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| In order to match Aaron Gwin's speed I've decided to go on a spinach only diet! |
I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, and just
cleaned the rock garden section the best I had all week. Last pump into the
left hand turn before the tunnel of trees disappear and the fishing dock spits
me out into a sea of sunshine. No brakes and fully committed I let go and look
ahead, but something isn’t right, I’m still in the air!
Back racing
a World Cup in the USA.
It’s a pretty cool feeling going to a World Cup race, but to have it on home
soil makes it that much better. I made my way to the town of Windham, one of the many towns that were
heavily affected by last years devastating hurricane, hurricane Irene. It’s
incredible that just a few months ago I was staring at images of a river
flowing down Main Street,
and how the town has come together to rebuild and host another World Cup event.
It’s always nice to come back to a familiar venue, not only because I already
know the mountain, but just already knowing where the grocery store, laundry
mat and bike shop is a big help preparing for the weekend.
Last year I
did not have a great weekend here at Windham.
The course was slick, extremely fast and I couldn’t figure out exactly how to
allow myself to open it up. This year, the track was much the same, but the
conditions couldn’t have been any different. I felt like I was riding back in Colorado on the dry and
dusty track. The top section straight out of the gate dives into the trees and
onto a single track ribbon of trail that if a tire migrates inches away from
the main rut, the consequences are very costly. The speeds are high too as the
chutes bring you right down the fall line. Much of the top is a controlled skid
as you slid and rudder your way through the forest. This opens up to a rock
face that is wide open with many lines that can be seen overhead by the
chairlift in the wide open ski run. Some riders were opting for the inside and
middle double drop line, but that was extremely harsh upon landing so I
generally stayed near the tape hugging the ground and preparing to gain speed
back into the trees. At speed it was quite a feeling entering the trees at such
a high speed and for a quick second your blind riding by brail as your eyes
struggle to adjust to the intense light changes. It was very loose in the
trees, navigating the bermed turns, shall rock chutes and natural doubles were
even more difficult to commit to once 200 riders took to the track. Across a
road and instantly back up ludicrous speed before sending it off of the “gap”
jump, about 45 feet from lip to landing and then a step down into a left berm
really gets you going. The rhythm changes as you start to weave through the
trees, pumping and jumping the natural undulations. Once again you pop out of
the trees and prepare for the smallest yet most terrifying maneuver over what is
called the shall pit (of doom). It’s a small step down, but there is no
backside, the only option is to land on top of the shall that is jutting out of
the earth and to try to be as light as possible hoping not to explode a bash
guard. After a few riders went down hard on the first day of practice, to my
delight the organizers tore out the rock creating a slightly more appealing
landing zone. Coming in hot to the only real rock section of the course,
notably called the “Rock Garden”, it’s a quick trip and skip through, but could
be very tricky if your wheel doesn’t stay on top of the rocks and finds a hole
as many found out. This brings me to where I left off. I was on a good run,
minor mistakes up top but I really let loose towards the bottom and right before
jumping back out into the open, I restrained from doing a brake check and paid
the ultimate price by overshooting the landing ramp and turtle shelling while
still impressively holding onto my bike. I was shocked…I couldn’t believe that
this was happening as I felt in total control and was ready to lay down one of
my best runs of the year. Even though I knew my day was most likely done, I got
back up as quick as possible and wanted to race it all the way to the rest of
the finish. The bottom race arena had a big facelift with big landing put in
place for the tunnel drop, and newly constructed finish sprint jumps one being
a 45 foot hip that would be squashed as there was a 65 foot monster step down
into the finish corral that many riders struggled with all weekend. From run 1
I committed to these jumps and hit them every run and had so much fun feeling
the sensation of being airborne for an unnaturally long period of time. I was
riding well within the top 80 before crashing and finishing 108th
overall, only 4 seconds from qualifying.
I tried
very hard to focus on all of the positives that came from this past weekend and
my qualifying run. I know I have the speed like always. I’m learning to deal
with the pressures of performing at the highest level while trying to not over
perform making too many mistakes in the process. I was pleased with how I
prepared myself, riding the waves of nervousness rather than paddling against
the current or drowning in them. In the end I got a little too excited and for
a split second rode outside of myself while trying to set a personal best in
the speed trap. Thank you to all of my sponsors and supporters who have
supported me through the past few weeks of World Cup racing. I always feel like
I progress and learn so much at these races and will be taking this knowledge
with me to the next event. Tomorrow morning I pick up my brother in Hartford and will head back up to Highland MTB Park, New Hampshire
for the 3rd round of the MTB Grand Prix.
Media:
Video:
Ride On!
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