In Big Bear this year the DH racing was held in a 4-man format, ressurecting the format from the mid 90’s. As the name suggests it was 4 people, racing together, down 1 course, pretty insane stuff, especially since Big Bear has to be the dust capital of mountain biking.
So we started the weekend off with qualifying. There was a fair bit of confusion going around, nobody was quite sure how the points were working for the round, there were all sorts of stories going around, ranging from full points for the round done on qualifying results, which would make it like a normal DH race, with the 4 man being done for the hell of it.
Then there was going to be half points for qualifying and the other half done on the 4 man results, and also full points were going to be done for both.
Sanjay
On the start line for qualifying we were told full points for qualifying and I think everyone thought that was OK.
This year the points are being done a little different to usual, there are now qualifying points being awarded, just as a bonus, my guess is they bought it in after last years drams with Minnaar and Kovarik being equal on points at the end of the season.
So anyway, despite what we were told on the start gate, this is how the points actually ended up being awarded at Big Bear; full points in 4 man and a few qualifying bonus points.
Onto the racing and as always in Big Bear, the weather was fine and sunny. My Yeti had some nice tweaks performed come race day and it was working flawlessly.
The course was only two thirds of the normal track length there, and was flat out top to bottom and with numerous dusty blown out fast corners you better believe many drifts were had. Pretty standard big bear style, really, but good times for sure.
Qualifying went well, I came down early due to my lack of ranking after sitting out the majority of last season injured, I had the fastest time early and then sat down and watched the riders come through.
At this point everyone thought the points were being done on qualifying, so everyone was going for it, my time held up for around 60 riders until right at the end. I ended up 4th behind Minnaar, Steve Peat and Mick Hannah.
After qualifying the short track XC was on, and since I now have XC teammates I thought I’d go have a peak. I went over to find Rowney leading the charge with only a few laps to go and Trent Lowe back in third so things were looking pretty good for them, and this is how they finished. Rowney took his first ever NORBA win, he was pretty excited to say the least, and even more excited about the beer drinking that awaited him. That’s right junior XC guys, Rowney races XC, and drinks a lot of alcohol too.
Anyways back to the DH and it was time to race head-to-head, pretty much nobody had raced this type of racing before so nobody really knew how it would work out.
Kirkaldie
I lined up for my first round, I got the hole shot and had a bit of a gap by the first turn, so I took a wide line to apex it but a couple of others behind saw this gap and went for it, so unfortunately all 3 of us went down.
At this point I was less than happy, with the first two riders from each round progressing forward, I thought I was gone, but I got going and had a 50 meter gap to close to 2nd. Eventually I caught up and passed towards the end of my run, so I got through, but I knew it was going to be a long painful afternoon.
The next few rounds went fairly smoothly, I spent a bit too much energy chasing in round 1 so after that I made sure I had a good start and got to the front then took it easy down and covered my lines so no one could pass.
Before I knew it I was through to the final 8, in this round I came up against, David Klassenvanorschott, John Kirkaldie, and Bryn Atkinson, I had a solid start but David K’s was a little better and he squeezed me out a little which let Kirkaldie slip through. I followed down in 3rd for the run, looking for anything to pass but it just wasn’t on.
My last chance was to get a good run out of the final turn, and go for the drag to the finish, I set up wide, got a good final turn and started to pedal, David K thought he was safe, but turned and saw me after him…I drew almost level with him, but that was as close as it got, he held me off by a wheel length, so I was out of the main final but still had the consolation round for the final podium spot.
This round saw an all Aussie affair, with Mick Hannah, Joel Panozzo, Bryn, and myself fighting it out. The gate dropped and I pedalled flat out, and somehow got out in front, I knew Mick has a strong start and I was a bit surprised to come out in front!
From there I covered my lines, which involved taking some very bad lines, but I didn’t want anyone to pass. I held it together, and came through for the win, which gave me 5th overall and a spot on the podium. Stoked. In the main final, Eric Carter got the hole shot, and that was that, he’s a smart racer and knows how to cover his lines, David K took 2nd and his best result ever, Steve Peat was third and Kirkaldie took 4th.
Ross Milan
So in the end, I was very happy, to grab a podium in a race I didn’t think I’d do well at, I still don’t want them to do anymore of that style of racing format, 6 race runs in 3 hours was way too painful and certainly not the fairest way to run a DH race series. Personally I’d love to see Big Bear and everyone else for that matter, stay to traditional DH race formats.
The NORBA series then moved on to the always-entertaining West Virginia, home of the mullet and the slackjaw. Our first stop in West Virginia was to the Wal Mart in the nearby town of Elkins so we could look for some genuine NASCAR apparel, just to try and fit in. It’s definitely just a different way of life in these parts, from already mentioned mullets, to the overalls, from the accents, to the women with moustaches; there was just non-stop entertainment. I know its wrong to laugh at other people just for being different, and I really tried not to, but I just couldn’t help myself at a couple of things, I really am sorry.
This year the Snowshoe DH course had been changed. After last years rain fest the DH course of old had too much damage done and had to be replaced. The course still had some very good sections but unfortunately was just not up the standard of the past.
On the up side the mountain cross this year went from the worst course of the season to perhaps the best! The seasons far from over yet, but I think it will be hard to beat.
It had big jumps and was completely flat out but practice was cancelled due to rain, which meant the only time we had on the course was an hour before qualifying then straight to racing.
The course was one of the type that it paid to be flat out aggressive on and this is why my team mate Ross Milan was fastest qualifier. This guy is a poster boy for aggression, he looks like he grew up in a gym and has the racing attitude to match! This was pretty much his course.
I had a decent qualifier, but realised towards the bottom that I basically hadn’t put in a pedal stroke all run. I was just having so much fun with the jumps, and especially the triple step down that was about 40 feet long, very good times indeed!
Racing got going and due to small numbers because of a lot of people seeing the course and pulling out of racing it was straight to the round of 32. My first few rounds were drama free but the racing was close and would have been good to watch.
I progressed through once again to the round of 8 where I came up against the mongoose sandwich of Bryan Schmith and Eric Carter as well as John Kirkaldie. My start was good but I had the outside line into the first turn.
I saw a small gap inside carter going into turn 2, so I went for it, but Carter shut it straight down as let Kirkaldie slipped by me, followed by Carter.
This left Kirkaldie in 2nd and set for a finals spot. I was stuck back in 4th and from there was nothing I could do, I was looking but nothing was on. I went through to the consolation round which saw myself and Carter with Rich Houseman and Michael Robinson, I took 2nd out of the start and Carter left a small gap again into turn 2 so I looked at it again, but the same thing happened and carter shut it down.
Kirkaldie
Houseman went around me then and I was left in 3rd with Robinson 4th, and this is how it ended up, so I took 7th overall. I'm finally happy with how my starts are going, I always joked about my start (mainly because it was a joke!) but I've changed a few things and now I'm getting some solid starts, definitely can’t wait for some more mountain cross.
In the final my team mate Ross Milan lined up, he almost didn’t make it due to a first round crash, but he caught and passed from a long way behind to sneak through. From there he got through every round comfortably, he had first lane choice after qualifying fastest and chose the inside gate.
He didn’t make the best start and was third for the whole run behind, Schmith and Mike King, with John Kirkaldie in 4th, but Ross played it smart and sat back looking for an opportunity. He saw one on the very last turn and as the 2 leaders tangled a little, Ross rode around and cruised in for the win, amazing stuff!! Honestly I cant even remember who took the other places in the final coz everyone was just too happy for Ross, well done Crusher!!
In the women’s event my other team mate Jill Kintner once again took out the win, Jill dominated on the course and looked amazing as always, she was almost passed at the bottom by a fast charging Tara Llanes but held her off to make it 2 wins from 2 in the series and also give Factory Yeti the pro mountain cross clean sweep for the weekend.
Once again Sunday rolled around and time for some DH racing! My practice in days previous had been going ok, but I wasn’t felling overly loved by the course. It was fairly tight and definitely very, very muddy and slippery the whole way down.
I was running mud tires for the first time ever and I definitely loved them. Come qualifying I was ready to go and do some racing, unfortunately though I got myself a flat tire about 30 seconds into my run, so I limped down the rest of the way to qualify in 49th.
Sanjay
I wasn’t too worried as it was only qualifying but it would have been nice to pick up some qualifying points, which are only given to the top 20. I was also a little worried that in the final I would catch and get held up by riders ahead as it was one of the courses where there weren’t huge time gaps and catching riders 30 seconds ahead was going to happen.
As it turns out I passed 2 riders ahead, and almost a third, but they were all very good about it and made sure I got through cleanly. Thanks a lot guys, it was much appreciated.
So my run started off well, I had a slightly muddier track as I was starting almost an hour before the pointy end but I didn’t let it get to me. My run went pretty well, I stalled a few times in the mud after hitting big bog holes, but everyone would have for sure, that’s just how the course was.
At about two thirds of the way down my run I could feel that I’d broken a pedal and it was coming off, I made it through most of the pedalling but eventually the body fell off and I was left with just the axle!
This made the rest of my run “interesting” for sure and my foot blew off the pedal a few time but I held it down the rest of the way and had a time I was happy with and thought I had a decent shot of getting me a podium spot.
I was pretty nervous watching everyone come down, my time was holding on but it was getting tight. Eventually Bryn Atkinson came down and knocked me off, which was very good to see, Bryn and me go way back and he was pretty happy to get his first NORBA podium.
There were still a few guys to come though, Colin Bailey then knocked off Bryn, then John Kirkaldie shaved a couple more seconds off. Last but not least was Greg Minnaar who took a few more seconds off, and took the win. I held on for 5th, and another podium, I was definitely glad to get this race over and done with and I’m looking forward to hopefully some nice wide-open rough courses where some drifts can be had.
Also a mention once again to my XC team mates Paul Rowney and Trent Lowe, who took 3rd and 5th in the XC short track, giving every rider on Factory Yeti a podium spot for the weekend.
Quick thanks as always to sponsors who make my bludgy lifestyle possible, Yeti cycles, Fox Shox, Maxxis tires, SRAM, and Oakley.
Before I forget Team manager Keith Darner said he wanted to see his name more often in my race reports so here goes;
Keith Darner, Keith Darner, Keith Darner, Keith Darner is also known as "Keith Darner the most perverted man I know"
That’s it once again for another report, I'm now in Mount Snow, Vermont set for another weekend of racing this weekend. I’ll get off a report from that real soon. See y’all later.
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