Tag: Beerburrum

South East Queensland Downhill Series Round 6 a�� Beerburrum

After some early season venue shuffling, Sunday the 16th of August saw riders heading toA�Beerburrum in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland for Round 6 of the series run by the Da��Aguilar RangeA�Cycling Club (DRCC). This venue is often met with mixed opinions and some of the more skilledA�racers wonder if ita��s worthy of the term a�?downhilla�� with the riders gaining minimal elevation on theA�shuttles up to the start gate. However this lack of elevation and technical terrain gives youngerA�riders and some of the less confident women a chance to hit some higher speeds and build someA�confidence for the final round and then the end-of-year goal of state champs. Entry costs wereA�slashed right down to $20 for U/15 and U/17 which no doubt was partly the reason for the bigA�turnout of the next generation of champions.

Giant Glorya��s are one of the most popular bikes in the SEQDH series and by the end of the day the Elite Mena��s podium would see three riders arrive there onboard one of the newly design 2015 models.
Giant Glorya��s are one of the most popular bikes in the SEQDH series and by the end of the day the Elite Mena��s podium would see three riders arrive there onboard one of the newly designed 2015 models.
Eventual U/19s winner Loic Fery leads the Ashgrove Cycles team out for their first practice run of the day.
Eventual U/19s winner Loic Fery leads the Ashgrove Cycles team out for their first practice run of the day.

The drop-in from the start is relatively straight forward, a few small down slopes that riders try toA�pump or pre-jump to transfer down for some extra speed mixed with some turns and jumps, thisA�continues for a few hundred metres until riders reach the much talked about blown out corners.

Adam Meara aboard his Scott Voltage.
Adam Meara aboard his Scott Voltage.
Ben Power was hitting practice hard and was without a doubt the fastest all morning which translated into the win for Elite Men.
Ben Power was hitting practice hard and was without a doubt the fastest all morning which
translated into the win for Elite Men.
Kim Bishop railing one of the most talked about turns on the track.
Kim Bishop railing one of the most talked about turns on the track.
Sam Fraser hit this rutted out and dusty berm lower and faster than anyone I saw all day.
Sam Fraser hit this rutted out and dusty berm lower and faster than anyone I saw all day.

After this initial part of the track the pedalling starts, and it doesna��t end until the finish for the fastest riders. Thata��s part of the beauty of this track, the lack of technical difficulty may make it seemA�boring to some racers but in a racing sense the course is almost unbeatable for the battle to beA�had between competitors as the times are so tight at the end of the day. Riders have to create theirA�own momentum for any jumps or small rock sections throughout the remainder of the course.

Tim Abbott returned to the race scene after a long time between drinks and managed to take the win in Expert Men.
Tim Abbott returned to the race scene after a long time between drinks and managed to take the win in Expert Men.
1/15th of Matt Searle as he puts down a few pedal strokes on one of the many flat sections on the track.
1/15th of Matt Searle as he puts down a few pedal strokes on one of the many flat sections on the track.
Nathan Cubit hitting the berms midway down through the course.
Nathan Cubit hitting the berms midway down through the course.
After practice on Saturday and plenty of practice runs on Sunday before finals, no turn was without a layer of loose dust and marbly gravel which kept the riders on their toes.
After practice on Saturday and plenty of practice runs on Sunday before finals, no turn was
without a layer of loose dust and marbly gravel which kept the riders on their toes.
Ben Power - full focus!
Ben Power – full focus!
Hugo Thompson scrubbing the first of the mid-track rock sections.
Hugo Thompson scrubbing the first of the mid-track rock sections.
Cameron Cubit chose his Enduro over his Demo on the day - this track had a few riders changing from their DH sleds to a more trail oriented setup.
Cameron Cubit chose his Enduro over his Demo on the day – this track had a few riders changing from their DH sleds to a more trail oriented setup.
Ryan Leutton keeping it tight and low in practice.
Ryan Leutton keeping it tight and low in practice.

The final third of the track is where riders initially start to get a small amount of gravity-fed speed inA�the form of some small rock drops but then ita��s straight into the pedal-strokes again through anA�endless array of turns where exit speed is key to getting through them smoothly.

Without much elevation the main vertical descent was gained through two rock sections after the halfway points.
Without much elevation the main vertical descent was gained through two rock sections after the halfway points.
The young guns were out in force and with a relatively straight forward track they were hitting all the lines that the big boys took.
The young guns were out in force and with a relatively straight forward track they were hitting all the lines that the big boys took.
You expect one of three things when Sam Fraser hits a jump: a whip, a backflip onto the podium, or thisa��
You expect one of three things when Sam Fraser hits a jump: a whip, a backflip onto the
podium, or thisa��
Joshua Bosschieter tackles the final berm section of the track.
Joshua Bosschieter tackles the final berm section of the track.
Full concentration painted on Ryan Biggsa�� face.
Full concentration painted on Ryan Biggsa�� face.
Jerry Armstrong jumping the inside line before plunging into the steepest part of the track a few turns later.
Jerry Armstrong jumping the inside line before plunging into the steepest part of the track a few turns later.
With races being won on 29er hardtails on this track in the past it was no surprise to see Mark Whiting ripping up the course aboard his 29er Remedy.
With races being won on 29er hardtails on this track in the past it was no surprise to see Mark
Whiting ripping up the course aboard his 29er Remedy.

The track then opens up to the most prominent vertical descent of the course where riders get aA�chance to get a bit creative with their line choice in an effort to hit the final long flat section with asA�much speed as possible.

The rock garden is the steepest part of the track - a�?steepa�� is probably an overstatement but there is plenty of different lines to separate the best from the rest.
The rock garden is the steepest part of the track – a�?steepa�� is probably an overstatement but
there is plenty of different lines to separate the best from the rest.
The simplicity of the track led to a bigger turnout in the Womena��s race than previously seen this season.
The simplicity of the track led to a bigger turnout in the Womena��s race than previously seen this season.

The final section of the track is where riders aim to stay off the brakes as much as possible and putA�in some final cranks to keep their momentum through the small drops and jumps before a final setA�of turns and the last minute dash to the line.

Loic Fery is no stranger to the top step of the podium in the local and national enduro races and he managed to climb to the top in U/19s on the day for his first win of the series.
Loic Fery is no stranger to the top step of the podium in the local and national enduro races
and he managed to climb to the top in U/19s on the day for his first win of the series.
Mick Dopson from Brisbane Mountain Bike Shuttles has no problem throwing around his carbon V10.
Mick Dopson from Brisbane Mountain Bike Shuttles has no problem throwing around his carbon V10.
Jacob Reeves was able to claim second in Elite Mens and was only 1.7 seconds back from Ben Power.
Jacob Reeves was able to claim second in Elite Mens and was only 1.7 seconds back from
Ben Power.
Mark Whiting sending it over a section of roots on the final high speed section of the track.
Mark Whiting sending it over a section of roots on the final high speed section of the track.
Jordan Clements scrubbing hard on his way to third place in U/17.
Jordan Clements scrubbing hard on his way to third place in U/17.
Ben Power was the last man down the hill, an all too common occurrence this year.
Ben Power was the last man down the hill, an all too common occurrence this year.

Round 6 saw Ben Power claim his 5th win of the season (after 5 starts) in Elite Men and no doubt ifA�he hadna��t have missed a round earlier in the year he would have an unassailable points lead but asA�it currently stands there are a few riders like Ryan Leutton and Jacob Reeves who have theA�possibility of overtaking him in the overall at the final round in a few weeks time if he slips up.

Undefeated from the 5 rounds that he has raced this year - Ben Power has every right to be smiling
Undefeated from the 5 rounds that he has raced this year – Ben Power has every right to be smiling

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

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