Russian DH Champion reports on the weekend of racingRussian 2010 DH and 4X Nationals took place from 22th to 25th of July near the town of Magnitigorsk, Ural Mountains. The Ski resort near the Bannoye lake is very popular among mountain bikers and it’s here where Russian championships usually take place. Comfortable cable cars, multiple choice of tracks and friendly staff and locals make this place very attractive.
The main event of the season gathered more than a hundred riders from all over Russia and nearby countries. A new track abounded with badass rock gardens and steep corners was built specifically for this race. Race time average was about four minutes.
The weather was a little bit too hot and it made the track very dry and dusty, which caused loose wheel traction. On the other hand It made the race more competitive. Not to mention at least eight fastest rivals to compete with.
Joe has made the UK national team and will be representing at the World Championships in Quebec at Mont Sainte Anne. He’s with some heavy hitters. Way to go Joe. We’ll be cheering you on.
Thursday, the day of arrival in the Paraiba do Sul, where did the Brazilian Championship in 2010. After spending six hours traveling, we arrived it was already late afternoon, but finally arrived. Time of litter bags, store the bikes, pack the equipment and get ready for practice the next day.
Friday, a day incredibly beautiful, too much sun and heat absurd. Nothing more than just a ride to meet the so-called downhill run of the city, always a thrill to walk into a new track. After some Weather you think it can not describe the route is a short track with many jumps and turns, what’s for fun a lot, lol, some parts of speed but a bit slippery, which had to be very careful, though in other parts of slippery thanks to the hot, dry weather had a lot of dust, which hampered a bit. After that we went to the track FourCross, I decided to go down only once because in addition to failing to rescue, knew he had to push myself a little more in the downhill, to be a tougher competition. The track was very technical and very fast, did not that time walked on a track like this, but my experience helped me a lot, what did I identify very much with the circuit.
3rd Round of the 2010 UCI World Cup. Leogang, Austria.
Straight into the Euro alps for the first time this year. The surrounding mountains still blow my mind whenever I see them.
I travelled down from Wales with Gaz Brewin and his dad, farmer Graham. After 1500 km’s of driving, a 2 hour ferry ride full of dirty euro gromets running around, an argument with a massive 6 foot, 150kg german restroom cleaner for not paying the useless 50 cents to use the bathroom (who wasn’t too happy after I threw 30 cents at him and then legged it), we finally arrived in the town of Leogang.
The next day we woke up to the amazing mountains and some awesome weather. We made our way to the event to set up pits and walk the track. We setup the Kona pits, played some cricket in the sun, and hit the mountain. The hill looked small from the bottom but as you got higher up it grew back further and further.
Some of the sections on the track looked mean! others looked pretty average. There were two massive pedally sections in between all the steep technical sections. It definitely looked tough.
After Fort William World Cup Joe and I we spent a few days XC riding and hitting the gym. The following weekend there was a local race which is part of the Welsh midlands race series. We decided to race considering it was only half an hour from Joe Smiths house. We rocked up Saturday, caught up with some local mates and got into practice. The track was unreal. Open pinned turns at the top, a big forest section with tight techy turns and roots, and to top it off an open grass field with some mean turns and a big sender to flat. What more could you want?
Good trail flow is hard to find. It is the result of the magic combination of terrain, dirt, and the vision of the trailbuilders. This necessary mix of ingredients comes together for the trails of the Burns Lake Bike Park. Good dirt is plentiful, the flanks of Boer Mountain playfully roll down towards the valley, and the masterminds from Whistler’s Gravity Logic outdid themselves yet again with the stellar trail design.
Charlotte’s Web, a singletrack that winds its way down Boer, is a great example of everything coming together to create the perfect trail flow. Doubling up rock gardens and pumping through groves of poplar, this trail maintains a high level of exuberance for the entirety of its epic six kilometers of good times. Everywhere you need it there are perfectly placed rollers to pump, or sinuous berms to blast out of, making for an effortless, yet demanding rip down the mountain.
Gravity Logic also left their mark with a long and equally fun jump trail called “When Pigs Fly”. One can’t help but compare the big berms and floaty tabletops to Whistler Bike Park trails. The comparisons end when you realize you haven’t seen another person on the trails for the last two days, there is not a braking bump in sight, and there are cold beers waiting down below at the trucks parked next to a tranquil lake with loons calling and fish jumping.
We catch up with Kona Enduro specialist Matt Slaven. He’s ridiculously fast. Has unicorn super powers. And is sponsored by Pabst. Our kind of dude.
Name: Matthew Slaven
Age: 33
Vocation: Widget Control, The Bike Gallery
Location: Portland, OR
Tell us a little about your bike. Stock? Custom spec? Suspension set-up?
Well, this year I have two bikes for Enduro racing. I have a CoilAir Supreme for rougher courses or DH races, I also have an Abra Cadabra for pretty much everything else. Easton is another great sponsor of mine this year, so both bikes have Easton Haven wheels, bars, and stems. WTB tires and saddles, with Shimano drivetrains, Chris King bb’s/ hst’s and FOX suspension. So, I guess you could say they are custom and badass! Where do your roots in mountain biking go?
Those roots go deep into the Midwest BMX scene (if that is a scene). I was state champ a couple times in the Heartland and then I got my driver’s license and quit cold turkey. Started riding a mountain bike in college for transportation, so I didn’t have to ride the bus with the crazies and slowly transitioned back to racing bikes. What’s the secret to kicking ass in Enduro racing?
Man….it has been hard trying to figure this stuff out. I feel like I learn something new each race and try to remember that something for the next one. I have an XC background and always had “good” bike handling skills for an XC guy, but each course is different. Some lean more toward DH skills and others have more pedaling. I would say being a fit well-rounded rider with big cajones is the best way to kick ass at Enduro.
Kona’s Joe Smith takes 6th place on the new Supreme Operator. Nice work Joe. 
