Tassie DH – Round 3 – Glenorchy Mountain Bike Park

downhill247com Remy Adderton through the trees — Round three of the Tassie downhill series was held over the weekend at Glenorchy Mountain Bike Park.

Hobarta��s Glenorchy Mountain bike park played host to round 3 of the Tasmanian downhill seriesA�over theA�weekend. The race took place on the new North South track, which makes ita��s way from Mt Wellington, descending down into the mountain bike park. The Race course began as the track entered ita��s final downhill section into the park before crossing the shuttle road onto a cross country descent full of tight berms andA�then finallyA�connecting onto the lower section of the Nationals DH course finishing with a straight of large jumps.

downhill247com Matt Wood, Event organiser, 2nd Masters — Event organiser, Matt Wood, gets accustomed to the new track the riders were racing on.

Saturdaya��s practice saw wet, muddy conditions which was a change for the notoriously dusty track. Many riders used the day to discover the flow of the track and experiment with different lines, as it wasA�the first time the course has been used for DH racing.

downhill247com Simon Palmer 3rd 19's — Simon Palmer getting use to the track and the conditions.

When Sunday morning came the track had dried out a fair bit, with riders gaining speed and finalizing decisions on bike set up and line choice. A total of 65 riders competed in the event, with a range of different styles of bikes to combat the varying terrain, everything from cross country bikes, all mountain rigs and full DH bikes.

downhill247com George Newham 2nd Elite (1) — Different riders were choosing different bikes for the conditions, here George Newham chose the little bike and it must have paid off, second in Elite!

By the time Sunday afternoon came the track had well and truly driedA�out with loose dust starting to reveal itself. When qualifying came around, most riders chose to hold back and not push as hard during the flatter cross country sections of the course in an effort to save some energy for their race runs. After a short break riders were quickly shuttled back to the top of the course to begin their final run for the weekend.

downhill247com Christina Sergeant 1st Womens — Win number three for Christina Sergeant this season!

The Women’s category was again won by Christina Sergeant, her third win for the season. The Under 17a��s was won by Dan Booker followed by Connor Greatbatch and Ewan Favretto placing in third. Under 19 series leader Ben Hill took out first place closely followed by Brent Capel in second, with Simon Palmer rounding out third place. The Hotly contested Elite mena��s category was again Won by Kaine Cannon, George Newham placed second and Aaron Oates in at third.

downhill247com Dan Booker 1st 17's — Dan Booker took out the Under 17 Men’s class.

downhill247com Ben Hill 1st 19's — Ben Hill’s awesome season continues taking out another victory in Under 19 Men.

downhill247com Simon Palmer (3rd 19's) Leads Dan Booker and Billy Johnstone — Simon Palmer placed third, here he leads Dan Booker and Billy Johnstone down during practice.

downhill247com Kaine Cannon 1st Elite — Elite Men’s winner Kaine Cannon negotiating the jumps near the bottom of the course.

downhill247com George Newham 2nd Elite — George Newham got the little bike down the hill and into second place, what a nice tactical manoeuvre!

downhill247com Aaron Oates 3rd Elite — Rounding out the top three was Aaron Oates.

The state series continues on February 2nd and 3rd at Wilmot in the statea��s north.

All photos and the articel credited to Andrew Palmer.

December 18, 2012

Inside Info: Callum Morrison

downhill247com Callum Morrison1 900 — Callum Morrison, a rider to keep an eye on in the future as he progresses up through the ranks!

The name Callum Morrison is one that is very familiar to usA�as CallumA�pops up on podiumsA�at SA state rounds, VicDH rounds, Nationals and even Crankworx! With that in mind we decided to have a chat with one of Australia’s most promising up and coming riders.

Name: Callum Morrison

Age: 15

Hometown: Mount Gambier South Australia

Cal thanks for talking to us, you’re 15 but how long have you been riding mountain bikes for:

About four years or so, I started riding local trails with my mates.

So racing came next, how long have you been racing for and why do you race:

The South Australian State Championships at Eagle Mountain Bike Park in 2010A�was my first race. It’s is the atmosphere of the racing and the thrill you get from it.

downhill247com Callum Morrison2 900 — Cal has a good style on the bike and isn’t afraid to throw down in the air.

SoA�considering this reasonably short space of time, what race results stand out to you as your favourites:

Placing 4^th in the Canadian Open in Under 15’s, winning the 4x National Championships (and series)A�in Under 17’sA�and and placing 2^nd at National Championships in under 15’s.

With these results under your belt what are your goals for the future:

To win the VicDH series, finish a top 3 at National Champs, Oceania ChampionshipsA�as well as in theA�overallA�for theA�NationalA�Series (in Under 17’s).

downhill247com Callum Morrison4 900 — The top spot on the podium is becoming a regular place for Cal who is quite modest!

Do you have a specificA�a�?training plana�� or are youA�the typeA�of rider whoA�just goes out and rides:

I ride dirt jumpA�and pump track in my backyard, IA�hardly ride downhill because we dona��t have a big enough hill to ride down.

You live in Mt Gambier, a fair way from Adelaide, what is the scene like down there? You say you dona��t have many big hills so what happens when you want to ride downhill:

Riding downhill is hard in the Mount because the hill is so small and you cana��t get a good enough track, riding DJ and XC is far better to do here and I go to Adelaide to ride theA�downhill or just wait to the next race…

How would you describe your riding style:

I have a moto style from riding motos since i was 4 but otherwise loose!

Do you find similarities between riding mountain bikes/downhill and motocross, has this had a big influence on your riding style:

Yes a lot of techniques in riding style and even the mechanic side too, motocross has helped heaps for my riding style because I loved the wide open rough tracks on a moto and most tracks are fast and rough.

downhill247com Callum Morrison3 900 — A rider to look out for in the future for sure.

So on the downhill bike what are some of your favourite tracks and riding condition:

I love a fast flowy rough track with big senders but I dona��t mind the old muds getting out because my style is good for mud!

What riders you look up to:

The Athertons, because they are the most chilled out people and shred at any discipline on a bike.

Finally is there anyone you would like to thank:

Big thanks to GT Bicycles, Daktari Sport, Cycling Sports Group, Mavic and My mum and dad for taking me all over Australia.

We will be watching with interest as Cal continues to race various races here and in Australia, to us it looks like the future is bright for Australian downhill.

December 16, 2012

VicDH – Round 3 – Kinglake

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 1 — As the day passed by the sun came out, the track got a little dustier and a lot looser.

Kinglake! Round 3 of the Victorian Downhill Series has come and gone, a series quickly becoming a magnet for not only local talent, but for riders Australia wide! For the first time this season the track wasn’t just a dust festival (initially). Storms to previous day kept the ground moist and made for some excellent conditions to practice in.

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 2 — Why do we like it loose? Because riders like Ben Hill show us how ita��s done on the flat corners!

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 3 — Here Trent Piribauer gives us his take on how how ita��s done in the flat corners…

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 15 — … And goes drifting on past!

As race day rolled in the weather decided it would be a little bit bipolar, and though it didn’t rain, the clouds ensured that it was a typical Melbourne day with the weather going from hot to cold more times than you can count. The changing light made some riders cautious, especially popping out from the much darker wooded sections.

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 4 — The Alpine Gravity Team showing no caution to the steep stuff!

As practice drew to a close, we began to get a real show from some of the riders out to have some fun before the seriousness of qualifying moved in.

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 5 — Timmy Eaton getting completely flat, awesome!

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 6 — Jack O’Hare going the opposite way from Timmy Eaton and getting that bike vertical!

Come qualifying everyone stepped it up a notch, with style being substitutedA�for raw speed.

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 7 — Scrub-a-dub-dub! Ben Hill getting it done!

We saw some of the top riders come through a step down section just before the rock garden, three riders, three very different riding styles, one very similar determined look on their faces.

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 Combo — Variety of riders, variety of styles, whatever works for you…

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 11 — This doesna��t mean you can’t have some fun though! Santaa��s little helper took some time off from toying about with Santa to show off some skills!

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 12 — Henry Blake was out to ensure the trip to Vic from SA was worth the effort, he was looking very quick over this small kicker.

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 16 — Keeping the SA theme going, Angus Maddern came across for his first race of the season, he could have been the replacement for Connor Fearon who was noticeably absent.

As the day grew on the crowd came out and lined the track, the changing weather conditions not deterring them. Come finals the crowd was going crazy and Elite riders were copping all sorts of different cheering tactics…

downhill247com Harry Hartwig Round3 — Look at that crowd! It is no surprise as the Vic series is the most popular downhill race series in Australia. Photo: Harry Hartwig.

The shenanigans certainly didn’t stop when the racing was finished. The podium presentationsA�became complete shambles with people falling off the podium steps, objects being thrown and Dean LucasA�reading his sponsors off the jersey and being caught out, only to return a spray to the crowd!

downhill247com Jase Stevens Round3 Combo 2 — Some interesting podium moments certainly spiced the proceedings up a bit!

At the end of the day racing was a hotly contested with some big names vying it out, in the end Dean Lucas took another win from Timmy Eaton, Rhys Atkinson who helped construct the track here took third.

Elite Men:

1. Dean Lucas

2. Timmy Eaton

3. Rhys Atkinson

4. Joey Vejvoda

5. Liam Panozzo

Elite Women:

1. Tegan Maloy

2. Sarah Booth

3. Jacqui Lovett

4. Ellie Wale

5. Li Lina

U/19 Men:

1. Aiden Varley

2. Andrew Crimmins

3. Ben Hill

4. Oliver Zwar

5. Elliot Webb

It wasA�a top weekend where the weather played along, even though the forecast suggested it wouldna��t. A really excellent weekend of racing finishing off with plenty of laughs.

See you all at Round 4, Mt. Buller, which is held a week apart from the National round there, talk about a double header!

From myself, Jason Stevens,A�have an awesome Chirstmas everyone! I will see you all in the New Year!

Thanks Jason for another awesome report and pics (with some help from Harry Hartwig), there will be plenty more up on downhill247.com as the year draws to an end, check back soon.

December 4, 2012