Huka XL 2011

wow what a day! i wasn't too sure if you was going to do the race as my form at the moment isn't what i would like it to be but i decided to do it anyway and see how i go as i just love this race and wouldn't really want to miss out on doing it, plus i was going to go for a ride anyway so why not in Taupo despite having to get up at 4.45am for it.
unfortunately the weather was anything but perfect for our race. the sun was out, apart from some clouds, and the temperature was nice and cool, so we were not going to roast out there on the course, but there was a rather strong wind blowing... it was all good until we got to the trails that were wiggling through rather old forest that was also fully exposed to the wind due to felling of other side of the hill side. the trees were groaning away above us and one actually came down just above three of us riding relatively close together. it's rather scary to hear that big noise of a falling tree just above you. i didn't really know what to do other then to try and not get squashed by it, but how? i was too much in shock to look up to see what direction it was going to fall to so i was just riding ahead hoping for the best. all three of us got away lucky as the tree landed between me and the guy behind me. we kept riding on half heatedly as we were in shock, i was wondering what had just happened and if it was a good idea to keep racing, realising that we could have just died. having the adrenalin pumping in a race is not uncommon but not for those reasons. for some reason i kept riding, probably because everyone else seemed to keep going so maybe it was the thing to do? and also i was not in the frame of mind to make decisions after our incident.
after a while i started getting back into the race swing and was pushing along nicely, it had taken me along time to warm up but i had expected that with my lack of form so i was pleased with how i was starting to feel as i was confident i was going to be ok for the duration of the race. every now and then, depending on where in the forest we where, i could hear some branches and also the odd tree falling, there were at least 4 that i heard fall and every time i cringed.
around 30km's in and out of the blue we got stopped at an intersection and got told that the race was being stopped, maybe we would restart in 30min but for now we would just have to wait. the area filled up rapidly with riders popping out of the trails from all directions. noone seemed too surprised or upset, disappointed of course but everyone could see that it was way to dangerous to keep going in these conditions. after a while we all rode to the main road to the chopper cafe and car park to find other groups of rides who had been stopped at different places in the forest. it was then that we all had to realise that the race really was over.
a weird day and race for everyone involved, race organisers, marshals, supporters as well as racers, i am sure we all hope it doesn't happen again and we will probably all remember this day.