Europe Phase 1, Mud in Maribor.

Over the past week things have been pretty full on in my neck of woods so i will give the run down right from the get go. So after some quick repacking at CHCH airport and a flight that seemingly took a lifetime Freddie king and I arrived rather jet lagged in Frankfurt Germany. Thankfully all our bikes and gear arrived with us, From there we caught a ride to our friend Harriet Rucknagel's place in Rudolstadt, Germany. This is where our magical white tranny had been lay rest for the winter. After Harriet kindly let us stay the night, thanks! We packed tranny and programmed maribor, Slovenia into the GPS and set off for our first big outing. Throughout our 10 hour drive we got pulled over by German customs and searched for drugs, Got held up in a 4 hour traffic jam on an autobahn and seen numerous displays of shocking European driving which has lead us to believe they are all on crack. Other than that and driving on the right hand side of the road our first roady went pretty smooth i think.

We arrived in Maribor on the Wednesday afternoon and spent a good couple hours trying to find the apartments at the top of the hill we where supposed to be staying in. At one stage we where full on off roading the tranny up some bandit 4wd tracks which made for some good laughs but definitely did not lead us to our accommodation. Eventually we met up with the playbiker boys and followed Edo Franco who showed us the way, The place we where staying was right next to the chairlift at the top so that was super handy. We stayed with some aussie boys to get the cost of the room down for the week and it worked out pretty good. Thursday Was course walk day and the rain had arrived which was predicted all week. The track looked good but with the weather and the mud i knew it was just going to be forever changing all weekend so line choice was sort of just wait and see the next day.

I awoke fresh and early the next day and the rain was still pelting down. Keen as ever just to get on the bike i geared up in the wet weathers and hit it down for first practise at 8.30. Throughout the day i felt like a fish out of water and rode like a special kid. I Just couldn't find my flow and took more downksy's than i can count on my fingers. The track was becoming cut up like nothing else, derailleur deep ruts and fork swallowing holes. The rain stopped and it dried out for top 80 practise which didn't worry me as i knew the forecast was even heavier rain for qualy the next day. That night back at the motel was spent washing and drying kit which became the general hassle of the weekend.

The big day, Qualifying. Another early start and more heavy bloody rain, I managed to smash out 2 runs in morning practise and felt a hell of allot better on the bike. The course was about as loose as its gets but for some reason i had this feeling of control for the conditions which gave me confidence. Back to the motel and a 3 hour wait for my run, Time went slow as i sat and waited. When the time finally rolled around i was definitely ready to go, Warming up at the top i felt level headed and calm and knew what had to be done. Poised in the start hut ready to smash it when those world cup start beeps counted me down. Once i hit the first section it struck me how blown out and knarly the track had become with all the riders who had gone previous to me, I was getting swapped left and right but hitting all my lines good. But it all went pear shaped before i knew it. 30 sec in there was a nasty wooden huck that had been giving me grief all weekend, I got loose on the roots before it and high sided of the lip which sent me down like a sack of potatoes. Whilst sliding down the hill i caught on a root which felt like it ripped my tailbone clean from my ass, not the best feeling at all as i only just managed to pull my bike from the track. By now she was all over rover, I ended up with the big DNF down at the bottom of the results page along with the DQ's. At first it really pissed me off as i know i could have qualified if i just stayed on the bike but at the same time i had no real expectations for my first world cup and shit happens. from here i just need to keep moving forward and one day it will click.

So with that all in the books Fred and I have just been kicking back here in maribor this week living the pine life with tranny, Enjoying the sun which decided to turn up. This up coming weekend we have the Slovenian national champs which will keep us busy. I have put up some random photos below, Sorry for the lack of riding pictures i Couldn't find any of myself from the weekend. Cheers to all back home who have helped me out, All the boys from blue shark and mark at the bike fix. Keep checking back i will be sure to update this sucker when i have time.

peace,
Jed

Mt Pohorje. We missed the gondola one night and had to hike up to our apartment at the top, Good training haha.

Slovenian driving.

Back of tranny. 5 star living

This is the carpark we have been living in this week.