rollercoaster Archives -

The racing calender is well underway, and in 2014 the Rocky Trail Entertainment NSW / ACT State Series opened with State Championships; held at Thredbo Resort. Approaching the end of the summer season, the weather was kind enough to only shower during saturday, before clearing up to perfect conditions on Sunday. With the Flow Rollercoaster event held on Saturday, all had their wet weather gear in action. Read on for the action, including Sunday’s DH event.

Saturday's weather made for a cold shock approaching the chairlift peak, low clouds and showers set an extra challenge for competitors - but riders were having too much fun finding their flow in the mud to notice. — Saturday’s weather made for a cold shock approaching the chairlift peak, low clouds and showers set an extra challenge for competitors – but riders were having too much fun finding their flow in the mud to notice.

For those competing in both the Flow Rollercoaster and Downhill competitions, it was a great mix of riders, and huge variance in bikes. One thing's for sure; everyone was having a tonne of fun on Thredbo's Flow Trail. — For those competing in both the Flow Rollercoaster and Downhill competitions, it was a great mix of riders, and huge variance in bikes. One thing’s for sure; everyone was having a tonne of fun on Thredbo’s Flow Trail.

With mud flying everywhere (usually at the photographer), mud guards (of the homemade and shop variety) were essential.

Braap! Enduro riding lets the downhillers breathe easy on a technical level, and brings out the steeze in all of us!

In the Rollercoaster Event, Thomas Crimmins took first place, with two runs of 7:26 (now that’s consistency!). Claire Whiteman of the ACT took the State Champion crown from 2013’s elite female category winner and race favourite Genevieve McKew.
(results courtesy of Rocky Trail Entertainment)

Elite Male

1. Thomas Crimmins / Giant Bicycles Australia, Thredbo MTB / Bredbo (NSW) / 14:52
2. Ben Cory / Giant Bicycles Australia, Onya Bike Canberra / Kambah (ACT) / 15:01
3. Ryan Walsch / Trek Bikes / Scullin (ACT) / 15:14
4. Michael Vanos / Springwood (NSW) / 15:17
5. Tim Eaton / Giant Bicycles Australia, Thredbo MTB / Canberra (ACT) / 15:19

Elite Female

1. Claire Whiteman / LIV/giant Australia, Onya Bike Canberra / Kambah (ACT) / 18:05
2. Genevieve McKew / Endless Flow, Knolly Bikes / Chatswood (NSW) / 18:20
3. Sarah Booth / ADCC, Kona / Newcastle (NSW) / 18:37
4. Jo Fox / Cell Bikes / Emu Heights (NSW) / 19:32
5. Kellie Weinert / Tight’n’Toned Fitness / Kearns (NSW) / 20:25

U19 Male

1. Jackson Frew / Gowrie (ACT) / 16:16
2. Bryan Dunkin / Wallsend (NSW) / 16:29
3. Connor Mackne / Alltrack Bicycles / Helensburgh (NSW) / 16:34
3. Callum Carson / Phantom Racing / Figtree (NSW) / 16:34
5. Connor O’Dwyer / Avanti Plus Wollongong / Wollongong (NSW) / 16:35

RollerCoaster State Champions for 2014 in other categories:

Expert Male: Rob Wardlaw (Thirroul NSW)
Veteran Male 30+: James Collins (Weston ACT)
Master Male 40+: Daniel Segeri (Kaleen ACT)
Master Female: Coleen Boyes (Thornton NSW)
SuperMaster Male 50+: John Myssonski (Farrer ACT)
Junior U19 Female: Rachel Weinert (Kearns NSW)
Junior U15 Male: Matthew Dinham (Turramurra NSW)
Junior U15 Female: Mackenzie Diver (Thredbo NSW)
Hardtail Male: Jim Le (Lurnea NSW)

Come sunday morning, and despite perfect weather conditions, the trail was developing moto-style ruts in some sections. As much a mental obstacle as a technical one, plenty of riders were caught out more than once.

Harry Parsons hovers above the rocks, carrying serious pace. Much of the alpine trail was holding it's ground against the barrage of riders and soggy conditions. — Harry Parsons hovers above the rocks, carrying serious pace. Much of the alpine trail was holding it’s ground against the barrage of riders and soggy conditions.A�

By qualifying the ground had begun to dry out, giving riders more speed. Plenty of crowd pleasing whip action on the final jumps throughout the afternoon!

Under 19s reigning champion, Joel Willis sprints to the finish, spent after a blistering fun. — Under 19s reigning champion, Joel Willis sprints to the finish, spent after a blistering run. With a time of 5:31:26, Joel secured his title by over 12 seconds.

NSW/ACT State Championships Downhill Podiums:

Elite Male

1. David McMillan / Thredbo MTB, Swell Design, Spezialised / Canberra (ACT) / 5:19.58
2. Thomas Crimmins / Giant Bicycles Australia, Thredbo MTB / Bredbo (NSW) / 5:20:50 +0.92
3. Tim Eaton / Giant Bicycles Australia, Thredbo MTB / Canberra (ACT) / 5:28.74 +9.16
4. Jake Newell / Mondraker Australia, Flowbikes / Kincumber (NSW) / 5:34.88 +15.30
5. Luke Garnham / Thredbo MTB / Thredbo (NSW) / 5:35.76 +16.18

Elite Female

1. Genevieve McKew / Endless Flow, Knolly Bikes / Chatswood (NSW) / 6:29.08
2. Michelle Crisp / High Country Firewood, Asn Miranda, Norco, Deity, Gamut, Evoc / Caringbah (NSW) / 6:46.78 +17.70
3. Jo Fox / Cell Bikes / Emu Heights (NSW) / 6:54.13 +25.05
4. Kellie Weinert / Tight’n’Toned Fitness / Kearns (NSW) / 7:02.20 +33.12
5. Sarah Booth / ADCC, Kona / Newcastle (NSW) / 7:02.39 +33.31

U19 Male

1. Joel Willis / Shimano, Fox, Lusty, Bikeminded / Lithgow (NSW) / 5:31.26
2. Alec Reid / Gwynneville (NSW) / 5:44.64 +13.38
3. Jackson Frew / Gowrie (ACT) / 5:46.07 +14.81
4. Josh Lea / KTR / Helensburgh (NSW) / 5:53.72 +22.46
5. Connor O’Dwyer / Avanti Plus Wollongong / Wollongong (NSW) / 6:01.28 +30.02

DH State Champions for 2014 in other categories:

U17 Male: Harry Parsons (Mittagong NSW)
Expert Male: Tom Wilson (Eastwood NSW)
Sport Male: Jonathon Foley (Glenmore Park NSW)
Veteran Male 30+: Daniel Seidel (Kiama NSW)
Master Male 40+: Daniel Taliana (Thredbo NSW)
Master Women: Coleen Boyes (Thornton NSW)
SuperMaster Male 50+: Steven Bullard (Hacket ACT)
GrandMaster Male 60+: Steve Coles (Orange NSW)
Junior U15 Male: James Findlay (Jindabyne NSW)
Junior Women: Mackenzie Diver (Thredbo NSW)

The State Downhill series kicks off again with Round 1 on July 26 & 27 at Green Valleys Freeride Park. The Rollercoaster series will continue in Kempsey on June 29. See the Rocky Trail Entertainment website for more info.

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Rocky Trail Entertainment kicked off the 2014 gravity season with a bang last weekend in Ourimbah State Forest. Following the now-developed race formula made up of two timed sections, with an untimed section between and restricted shuttling, round 1 was an opportunity for many to rekindle their race faces, and for elites like Brad Kelly and Jon Odams to prove that an off-season doesn’t mean a decline in performance!

Promount Billet founder Michael Vanos styling it up after a rough run on the CDB trail, losing vital seconds but keeping up to speed after a break from racing.

The Rollercoaster series is a dynamic event, changing greatly round-to-round in the nature of the trail, allowing series competitors to fully experience what NSW/ACT has to offer in enduro riding. Ourimbah included a full run of the downhill trail, complete with rock jumps, pallet landers, and famously great berms on entry and exit to the trail. At the end of the downhill trail the timed section continued on to a short XC style loop, ensuring jelly-legs for those who pushed the pace on the DH track.

While many saw menace in the knife edge rocks that litter the trail, adventurous riders found joy in the numerous natural jumps to be discovered at Ourimbah.

From here, riders would pass trail-base-camp and take a fire road climb at their own pace, a well-earned chance to catch breath before entering the Shimano trail; a more endurance and all-mountain/xc style trail which delves into the beautiful rainforest scenery in the heart of the forest. Completed quickest by Ourimbah legend Brad Kelly in just over 6 minutes, the Shimano trail encompassed the versatility of mountain biking and provided a less-intense experience for the more XC oriented riders on the day.

Trail Base Camp, where riders caught their breath and recalled momentous race runs, compared times and tweaked bikes.

The combination of the CDB Downhill trail and Shimano trail, and a steamy 28C day put the Enduro in the Rollercoaster round, a great day for racing, not to mention on the Australia Day public holiday! We’re K-E-E-N keen for the next one. See you there!

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Tag: rollercoaster

Rocky Trail Gravity Weekend – State Championships

Rollercoaster Gravity Enduro 1 – Ourimbah State Forest