dh racing!

photo by Nick Lambert

wow what a week!!!!
i went to test ride Mike Styli's bullit and check out how scary the downhill course is on tuesday with my friend Jo. Jo proofed herself as the mean downhill coach, she showed me all the do-able lines and i managed to get down the dh course pretty safe and with a huge grin on my face :) man it's soooo much fun and not as hard as i first thought (as long as you go a slow pace). it's pretty scary when you look back up the trail and see how steep the trail is you have just ridden down but even more rewarding too.
Jo and i ended up doing a whole day of shuttles (10 runs) and we almost went back for more that evening, we were so amped that we didn't realise how tired we were from the intense riding. Alice and Jo convinced me that it would be great fun to enter the dh race on saturday (just for fun and to hang out together). i had no bike but Budge said it was sweet for me to ride his black beauty (a mean bullit too!). thanks HEAPS Budge :)
Jo and i went back to the dh on wednesday morning but were riding pretty badly which surprised us but the boys at the shop made us aware that 10 shuttle runs in one day (if you are not used to it) is a lot and it's pretty normal to feel rather tired the next day.
i went back on thursday night (first time with my own helmet and armer - no more borrowing other peoples protective gear, yay! thanks Bike Culture!) and had a few more good runs and got used to Budge's bike.
every night i was dreaming of lines and riding the dh bike - man it's pretty intense and i felt pretty smoked from the few shuttle runs and the riding in my dreams.

race day was great! other then that Jo injured herself and wasn't able to race, this really sucked!
it's very nerve wrecking when you line up for your run and then even more so when you are sitting on the start ramp. the plan was to stay upright and hopefully stick to the lines i had in mind and most importantly to HAVE FUN :)
i didn't crash and despite riding a bit ragged i am stocked with my first dh race and i am planning to do some more.
i got 5th in open women, behind Alice.

Rob did awesome, he got 2nd! behind Mike Metz (congrats!!)

thanks heaps to everyone involved in making the race happen, it was an awesome event!