By Shawna Thunder
After 40 hrs of travelling, we arrived in Pra Loup, a tiny ski village nestled in the French Alps. Wall to wall bikes and riders, downhill and XC. A group of S.A riders met for our first test lap, we almost packed for home!!!! Incredibly steep technical climbs, switchbacks, loose rocks, Giant roots and soft, dry sand…this was going to be tough. 3 days of practise laps helps us work out how to negotiate tricky technical sections. I have yet to find a race in S.A that can compare with these climbs. My race was going to be tough! 40 anxious racing snakes from every country under the sun lined up at the start. I had a great start and was lying 4th over the metal staircase onto tar then a steep loose decent onto an awesome flat dirt road covered in loose rocks. From there we flew down a very technical downhill, over streams, rocks and roots. This lead to a flat single-track through a magical forest and bang into our first climb. Switchbacks with huge rocks to negotiate are not easy!!!! Grany/grany was the preferred gear for everyone; the sand was loose so body positioning had to be perfect. I felt sick I was pushing so hard. After a fast downhill we had a drop-off over a huge root with an off camber landing, I miss judged my landing and endued off the edge!!!! 2 riders passed me!! Oh shucks, I’d cracked my helmet again(this is excusable for someone who’s only ridden for two years) Up I get and set chase, I passed one as I ran up a technical climb(quicker if you’re a runner) hopped back on and chased the next. More switchbacks and steep climbs. Italy passed me as I dropped my chain….NO WAY!!!! I chase her down on lap two. As I fly downhill a steam train flies passed me, but I soon catch her on the climbs as she gasps for air. The altitude is hectic on our lungs. I held my position and tried to gain ground. I came 5th in my category and 9th overall. What an awesome experience….I feel like I have fulfilled my dream this year…. I urge you to fulfil yours!!!!!! Come on ladies, show your strength.
After 40 hrs of travelling, we arrived in Pra Loup, a tiny ski village nestled in the French Alps. Wall to wall bikes and riders, downhill and XC. A group of S.A riders met for our first test lap, we almost packed for home!!!! Incredibly steep technical climbs, switchbacks, loose rocks, Giant roots and soft, dry sand…this was going to be tough. 3 days of practise laps helps us work out how to negotiate tricky technical sections. I have yet to find a race in S.A that can compare with these climbs. My race was going to be tough! 40 anxious racing snakes from every country under the sun lined up at the start. I had a great start and was lying 4th over the metal staircase onto tar then a steep loose decent onto an awesome flat dirt road covered in loose rocks. From there we flew down a very technical downhill, over streams, rocks and roots. This lead to a flat single-track through a magical forest and bang into our first climb. Switchbacks with huge rocks to negotiate are not easy!!!! Grany/grany was the preferred gear for everyone; the sand was loose so body positioning had to be perfect. I felt sick I was pushing so hard. After a fast downhill we had a drop-off over a huge root with an off camber landing, I miss judged my landing and endued off the edge!!!! 2 riders passed me!! Oh shucks, I’d cracked my helmet again(this is excusable for someone who’s only ridden for two years) Up I get and set chase, I passed one as I ran up a technical climb(quicker if you’re a runner) hopped back on and chased the next. More switchbacks and steep climbs. Italy passed me as I dropped my chain….NO WAY!!!! I chase her down on lap two. As I fly downhill a steam train flies passed me, but I soon catch her on the climbs as she gasps for air. The altitude is hectic on our lungs. I held my position and tried to gain ground. I came 5th in my category and 9th overall. What an awesome experience….I feel like I have fulfilled my dream this year…. I urge you to fulfil yours!!!!!! Come on ladies, show your strength.
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