That’s all from me, another quality weekend of fast racing done and dusted (or maybe that should be mudded!). See you next time back at Eagle Mountain Bike Park for round 5 of the Insideline mountain bike downhill series!
Words Aaron Pelttari (Aaron would like to thanks Monza Imports, Bicycle Express & Bouwmeester Composites). Images in this article from RFPhotographics like them on FacebookA�hereA�or follow on Instagram @rfphotogrpahics
We thought we had better tell you it’s our 3rd birthday so you can shower us with gifts… Well maybe not but doing some reflection it has been another great year, so with that in mind we compiled some of the highlights over the year that has gone. Enjoy.
We now call this t-shirt the ‘Hero Shirt’ get yours at the downhill247 store! Image John Lloyd
Our most popular photo in Facebook didn’t even feature a bike but it did feature one of our t-shirts! What a story of Jason who had to perform CPR on a member of the public before driving the ambulance to the hospital! When he proceeded to get on National TV he wore a downhill247 t-shirt, what a legend!
This picture of Connor Fearon destroying the dirt at Leogang on his way to his best World Cup result was a real favorite on our Instagram! Of course it was Jason Stevens Photography with the epic capture!
There have been some other highlights, in no particular order; the return of World Cup racing to Australia with the Cairns World Cup, such an epic event! We also enjoyed the Australian National Series and Championships, the Bright National Championships in Victoria had everyone stoked, such a great event! The World Championships in South Africa saw another set of strong results for the Aussies, we had success in the junior female class as well as the senior men. It is not always the ‘big’ events that Downhill247 follows and reports on, local state rounds such as the Insideline series in South Australia or the VicDH series still give us our stoke, hopefully it is the same for you guys!
Cairns World Cup = Epic!
It is not all about looking back though, as we head forward there are some really exciting events coming up, the rest of the 2014 World Cup before the start of the summer racing series here in Australia. As for the site we are busy behind the scenes trying to improve every facet of it. We appreciate your support, the best thing you guys can do for us is like all our articles/posts and share them around! Here we go!
James Tamanika tucking into the mud ridden bottom section of the track.
It’s not called Club Mud for nothing. Round 1 of the King of Ballarat was truly a Club Mud event with over 20mm of rain hitting the clay packed Open Cut Trail. Saturday’s unofficial practice was a mixed day, with a number of soles braving the sub 10 degree temps and harsh winds to get on track and work out the fastest and safest lines in the buttery mess that was in some of the sections of the track. With the official sponsor, Trials Bike, running shuttles in the afternoon, riders started to find their lines and put together their runs for the following day.
Last years overall champ Damon Coutts takes the A line Gap as he was looking to hold onto that Number 1 plate.
As the sun set, the rain came with showers through out the night and the early morning. As the track started to fill up with more and more water, the riders started to rethink their lines. Particularly in the flatter sections where keeping your speed meant keeping the mud out of your gearing and drive train, but did nothing for your clothes, helmets and goggles. Key highlights on track would have to be the new top rock garden which now offered riders a choice of 3 lines in this section. This took a few of the riders eye as a lack speed into the gap left a few bent (or broken) rear rims, plus some of the riders just “like it rough”. The new 40 foot table top was not an option as riders used a variance of techniques on both the A and B lines to keep speed into and use the downside to get up through the iconic wall ride and into the bottom section.
Injury hasn’t held this guy back. On the bike after 12 months away, Trant Beacom flairs the gap A line on his way to a second place finish in A grade.
Once racing started, the rain backed off and riders enjoyed the looseness of the track in front of them. The track help up well considering and this is down to the tireless work, done by the Club Mud team lead by President Jason Weston and treasurer (and senior track builder) Graeme Coutts. Trent Piribouer sat in the top spot for both runs, and eventually took the overall in the men’s Elite from an injury returned Trant Beacom, and young pinner Lauchlan Gibson. Tori Bilney braved all the elements to be the only woman rave enough to tackle the track, and take out the women’s Elite. It should also be said that for the first time since… forever, a Coutts rider didn’t make the top 3 but being locals, no doubt all three will be out for revenge come round 2.
‘Cause I like it rough!!!
Racing was tight in the other categories too, with Angus Penton (u15’s), Jesse Plumridge (Over 35’s), Brandon Kidd (DGrade), Christopher Richards (CGrade), Liam Thomas (BGrade) all coming away with victories.
Rocky Mountain… More like Muddy Hill!Wet and slippery conditions had riders looking at all the lines, event the illegal ones… Oh Scotty!
All in all, people were having fun with over 70+ people attending to race in the very Ballarat-esk Wintery conditions. The event was also extremely well managed as riders got ample runs in practice time before lunch, and racing was proficient in getting riders through both race runs quickly and safely. Big thanks to the Club Mud team for a great start to the series, also thanks to City of Ballarat, Tourisum Ballarat, Major Sponsor TrailsBike.com.au, and Track X for all the support.
The young pinner, Mitchell Tamanika, was fast through the rocks all weekend.Out from behind the camera for a change, Campbell “CamJam” James tries the off camber before the top rock garden.
RESULTS:
Women: Tori Bilney
Under-15: 3rd, Jay Cottrell, 2nd, Adam Treveyan, 1st, Angus Penton
Over-35: 3rd, Andrew Barlow, 2nd, Justin Romanowicz, 1st, Jesse Plumridge
D-grade: 3rd, Jarryd Adaway, 2nd, Jack Reid, 1st, Brandon Kidd
C-grade: 3rd, James Climas, 2nd, Jack Webster, 1st, Christopher Richards
B-grade: 3rd, Hugh Jones, 2nd, Nick Van Lier, 1st, Liam Thomas
A-grade: 3rd, Lachlan Gibson, 2nd, Trant Beacom, 1st, Trent Piribouer
Knolly Knations rider Nick Van Lier gets through the new rock section relatively cleanly.
Downhill in the city! What a sight and the first time this has happened in Australia.
Known to be the first of its kind in Australia and modeled on the shorter Littleton Urban Downhill in New Zealand,A� The Thule Albany Urban Downhill didna��t disappoint.
With a field of over 80 riders from all over the State including top names like Sam Hill and young gun Jackson Davis over from Melbourne and a host of top local riders it was shaping up to be a top class event.A� With a pre-race event on the Saturday evening, a Whip comp off of the finishing ramp next to the Albany Entertainment Centre, the weather did everything it could to try and put an end to proceedings but whatever ever it threw at the organisers a�� they threw it right back, and the crowds – well into the hundreds turned up and braved the conditions to watch the show late into the cold, wet evening.
There was a pre race whip comp with a cool $500 up for grabs!The conditions were trying to say the least…However the crowd was loud and enthusiastic, always what the riders want.
The Whip Comp went ahead into driving rain and howling winds with a gutsy field of just 13 riders judged by Sam Hill and Jackson Davis. A couple of riders bit the dirt and left one, Jordan Prochyra with a pretzel for a front wheel! Byford local Michael Logan took out the comp and a winnera��s cheque for $500 to boot.
Things didn’t quite go right for Jordan Prochyra… Whoops!
Saturdays off-road only practice session was delayed slightly due to last minute track tweaks but eventually got under-way and only a few riders managed to get to the bottom before the rain fell again, and did so for the rest of the day.A� It put paid to my photography but didna��t wipe the smiles from the riders faces who reveled in shuttles back to the cloud covered summit for the next couple of hours to test their mettle.
Dane Van Ryt heads down the track, the weather was testing everyone but you can’t let this put you down, we are mountain bikers after all!Just cruising through the streets and people’s front yards!
A group of tireless organisers, in the meantime set about placing the street features in readiness for A�Sundaya��s 9.00am road closures.
There were some really impressive features that the organisers had put together, it meant road closures but that was all part of the game.
For the Sunday premiere Urban event, the final course preparations began early with ramps put in place in front and after the containers, and a number of wall rides at tight road intersections.A� A car jump on final stretch shot the riders into a ramp up and onto a container with purpose built stairs down the other side next to Dylans Cafe on the Terrace with welcome hot coffee’s!A� The container also allowed spectators to pass underneath though the container itself.A� Novel and awesome all at the same time.
Whoa! Hold it son…
The winds howled as a storm front passed over the Town for seemed like eternity and it once again was casting some serious doubt over the event going ahead.A� Strong winds and container jumps dona��t mix and to add to the issues, crowd control barriers were falling like flies!A� The only major change in proceedings was the course being shortened by a few hundred meters so that riders did not have to cross the narrow over-pass back to the event village into the head on wind whipped up from the South and over Princess Royal Harbour.A� It also meant not getting blown off course on the final jump!
That is a solid, in every sense of the word, berm!Infact all the features on the course seemed quite solid, shipping containers anyone? Awesome!
In the scheme of things it was a minor set-back which no doubt stressed the already nervous organisers, but the street section practice went ahead… and the crowds gathered a�� thousands of them.A� The word was out and so were the locals in Kagools, beanies and scarves who mingled among the hardcore downhill fans with their Cowbells and A�chants of a�?pedal pedal pedala�? and other classic DH heckles!A� Some A�riders sessioned the trickier features and others just blazed on through.
Differnet riders had different approaches on the track, depending on their skill level!
After sorting a few minor safety issues the seeding runs commenced and some fast times started to appear on the clock.
Just after 3pm the race commissaire sent the seeded riders down on their final run from the start at Padre White Lookout on Mt Clarence through the off-road section, sure to impress any Downhill addict – covering a mix of single-track, rocky technical stuff and slippery-when-wet open granite such as the Solar Roller which afforded sweeping views of the town, and a glimpse from on high of the first feature a hundred or so meters below, a wall ride out onto the only uphill black-top pedal before heading down to ramps-a-plenty.A� Not that anyone had time to look up.
Sarah Booth higher up the course before it ducked down into the town.
The crowds had reportedly swelled to in excess of 5,000 people – mainly locals of all ages who whooped and cheered as the gap jumps, hucks and containers never failed to impress, nor did the stacks-a-plenty.
I parked myself at the finish line and pointed my lens at the purpose built stairs to watch the riders descend into the Thule banner clad finish area for the last time.A� One by one they came down and gathered to watch as their set times were eroded little by little as the faster seeded riders popped up the ramp onto the container which doubled as a pedestrian thoroughfare, and shelter underneath.
There was a heart stopping moment as Downhill legend Sam Hill who had seeded third emerged up the ramp obviously pushing hard and clipped the handrail as he tipped over the threshold and down the stairs sending him way off balance.A� At the bottom of the stairs, Hill had almost lost the bike completely but quickly regained his composure to lurch the final 4 or 5 meters over the timing mat with the days fastest time.
Fastest time of the day, unsurprisingly, went to Sam Hill.It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Mr Hill as he got squirrely and knocked over some of the photographers gear!
In doing so, the introspect Hill recorded a time, at just over 4 minutes (and 9 seconds ahead of 2nd place) that was ultimately to give him victory at the first ever Australian Urban Downhill.A� Shane Wode took second place ahead of Jimmy Pritchard who stole that last podium spot.A� Jackson Davis a mere 3 seconds off the pace to finish just off the podium in fourth.A� It did however earn him the fastest under 19 time.
As race director Dave Marshall commented at the closing of the event, addressing the riders, volunteers and spectators alike;A� “today you were a part of history”.A� To some in may sound trite – but it’s a fact.
This WAS the first ever event of its kind in Australia.A� It was version 1.0, it had its glitches but it was a success – a HUGE success.A� In fact it was awesome.
A huge thanks to Dave Marshall, Paul Fage and Adam Halsall and the rest of the surprisingly small Albany Downhill Mountain Bike Club for making me and thousands of others welcome at this inaugural event.
Here’s to Version 2.0 (and warmer weather!).A� Bring it on!
Quite a cool trophy if we say so ourselves…!
Images & report: Jon Lloyd : Photo Creative give them a like on Facebook hereA�or head over toA�www.jlphotocreative.com
Good old ‘Open Cut’ will be the first cab of the rank this series. Image: Jason Stevens Photography
It is that time again folks, time for KOB – King Of Ballarat, traditionally the preseason of racing in Victoria (just like Sea Otter is on the international scene) is upon us again. The races are held in Ballarat (surprise surprise!), just over an hour out of Melbourne and is made up of 3 rounds, all over short course downhill tracks.A�For round one Club Mud is using ‘Open Cut’,A�a mix of chalk and clay, its dusty in the dry, and claggy in the wet. Either way riders always love riding this track! There are a few track changes for 2014; there is a rock garden in the top section, a new heavily fortified berm called the stockade (very Ballarat), a ‘big jump’ which is all we will say about that for now and a few small changes to the bottom section! We are pretty excited for 2014 asA�this season looks to be one of the most exciting, and riders will all enjoy the tracks laid out by the trail builders. Downhill247.com will be bringing you some exclusive images and race reports from the series so keep your eyes peeled, for dates, locations etc. just head over to the Club Mud Facebook page here. For now check out this video fromA�Claudio Calouri, the course preview master;
