QLD State Championships – Toowoomba

It all started with Saturday practice - Sam Fraser was one of the first on track and looked pinned from the start. — It all started with Saturday practice – Sam Fraser was one of the first on track and looked
pinned from the start.

The 2015 Queensland State Championships were run by the Toowoomba Mountain Bike Club
along with the support of key sponsor Zelvy Carbon. Racers from all over South-East Queensland
congregated at Toowoomba on the 27th of September to put it all on the line for one chance at
becoming the State Champion for 2015. The track was different to anything the racers had faced
all year however the biggest obstacle wasna��t found on the trail. The hardest thing for the racers to
wrap their head around was how they were going to get enough practice laps in to gain a good
feeling for the track with shuttles taking up to and over thirty minutes to reach the top of the
mountain. Most riders took advantage of slightly faster self-shuttles on the Saturday before race
day in order to gain a better grasp of what they were up against. The culmination of good weather,
a decent-sized crowd, and the willingness of riders to hang it all out for the last race of the year led
to a fantastic event to finish off the 2015 Downhill Season.

There were plenty of U/15s shuttling endless mega-trains all Saturday: Caleb Rees sends it off a rock kicker with an endless landing. — There were plenty of U/15s shuttling endless mega-trains all Saturday: Caleb Rees sends it off
a rock kicker with an endless landing.

Warrick McNab about to duck into an endless section of switchbacks.

The mid-section of the track cuts a loose path of berms and jumps through the dry scrub.

Riders couldna��t let their concentration slip as they rode through a wide range of different surfaces: from loose shaley turns to hard-packed berms. — Riders couldna��t let their concentration slip as they rode through a wide range of different
surfaces: from loose shaley turns to hard-packed berms.

SEQDH Overall Series Champion Ben Power squeezed in plenty of runs on Saturday and was looking comfortable all day. — SEQDH Overall Series Champion Ben Power squeezed in plenty of runs on Saturday and was
looking comfortable all day.

Harry Bush fresh off some World Cup and World Champs experience.

Loose dust littered with rocks. Whata��s not to love?

Ben Powera��s usual tactics of hitting lines that no other riders even know are there didna��t go unnoticed. — Ben Powera��s usual tactics of hitting lines that no other riders even know are there didna��t go
unnoticed.

Kylie Jackson was looking quick throughout Saturday practice.

Alex Schoonder gapping over a few transitions near the top of the track.

Jake Mitchell ended Saturday practice with a trip to the hospital and came back on Sunday to make his way up the track in crutches to cheer on (heckle) those who made it through the day in one piece. — Jake Mitchell ended Saturday practice with a trip to the hospital and came back on Sunday to
make his way up the track in crutches to cheer on (heckle) those who made it through the day in one piece.

Jack Wright keeping low near the bottom of the track as he caps off Saturday practice.

Sam Fraser making a few bike setup changes prior to hitting the track for a few more practice runs on Sunday before the racing started. — Sam Fraser making a few bike setup changes prior to hitting the track for a few more practice
runs on Sunday before the racing started.

Luke Butcher styling it out on the final jump.

Michael Dopson didna��t end the day as planned - a big crash on the final jump has set him off the bike for quite some time. — Michael Dopson didna��t end the day as planned – a big crash on the final jump has set him off
the bike for quite some time.

Remy a�?Rem Dawga�� Morton nosing her in post-scrub.

Ben Power seamlessly carried his pace from Saturday practice over to Sunday practice and ultimately into race runs as well. — Ben Power seamlessly carried his pace from Saturday practice over to Sunday practice and
ultimately into race runs as well.

Harrison Reibelt aboard his Glory Advanced.

Tracey Knight ended up with 3rd on the day.

Graeme Reid had an extremely unusual race run. He caught the rider in front of him in the worst place possible and they both ended up on the ground at the bottom of possibly the most technical part of the track. — Graeme Reid had an extremely unusual race run. He caught the rider in front of him in the
worst place possible and they both ended up on the ground at the bottom of possibly the most
technical part of the track.

Max Warshawsky scanned the a�?rock gardena�� for at least 15 minutes on Sunday after a full day of practice on Saturday and it payed off with an extremely pinned exit on this practice run. — Max Warshawsky scanned the a�?rock gardena�� for at least 15 minutes on Sunday after a full day
of practice on Saturday and it payed off with an extremely pinned exit on this practice run.

With practice nearly over it was quicker to walk up to some of the more technical spots to find some last minute lines than to catch the long shuttle to the top. — With practice nearly over it was quicker to walk up to some of the more technical spots to find
some last minute lines than to catch the long shuttle to the top.

Jacob Reeves - full concentration. — Jacob Reeves – full concentration.

Daniel Neumann drifting towards the trees.

Max Warshawsky taking off in his seeding run.

Lisa Mathison was crowned 2015 State Champion for Elite Women/.

Tom Searle keeping it tight and low through a section of loose berms, — Tom Searle keeping it tight and low through a section of loose berms.

The rock garden was where the majority of spectators chose to watch race runs.

Off-camber and high speed - with tonnes of different lines available racers were able to tailor the track to meet their strengths. — Off-camber and high speed – with tonnes of different lines available racers were able to tailor
the track to meet their strengths.

Daniel Hallam swinging it out and scoping a spot to land.

Jacob Reeves on his a�?loosest run evera�?.

Sam Fraser ended up with 4th in Elite Men when it all counted.

Max Warshawsky sending it big in his final run of the day!

Ben Power claimed his plate number with a 2nd in Elite Men.

Almost as soon as the final rider crossed the line it started to rain and eventually hail prior to presentations. — Almost as soon as the final rider crossed the line it started to rain and eventually hail prior to
presentations.

2015 Zelvy Carbon Elite Men State Champ - Max Warshawksy. — 2015 Zelvy Carbon Elite Men State Champ – Max Warshawksy.

Images and report: Cooper Messery Photography (FacebookA�hereA�or Instagram @cooper_messery)

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October 26, 2015

South East Queensland Downhill Series Round 6 a�� Beerburrum

After some early season venue shuffling, Sunday the 16th of August saw riders heading toA�Beerburrum in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland for Round 6 of the series run by the Da��Aguilar RangeA�Cycling Club (DRCC). This venue is often met with mixed opinions and some of the more skilledA�racers wonder if ita��s worthy of the term a�?downhilla�� with the riders gaining minimal elevation on theA�shuttles up to the start gate. However this lack of elevation and technical terrain gives youngerA�riders and some of the less confident women a chance to hit some higher speeds and build someA�confidence for the final round and then the end-of-year goal of state champs. Entry costs wereA�slashed right down to $20 for U/15 and U/17 which no doubt was partly the reason for the bigA�turnout of the next generation of champions.

Giant Glorya��s are one of the most popular bikes in the SEQDH series and by the end of the day the Elite Mena��s podium would see three riders arrive there onboard one of the newly design 2015 models. — Giant Glorya��s are one of the most popular bikes in the SEQDH series and by the end of the day the Elite Mena��s podium would see three riders arrive there onboard one of the newly designed 2015 models.

Eventual U/19s winner Loic Fery leads the Ashgrove Cycles team out for their first practice run of the day.

The drop-in from the start is relatively straight forward, a few small down slopes that riders try toA�pump or pre-jump to transfer down for some extra speed mixed with some turns and jumps, thisA�continues for a few hundred metres until riders reach the much talked about blown out corners.

Ben Power was hitting practice hard and was without a doubt the fastest all morning which translated into the win for Elite Men. — Ben Power was hitting practice hard and was without a doubt the fastest all morning which
translated into the win for Elite Men.

Kim Bishop railing one of the most talked about turns on the track.

Sam Fraser hit this rutted out and dusty berm lower and faster than anyone I saw all day.

After this initial part of the track the pedalling starts, and it doesna��t end until the finish for the fastest riders. Thata��s part of the beauty of this track, the lack of technical difficulty may make it seemA�boring to some racers but in a racing sense the course is almost unbeatable for the battle to beA�had between competitors as the times are so tight at the end of the day. Riders have to create theirA�own momentum for any jumps or small rock sections throughout the remainder of the course.

Tim Abbott returned to the race scene after a long time between drinks and managed to take the win in Expert Men.

1/15th of Matt Searle as he puts down a few pedal strokes on one of the many flat sections on the track.

Nathan Cubit hitting the berms midway down through the course.

After practice on Saturday and plenty of practice runs on Sunday before finals, no turn was without a layer of loose dust and marbly gravel which kept the riders on their toes. — After practice on Saturday and plenty of practice runs on Sunday before finals, no turn was
without a layer of loose dust and marbly gravel which kept the riders on their toes.

Ben Power - full focus! — Ben Power – full focus!

Hugo Thompson scrubbing the first of the mid-track rock sections.

Cameron Cubit chose his Enduro over his Demo on the day - this track had a few riders changing from their DH sleds to a more trail oriented setup. — Cameron Cubit chose his Enduro over his Demo on the day – this track had a few riders changing from their DH sleds to a more trail oriented setup.

Ryan Leutton keeping it tight and low in practice.

The final third of the track is where riders initially start to get a small amount of gravity-fed speed inA�the form of some small rock drops but then ita��s straight into the pedal-strokes again through anA�endless array of turns where exit speed is key to getting through them smoothly.

Without much elevation the main vertical descent was gained through two rock sections after the halfway points.

The young guns were out in force and with a relatively straight forward track they were hitting all the lines that the big boys took.

You expect one of three things when Sam Fraser hits a jump: a whip, a backflip onto the podium, or thisa�� — You expect one of three things when Sam Fraser hits a jump: a whip, a backflip onto the
podium, or thisa��

Joshua Bosschieter tackles the final berm section of the track.

Full concentration painted on Ryan Biggsa�� face.

Jerry Armstrong jumping the inside line before plunging into the steepest part of the track a few turns later.

With races being won on 29er hardtails on this track in the past it was no surprise to see Mark Whiting ripping up the course aboard his 29er Remedy. — With races being won on 29er hardtails on this track in the past it was no surprise to see Mark
Whiting ripping up the course aboard his 29er Remedy.

The track then opens up to the most prominent vertical descent of the course where riders get aA�chance to get a bit creative with their line choice in an effort to hit the final long flat section with asA�much speed as possible.

The rock garden is the steepest part of the track - a�?steepa�� is probably an overstatement but there is plenty of different lines to separate the best from the rest. — The rock garden is the steepest part of the track – a�?steepa�� is probably an overstatement but
there is plenty of different lines to separate the best from the rest.

The simplicity of the track led to a bigger turnout in the Womena��s race than previously seen this season.

The final section of the track is where riders aim to stay off the brakes as much as possible and putA�in some final cranks to keep their momentum through the small drops and jumps before a final setA�of turns and the last minute dash to the line.

Loic Fery is no stranger to the top step of the podium in the local and national enduro races and he managed to climb to the top in U/19s on the day for his first win of the series. — Loic Fery is no stranger to the top step of the podium in the local and national enduro races
and he managed to climb to the top in U/19s on the day for his first win of the series.

Mick Dopson from Brisbane Mountain Bike Shuttles has no problem throwing around his carbon V10.

Jacob Reeves was able to claim second in Elite Mens and was only 1.7 seconds back from Ben Power. — Jacob Reeves was able to claim second in Elite Mens and was only 1.7 seconds back from
Ben Power.

Mark Whiting sending it over a section of roots on the final high speed section of the track.

Jordan Clements scrubbing hard on his way to third place in U/17.

Ben Power was the last man down the hill, an all too common occurrence this year.

Round 6 saw Ben Power claim his 5th win of the season (after 5 starts) in Elite Men and no doubt ifA�he hadna��t have missed a round earlier in the year he would have an unassailable points lead but asA�it currently stands there are a few riders like Ryan Leutton and Jacob Reeves who have theA�possibility of overtaking him in the overall at the final round in a few weeks time if he slips up.

Undefeated from the 5 rounds that he has raced this year - Ben Power has every right to be smiling — Undefeated from the 5 rounds that he has raced this year – Ben Power has every right to be smiling

Images and report: Cooper Messery Photography (FacebookA�hereA�or Instagram @cooper_messery)

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August 23, 2015

South East Queensland Downhill Series Round 4 – Cedar Creek

Round 4 of the SEQDH Series run by the Downhill From Here crew saw riders heading north of Brisbane to a private property between Mapleton Forest Reserve and Kenilworth where they took on Hella��s Descent. The track starts with an open, high speed section of drops and doubles straight out of the gate.

Shuttles to the top are always fun when your driver is Bob Davis, 63 years young and still racing downhill. — Shuttles to the top are always fun when your driver is Bob Davis, 63 years young and still
racing downhill.

The racers were throwing down a bit of style at the step down double early on in the track.

The a�?pencil techniquea�� was pretty common off this lip as riders tried to get a spotting on their landing before railing the next berm and shooting off down the track. — The a�?pencil techniquea�� was pretty common off this lip as riders tried to get a spotting on their
landing before railing the next berm and shooting off down the track.

You dona��t see too many Canyon frames going around Australia but this guy knows how to throw his around. — You dona��t see too many Canyon frames going around Australia but this guy knows how to throw
his around.

Warrick McNab squashes the final drop of the top section before taking on the switchbacks down the face of the mountain. — Warrick McNab squashes the final drop of the top section before taking on the switchbacks
down the face of the mountain.

The track then dives down the face of the mountain where riders had to try carry their speed through an endless series of tight, steep switchbacks littered with roots and rocks as well as off camber root sections and rock gardens.

Ben Power going high across the off-camber roots as he prepares to drop-in on a series of switchbacks. — Ben Power going high across the off-camber roots as he prepares to drop-in on a series of
switchbacks.

. Hayden Poptie attacking the inside line, the other options were to thread a slower middle line or drop off the outside. — . Hayden Poptie attacking the inside line, the other options were to thread a slower middle line or
drop off the outside.

More off-camber rooty goodness for the riders to attack.

Recent rain has left a lot of vegetation around the track and transformed the normally dusty track into a grippy, tacky trail that the riders were railing hard throughout practice before it got chopped up a bit prior race runs. — Recent rain has left a lot of vegetation around the track and transformed the normally dusty
track into a grippy, tacky trail that the riders were railing hard throughout practice before it got
chopped up a bit prior race runs.

A lot more a�?enduroa�� bikes have been seen throughout the series as technology innovations allow these smaller travel bikes to take on the downhill scene. — A lot more a�?enduroa�� bikes have been seen throughout the series as technology innovations
allow these smaller travel bikes to take on the downhill scene.

100% concentration down the whole track. There was no respite for riders with the endless turns, roots, and rocks. — 100% concentration down the whole track. There was no respite for riders with the endless
turns, roots, and rocks.

Early practice was a bit slick with the dew on the track but this soon translated into grip as the track dried out a bit. — Early practice was a bit slick with the dew on the track but this soon translated into grip as the
track dried out a bit.

The final section of the course opens up to a small field of high speed, flat and off camber turns before dropping into the last forest section featuring a high speed long-and-low gap before a transfer over into the finish-line step up.

Ryan Leutton was unable to gain a podium spot this round and relinquished his overall lead to Ben Power. — Ryan Leutton was unable to gain a podium spot this round and relinquished his overall lead to
Ben Power.

Loic Fery styling it out over the finish line step-up.

Big whips and nose-heavy landings were on order for the final jump

Sam Fraser: upside down and sideways in his final race run on the way to 5th place.

Ryan Leutton went into this round leading series overall for Elite Men but was unsuccessful in gaining a podium finish. Ben Power took his third win from three races and seems unstoppable on his way to taking the series overall. Lisa Matheson and Tracey Knight continued their dominance of the Open Women, taking the top two steps of the podium for Planet Cycles once again. The highlight of the day was Sam Frasera��s cork flip on the finish-line step up in his finals run and to add to it, he managed to claim the final step on the podium with that run!

Open Womens Podium: (2) Tracey Knight, (1) Lisa Mathison, (3) Jasmin Street

The Planet Cycles girls seem unstoppable this year.

Elite Mens Podium: (4) Cameron Allonby, (2) Harry Bush, (1) Ben Power, (3) Mat Tape, (5) Sam Fraser. — Elite Mens Podium: (4) Cameron Allonby, (2) Harry Bush, (1) Ben Power, (3) Mat Tape, (5) Sam
Fraser.

When you backflip your way onto the podium, you can celebrate as much as you want.

That’s a wrap for this round!

Images and report: Cooper Messery Photography (Facebook hereA�or Instagram @cooper_messery)

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June 30, 2015