Mountain Biking - My first ever race.

I negated putting this in the Race forum as not many people go there compared to the generic MTB forum.

As the title says, today was my first race. I seriously took up riding a year ago, and downhill about 3 months ago, so i had to learn real quick, and i did i think. This was the last race for the year - the State Championships. I didnt mind, it was open to everyone and i just wanted to race. Id pre-ridden most of the awesome new trail a fair bit thanks to liveing 45 minutes ride from there. But there was a whole bunch of new stuff since id last been there for this weekend. O crashed out pretty well in practice yesterday, but it was mostly just surface cuts (albeit surface cuts going from my elbow to covering my shoulder-blade!) and a sore shoulder. Practice was at 8 this morning, so i wss up early with a Pasta and WeetBix breakfast (Dont worry - two separate meals) and today was one of the rare times i didnt rid to the track. Thankfully i didnt crash in the two hours we had for practice today.

My first run was good - one of my slower ones, but a lot smoother and the rock garden i finally had nailed. I pulled off a sad 2:28:06, with most guys in my class (Under 17s FYI) pulling off a 1:50ish time. So really i didnt do too bad for my first race after 3 months of riding.

My family were there for my second run, as was my girlfriend, and i dont know if that put me off or what, but i false started, and then when i finally got going i crashed about 5 metres from the starting gate. Just a light crash, more of a tipple. But i had to get up and get going quick - the next guy was only now 25 seconds behind me! I think that tipple unsteadied me all run - i posted a 2:48:something for that run. 19 seconds slower.
Heres some pics, just as you would demand:
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x107/BFG161291/DSC_0195.jpg
Geoff Pratt, Rider 134, present and accounted for.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x107/BFG161291/DSC_0197.jpg
The entry to the rockgarden. That black spot is on every photo from the last six months!!! Its so annoying.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x107/BFG161291/DSC_0200.jpg
Small pic, but im in sort of the middle of the photo, with my fist raised. Not sure why, i was having a hot-danged ball!
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x107/BFG161291/DSC_0213.jpg
Now im riding. Try spot me!
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x107/BFG161291/DSC_0214.jpg
Another "Wheres Wally". Where im heading here, theres a sharp left hander - mad rutted - leading into this......
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x107/BFG161291/DSC_0215.jpg
Which some use as a jump, i pump it to keep my speed up for....
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x107/BFG161291/DSC_0216.jpg
....this. Usually i get twice hat air, but as i said, that start gate crash really put me off. Big time. As per usual, this leads into....
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x107/BFG161291/DSC_0217.jpg
...........this. What youre looking at there is my favourite berm of the whole trail.

That's a pretty good time for your first race after 3 months of practice. And if you think about it, you said itwas the state championships, which means all the best riders in your state were there.

Keep riding and practicing, and you'll soon start to catch up to the other guys. Great job man!

Repping nice pics of you dropeing the hammer mate!

HAhahahahahahah!! Man, ya gotta hate them wrecks coming out of the gate. Not only does it screw your times up but it is right in front of the crowd, and until you get more experience it really meses with yer head the rest of the race. Plus the adrenaline rush that you get can cause you to get way tense.

Congrats on the finish though. Practice yer starts and cornering (it is surprising how much time you can make up here with good technique) and you will do a lot better the next time.

DBD:beer:

Thanks for posting this. I am looking to get into racing as soon as I get a half decent MTB (probably hardtail DH and some XC although I will have to improve my fitness levels). Well done though, it must take a lot of guts to compete against more experienced riders in the state championships. The trail looks really nice too.

Good luck in future races! :)

Thanks guys. Yeah the trail really is great - there were a couple of 11 year old kids ripping it in Juniors!
Well most guy were getting 1:40s to 1:50s so i think i did ok. Im just glad i made it to the finish.

Im going to be practicing heaps soon - get my corner exit speed up, and clear some of the bigger junps im not too good at.

Well most guy were getting 1:40s to 1:50s so i think i did ok. Im just glad i made it to the finish.

What were most of the other guys riding? Not sure about the course you rode but with most of the courses around here, you can't expect hardtails to hang with the duallies. So good job!