Life on the other side

The old blogspot has been missing abit of attention lately, Mostly due to the fact i have just been slack. So where do i start, The past few months have been a whirlwind adventure through the motherland of Europe, here one weekend there another. Racing bikes all over the show and having plenty of laughs along the way. As for the racing itself if i was to put it in perspective it has not been a great trip so far. I had high hopes and expectations of myself but Injuries and mechanicals have plagued my season, Although there is nothing you can do about this sort of stuff it is easy to let it get you down. I am keeping positive tho as there is always something good to take away from things , I am learning allot about how to manage myself and race smart overseas. One way to look at it is stepping stones along the way to the main goal which is to perform at world championships. I just need to start putting it together then the confidence will come back and i will be on track. As for keeping positive my new banshee legend frame arrived a few weeks ago and i have been loving every minute on it. Big thanks to keith scott at banshee bikes for sorting me out. Of late Myself and the rest of the kiwi clan have been hanging out in Portes du soleil. A huge network of chairlifts and gondalas on the border of France and Switzerland with MTB tracks galore. An amazing place to ride and train. With only four weeks until i come home it seems like the trip has gone quick and im looking forward to coming home to the long white cloud. But its not over until its over and i still have two world cups to attend and i really want to step up and show what i can do. Thats about all i have to say for now, just wanted to let everyone know im alive haha. Next time i throw some words up it will be a race report from the weekend, We are heading to Wiriehorn Switzerland for a European cup and hopefully all will go to plan.

Jed

The New rig

Watching the tour de france come through morzine

on the road again

the privateer life

New zealand Stand up

Schladming Austria, Stopped in for abit of riding.

more tour de France madness

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.

European Race Schedule

My First ever International race season is approaching fast so lately i have been busy organizing the final few stages of my travels. When you are a privateer organization is essential as every dollar spent is from your own back pocket. I have spent a fair bit of time on making sure the races i plan to hit up are the most bang for my buck. Also they are structured so the next race is never to far away because we all know how taxing traveling around in a vehicle non stop can be. Anyway i am starting to get really excited about going away and i have a positive feeling things are going to go well for me. Check out my Euro race Schedule...

9 May- Depart NZ, 3.55pm
10 May- Arrive Frankfurt Germany, 1.15pm
13 May- Maribor Slovenia, WC #1, Day 1
14 May-Day 2
15 May-Day 3, Qualifying
16 May-Day 4, race
22 May- Maribor Pohorje DH
23 May- '' ''
29 May- Scopello, Italy. Alpe Di Mera DH
30 May- '' ''
12 June- Verbier, Switzerland. IXS Euro Cup DH Rd 1
13 June- '' ''
17 June- Schladming, Austria. WC #3, Day 1
18 June- day 2
19 June- day 3, Qualifying
20 June- day 4, Race
26 June- leogang, Austria. IXS Euro Cup DH Rd 2
27 June- '' ''
28 June-15 July - MORZINE TRAINING
17 July- Wirie Horn, Switzerland. IXS Swiss cup
22 July- Champery, Austria. WC #4, Day 1
23 July- day 2
24 July- day 3, Qualifying
25 July- day 4, race
29 July- Val di Sole, Italy. WC #5, Day 1
30 July- Day 2
31 July- day 3, Qualifying
1 August- day 4, race
5 August- Depart Frankfurt Germany, 10.20 Pm
7 August- Arrive CHCH NZ, 2.20 pm

2010 Oceania Champs, Dunedin Report

What a weekend! All the people involved with hosting the event deserve some huge props, 2010 Oceania championships in Dunedin was off the hook and definitely raised the bar for mountain biking events here in New Zealand. The course was excellent and weather held strong so it made for some Really good competitive racing with our Australian counterparts. After an up and down National season I am stoked to bag a solid result at such a recognized event. On not such a high note I am writing this on the couch foot up with a sprained ankle I suffered yesterday on a stupid crash at the bloody BMX track of all places! Not such a good end to the weekend but I will be back charging in no time.Anyway here’s a brief take on what went down.

Photo credit: Max carter-smith

With having two days practise at this race I definitely paced myself, although I ride Dunedin a lot they had built a lot of new stuff so the track was fairly new to me. The course was fast and taped wide the whole way with the usual Dunedin rock gardens and some new open off camber sections, It then joined on to the 4x track towards the bottom. This was the only thing that let the track down in my own opinion. The weather had been mint all weekend so when I arrived in Dunedin Race day morning to Rain and set in looking dark clouds I was a little gutted. Luckily it didn’t last long and the sun turned up which made course conditions actually improve with the dust settling. I hit one lap in morning practise then felt ready to qualify. I went out pretty hard in qualifying hitting all the tech sections good
And stayed smooth going into 4th place. Times where really tight so I knew it was going to be a close race but I defiantly had a lot more in the tank. Race run didn’t get off to the best start, I clipped my pedal in the first rock section which sent me down the following section 2 feet off. I managed to keep it rubber side down and from there I was on a mission, charging hard trying to regain some speed and rode really aggressive. I crossed the line in 2nd place behind George Brannigan and my time was a lot faster than I would have predicted for that run, I held 2nd place from the last few riders just edging out the young Australian pinner Troy brosnan who took 3rd. After that the pro men showed us how its done with Cam Cole taking the top spot followed by Nathan Rankin and Wyn Masters.

All in all it was a positive weekend and im happy I caped off my NZ season with a solid result. From Here its time to get down to business and train hard for my upcoming international season which I am Really looking forward to. Whatever goes down over there will end up on here so keep posted. Last but not least Thanks to Tomac bikes.

Peace out,
Jed Rooney

NZ cup Round 3, Nelson

The South island cup is done and dusted, With Well not so much dust this year. The series was wrapped up over the weekend with round 3 on the infamous kaka hill, Nelson. After some some sick riding and plenty of bloody sand fly bites here is my take on what went down.

Arriving in nelson to pooring rain on Friday afternoon was a bit shit. Kaka hill is mostly rock based ridgeline and does not get affected much by the rain so i wasnt to worried. The rain cleared up that night which allowed for a quick track walk and it was much the same as previous years. Varied with a native tree section at the top then out into the open hauling ass down some rocky ridgelines before dropping down the last section with a bunch of switchbacks lined with gorse either side. Most people ending up picking this gorse out of there ass for the next few weeks haha. With close to no pedalling and big grins for the ballsy Its got to be my favourite track of the year and one of the best in the country.

The next morning i was keen as to get into it when i arrived at the hill. Shortly after gearing up for first run it started to rain again but didnt last to long, Showers would come and go all day but not changing track conditions a hell of alot. It was loose but still fairly controlled and everyone was loving every minute of it. Shuttles where charging all day and everyone got enough practise runs in. Line choice was simple as the fastest lines where resonably obvious. I felt fast on the track and good results there in the past gave me good confidence for the race the next day. Thanks to Cam johnsons Mum for cooking us a beauty of a feed that night!

Race day i got out to the hill bright and early so i would get a good park. Same as the day before it started to drizzle just as morning practise was schedueled to start. It didnt come to much and i got up there with the first few to go down. Having rained over night it was wild down the rocky sections but the sun came out and the course was becoming quite dry in time for seeding runs. As for seeding i went out pretty hard knowing i was sitting 2nd overall in the Si cup and needed as many points as possible, I went alittle to hard and crashed up top which cost me my run and ended up 2nd. With abit of luck and a win in the final it was still possible for me to take the overall. But it wasnt to be, I stacked on the fastest bit of the track. I got up quick and rode hard trying to salvage the best result i could and took another 2nd. I was fairly pissed off with myself but what can you do. As for Pro men it was another hot contested race, Nathan rankin made an appearance and after qualify first he took a downsky in his run. Mathew Scoles took the Win with Frenchy Fabien Pedamaund in 2nd and Jr World champ Brook Mcdonald in 3rd.

Post race there was an after party at horses pump track although not alot of pump track sessioning went down. With the Si cup in the books there is now a couple week break before the Ni cup kicks off in rotorua. Big thanks to everyone involved with the organising of the Si cup over the past few weeks, There has been some good times had by all for sure and it wouldnt be possible without all the volunteers who put there hand up to drive Vans and blow whistles etc. Also thanks to Tomac bikes and everyone who is helping me out this season.

Cheers,
Jed

Nz Mtb Cup Rd 2, Dunedin

After what seemed like a bloody long week at work I was stoked to see the weekend roll around once again and hit dunners for the 2nd round of the NZ Mtb cup. Having been told the weather was crap all week in Dunedin I prepared for the worst. The track on signal hill is sick with a bit of everything and is always keeping you on your toes. Especially the big rock garden at the top of the course which would prove to be wild over the weekend in the wet conditions, A few big crashes and plenty of sketchy moments had in their im sure! Signal is my local and I know the hill pretty well so I was pumped to try and bag another good result.

My hometown of Oamaru is only a 1-hour drive to Dunedin so I decided I would just make day trips down on practice and race day. Up bright and early Saturday morning I fueled up the Trusty old transit and headed south to dunners. With registration out of the way vans started shuttling everyone up the hill and the general vibe was everyone loved the track although a bit loose in the rocks. The shuttle turn around was short so blasting out heaps of laps wasn’t a problem at all, Not doing too many was the key. Over the course of the day the track proved fairly unforgiving with a few riders being claimed including myself, I took a nasty digger towards the end of practice which left me with a tweaked wrist and a mild concussion. I iced up my wrist pretty quick and headed home unsure if I would be able to ride the next day.


Seeding run, Managed to go down in exact same spot in my race run. Cheers to Max carter-Smith for the pic.

Sunday morning I arrived in Dunedin to wet roads and low misty rain covering the hill. I was their super early keen to get up for first runs to see if my wrist would hold up. Sure enough the car park filled up pretty quick and transport got underway. Course was super slick and the weather looked set in, my wrist was holding up all right but Im sure the painkillers where helping a lot. Morning practice went quick from 9 am to 10.30 and one run extra for the pro boys. Following a rider briefing they got straight into it with seeding runs. Most of the course had dried out by now but the rocks in the trees where still wet and wild. My plan for the run was to take it easy and save my wrist for the final, I ended up crashing and bending my rotor pretty bad cruising in out the ass in about 9th. Which wasn’t to good for points. Putting that behind me I got myself sorted and felt confident about putting down a good race run. I started off well but went down in a heap in the rocks, don’t know how I didn’t get injured but I got up quick and rode the rest of the course all right. I ended up 3rd in Junior which I was still pretty happy with. In the big boys class local man Justin Leov Took it out with a fast 2 min 43. Cam Cole in second and current junior world champ Brook McDonald in 3rd.




Dunedin put on a great race and the track made for some awesome racing. Also MC for the day Eddie Masters was good for a few laughs. For me its Back to work for a few days then I will be headed north to the top of the south island for round 3 in nelson. Cheers to Everyone who put on the Event in Dunedin and my sponsor Tomac bikes.

Cheers,
Jed

NZ MTB Cup Rd 1, Christchurch.

So with new years and 09 in the books my 2010 season kicked off with the first round of the Nz national series, living springs Christchurch. Having just built up my fresh new tomac primer 220 I chucked my gear in the van and headed north to Christchurch. Arriving on Thursday afternoon I headed up the hill keen to check out the much-anticipated living springs track. I had already seen the course prior to the event but it was only half built so didn’t really no what to expect. Straight off the start line she was full on weaving right down the guts of a steep valley covered in rocks roots and native trees then opening up into some pinned grassy ski style turns. Was a mission just to walk down the top section but I couldn’t wait for practice the next day.


Top of the old track

I arrived at the hill nice and early the next day for first practice, After catching up with a few old mates I hadn’t seen in an age it was time to load the vans up and head up there. First run down had my eyes wide that was for sure! If you got off the brakes for any more than a moment you where getting wild and out of control haha. It was scary stuff but I was loving it nonetheless. Unfortunately by lunchtime the course had claimed half a dozen riders and was just too difficult for the majority to get down, Riders being stopped and banking up at every marshal point because ahead someone had gone down in a heap. The event organizers stepped in at this stage and came to an agreement that the track had to be changed, it was disappointing to hear but understandable under the circumstances. After lunch they had quickly taped out an alternative track that traversed across the hill and joined up with the lower open grassy section of the old track. It was not the best racetrack as the traverse made for some gut busting slightly uphill pedal sections and only one main line, but still pretty fun to ride. After a few runs I had the new top half dialed and was feeling fit for the race.





Race morning I got out to the hill pretty early again after getting pumped watching some downhill DVDs and charging some strong brews of coffee. After a couple runs and a race briefing it was time to get into it with seeding runs, I got up the hill way too early and ended up sitting around for 45 min waiting for my run, I guess better to be early than late. Anyway the plan was to save my legs for the race run so I didn’t go all out but still put down an alright run with only a couple of mistakes, I went into 2nd place in a time of 4.04.39 only a couple seconds behind Daniel franks. I felt confident for the final as I estimated I could take 10sec of my seeding time. Before I knew it lunch had passed and I was up at the top warming up for my run, going over my run in my head I was ready to get it done. I put down a solid run and pedaled hard taking 9 sec off my seeding going into first place on a 3.55.77. With only Dan franks to go. He came down on a 3.56.80 so I took the win and was really stoked. After that saw a stacked pro men’s division with plenty of internationally ranked riders racing it made for some tight times, Blenky took it out With Justin leov and Cameron cole in 2nd and 3rd. Turns out my time would have held out for a 10th place in pro men which was an added bonus.



All and all considering the chaos on practice day with carnage and track changes it was a good weekend with some great racing and top-notch weather. Not to mention some wild d1 action at the go carts after the race! Also My new tomac was rad and I was really happy with the way I handled my race. My result has given me plenty of confidence for the rest of the series. Looking forward to round 2 next weekend in Dunedin. I would like to thank all the boys from the gravity Canterbury crew I hope in the future we can race the awesome track they have built so all the hard work they put in building the course wasn’t for nothing. Also I would like to thank my sponsor’s tomac bikes and all the people who have me helped me out.

Cheers,
Jed Rooney