This event is one I've wanted to do since I heard about it so this year I secured a lift way in advance of sign up.
It was well worth the wait!
Driving up took 9 hours so we arrived on the Friday and headed in to Edinburgh to explore.
On Saturday we were all warmly welcomed by the red bull team And our host Rachel Atherton.
Uplifts were provided by Jeep, lush brand new Jeeps too!
The first run of the course was awesome. Starting off at the top riding down steep heathers we then head into flat out fast rough rocky clumpy grass, then over some climb and into the kids for A lines and B lines. The technical lines were so fun with a rock garden and sizable jumps. The dual slalom was brilliant. In the evening was yoga and beers. With more yoga from lululemon we a were refreshed and ready for a practice run. Having qualified in 43/126 I was happy and enjoyed an empty course one last time. Up top waiting for the race to start I was in the 5th row back. I was really nervous having never done a mass start race before.
Once the horn blew I stayed in the pack to suss out how it all worked, soon as I had chance I started seeing overtaking opportunity's opening up. I over took more than I expected, especially as I am normally am pants at overtakes. The whole race was a rush and felt amazing! Rachel over took me towards the end of the course and I finished in 38th place! 5 places up from qualifying. The weekend was amazing but the race was the most fun race I've ever done. I met so many nice girls too and was great to catch up with friends too. I would highly recommend the weekend to anyone no matter their ability or experience.
We went back again for another year of Falmouth urban downhill at Tremough campus in Cornwall.
The course was completely different, much longer with different stairs and jumps. This year 5 girls took part instead of just me! Is amazing how fast our race scene grows every year.
After an amazing days riding at cafe the day before I was feeling pretty good and there was only one huge gap jump I didn't do, which would have made up the time to second place.
podium maya Atkinson, tyde D'Souza, laura griffiths
Although it was fun I think I'm all urbaned out for now and missed roots and rocks, plus st austell brewery didn't sponsor this year so there was no beer to be won and we all need a good beer after a days riding!
Last years Southwest Champs was my first ever race.
When I first ever went to Gawton it was to ride downhill for the first time on 'HSD' track.
After riding for a year I decided to race on the new track 'Proper Job' which was quite a step up and this year they upped the game even more holding the race on 'SuperTavi'. SuperTavi is the old dirt 1:04 track and the track that had said to me when I started downhill "If I can ever ride that, then I will be a downhill rider" in my mind it was unobtainable... at the time!
In no way was I expecting it to be easy, I was nervous! I first rolled down it and with the new sections built in they had made the track harder. There was one section I just could not get around at first but got more confident with practice. I had a couple of really hard crashes but nothing could stop me with that feeling that every clean run was taming the beast. I was loving the challenge!
When it came to race day I was tired and now know that 3 days practice before was too much but every race I learn something new.
The pressure was off in someways because so many people had entered but didn't race because the track was so hard. By Sunday there weren't many girls left.
I had one clean super safe run and one terrible pushing it run. I came off twice my second run. I wish I had pushed it more on my first run but without more competition it was hard to risk such big crashes on so many nervous sleeps before!
Still I tamed the beast and raced SuperTavi and that is an achievement I never thought I would have, that and a Silver Southwest champs medal!
A couple of weeks ago myself and my team of 5 took part in Newnham parks Bontrager twentyfour 12.
I got the idea to do it as a challenge to raise money for hospiscare, Exeter universities campus services charity of the year.
As my last cross country race experience was some what terrifying I was pretty apprehensive about what I'd signed us up too. 24 hours of relay cycling night and day.
On arriving I realised how huge the event was. It was amazing to see so many tents and vans and how big the event arena was. The vibe was really relaxed and it didn't feel like a serious athletic event. obviously no beer or shots but lots of people milling around staying up late and enjoying the live music.
The next day I tried to keep my nerves in check knowing it was going to be a long night and day but it felt different knowing it wasn't once chance all out and your one run counts. In fact with the fun atmosphere of the kids race and relaxed approach of the past racers it was chilled but exciting.
Sue started us off and when it was my turn I was excited to know what the course was like. We didn't pre ride it seen as we were gonna do it about 5 times anyway! The course was awesome it had long slow climbs and short sharp get out the saddle climbs with loose rocky descents but mainly rooty technical single track descents. It sounds like a nightmare for passing but it was really well thought out and everyone was really considerate calling ahead to pass. With all my training I actually was keeping up a good pace every lap and did more over taking than being over taken which really surprised and pleased me!
My first night ride went really good and I was loving it, so much smoother lines that I choose in the dark and it was cooler and the perfect temperature. Just amazing although so different to the day. People were silent but riding in big groups together, almost earie. But the places where the track ran along side the campsite were amazing. So many people cheering and playing music. plenty of banging saucepans!
The second night ride at about 4 am was totally different, by then it was a cold start and there were a lot less people on the track and no one to cheer you on. My lights were both on red so I was nervous I would get stranded in the dark and then my light cleat came loose so I couldn't see in front of me on both lights. I fell off on the fireroad in a stupid place and honestly for the first time thought that it was hard, but I kept going and knew that it would get better when the sun came up.
On my next run it chucked it down on the most exposed part of the course and I got soaked and pedalling was hard going, I'd also only had two hours sleep and was really tired so when I finished I genuinely hoped I would not have to go out again but it looked like I was going to do the last run.
When it got to five past eleven and was chaining over from Emma to do my last run I felt elated and so glad to have a final run, The best I had felt after about 2 am was whenever I was on the bike and I got to finish on high tho I had to race round to get one last person round to count another lap on our total but I did it. I gave it everything I got and pedalled my heart out. When I came back into the area it was ten too and I had five minutes to get Jim out. I over took everyone sprinting through.
It was an amazing feeling to finish. We came 10/19 teams in our category and did 6 laps each. Although you have to dig deep when it gets hard and I'm still tired now! I would definitely do it again. It was a great event and so much fun.
And there was no one else on there with me, Never mind! Although being the only girl out of 77 other entrants it was still great fun and I still pushed myself to get the time I wanted. The course was brilliant and although short crammed in a whole lots of stairs and big jumps. Despite being sceptical about how much joy I could get from riding down stairs all day and the possibility of going splat on a hard floor with the competitiveness of a race atmosphere it was a great way to spend a day and well worth the trip down to Cornwall. I must admit I didn't risk it on the big jump with no need to compete against anyone I decided it was the best idea after watching lots of guys throw themselves at the floor.
Falmouth Urban Downhill from Frazer Waller on Vimeo.
So my first downhill race I was super nervous and had a couple of average runs but really enjoyed it so as soon as I had chance to do another race I couldn't wait.
Second time round I was no where near as nervous.
It was round 3 at Tavi woodlands winter series so not as much pressure as southwest champs but still almost as many entrants.
My husband and I arrived on the saturday and It was wet! As usual when I race its so muddy and the course was man made but built into the hillside with not much texturing so there was a lot of getting side ways. The course was so much fun with roots, drops and jumps. On the saturday there was hailstone so practice was really different to race day. Riding on hailstones was like riding on ball bearings it was so hard to keep control and even harder to push back up!
After a comfy night in our van we had 3 or 4 practice runs but the course was getting really cut up so our tyres were clogging really bad and it was hard to get enough speed for the jumps.
THe only thing I would have changed over the weekend was my tyres, I had spikes on but wasn't sure what else to change too, I think next time I will just have the same as my husband because he has a lot more experience.
My first race run I aimed for a safe time and went around a jump which was getting hard to get speed for and then also came off on a tight bend after a really steep stepped section so my first run was less than impressive but I was no where near as nervous as last time I raced so new I could focous and improve on my second run,
My second run was near perfect everything was so clear, calm and methodical, I pedalled in all the right places and hit every line I wanted to, the only thing that could have gone better was if my tyres could have got up to speed and maintained less resistance but they were so clogged and sluggish. Despite that what felt like an slow time was smooth and fast and landed me in a very unexpected second place.
This interview by DIRT just makes me love her even more!
Angus sure is one lucky pooch!
Best quotes-
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given? Get a dog. Get a bike. What one thing would you change about yourself? My inability to house a straight set of teeth in my mouth.
The latest jump I've been working up to is over cafe side at Haldon.
its a respectable 4ft2.
Been watching the boys doing it for a while and practicing away at getting faster and landing further on other smaller jumps.
On sunday I had the opportunity to ride there and knew the time had come and I was finally ready to do it.
I followed my husband in for speed and everything was so perfect, the take off, the land, all of it.
So I did it again but our friend paul filmed, I was so over excited by the first one that I messed up a little on my second not concentrating and did come off the land at the edge so yes i do scream "fcuk" in the video!
Last sunday we had another great day at Gawton as usual. We enjoyed the usual mud, slipping and sliding and falling over just pushing up. In practice next season we all rode something new or jumped something higher than we've ever jumped before. For me and my friend Emma we both rode Super tavi. My first ever double black rated track. It was a struggle down in places but nothing that soon we wont be conquering.
Like all of the other tracks we used to not be able to ride. Its always hard to go down the track that has been built up in your mind. It was so exciting to see whats beyond the first jump, it was nothing like how easy the pro's make it look in videos but it was new and exciting. We also rode more of the jumps on old tracks where we would have never dreamed of doing them before. Its amazing to think in the past two years I have developed so much more skill without realising doing something that I love. In downhill I really have found my place to progress and anything I cant do yet I realise now that one day I will succeed in riding it and will have enjoyed the journey so much it won't have felt like a journey at all.
another great memory that I have shared with my best friends at my favourite place
Below is the video of the ladies setting their times on the track for dirt 1:04
Gawton is my favourite place to ride Downhill in the southwest. I prefer it way above FOD and triscombe. The first video is of the new track Proper job, and the second is of Lukeball who shows off how amazing HSD is. HSD was the first downhill track I ever rode and is still my favourite, next to Proper job! It is well worth paying to ride there. There are 2 other tracks as well. Egypt is mega tech with multi lines, big roots, super steep and very tight berms, and Super tavi which was the second dirt 1:04 track so has been ridden by Gee Atherton and everyone.
This is Darcy Turenne's section of women of dirt. I just downloaded the movie and actually really enjoyed it.
The first section intro is Tammy Donahugh's husband being all cheesy and nagging her to play foosball, And I thought oh no! I just spent money on a cheesy acted out 90's style movie but straight away it gets so much better.
Its stories of older girls, younger girls, dirt jumpers, 4x, downhillers, cross country riders and everything in-between. It nice how well rounded it is, representing the American female riding scene as a whole community. The section on the smith family is pretty sweet and just makes you say 'aw'.
As the film is a few years old I had seen some of the sections before but to see it all put together in this story makes it well worth watching the film as a whole.
Most films are either about racing or personal story's but this film combines the two which is pretty cool.
Its lovely to see that the girls help each other out but it also shows the men behind the women that support them and help teach and encourage.
Watch this video and you WILL want to go out and ride!!!!!!
See Jane jump festival! America has so many more girls events. Fair enough we have air maiden but its all in Scotland and its so far away from little old Devon :( consumed with envy and its always so sunny!
This is Dixie trix in America, its a free ride training camp for girls to learn to jump better. Its such awesome videos. I'm so jealous would love to do something like this in England :D
We had an awesome weekend of riding with most lush weather for march, I think spring is the new summer! We began at forest of Dean to work some serious downhill action. My friend Laura (in the top picture) rode her new bike for the first time. Big news as this is lauras first ever proper mountain bike. So far she has been riding her boyfreinds Haro which is a jump bike, like proper jump bike, sketchy ass tyres, heavy forks and single speed, to be fair she rinsed the trail centres with bad ass enthusiasm. as Laura herself would put it "ignorance is bliss!"
Her new bike is a trek 4500 in gorgeous green and black.
Forest of dean was amazing Laura rode all trails on her hardtail whilst me and Sara rode our full susses. Sara was putting her new rockshox revelations through some serious testing and feeling the love of devastatingly gorgeous air forks as opposed to her old rockshox Toras, even with the wsd spring we still weren't heavy enough to make them work for us ladies.
It was so warm the trails were perfect n fast rolling. All the downhill trails offered big roots, steps and drops. In particular we were loving the jumps and berms ending the sheep skull run, or as I kept calling it "sheep skin", it just doesn't sound as hardcore! Sheep skull had a completely different end to our visit last year and the berms are amazing, they are the highest fastest berms I've ridden away from the Alps, in fact there was a lot of room for high speed which reminded me of Alp d'huez. That is compared to Tighter technical English trails which we are used to ridding.
Laura did so well to ride all of the trails and we were most impressed with her riding the ski run with its rocks and roots, she rode everything with a huge smile at the end.
I rode in my new helmet, an awesome looking bright white 661 comp, with my pink oakley goggles, kids size of course. And believe it or not my new helmet attacked me! I thought safety equipment was supposed to protect you! It seemed the combination of white and pink attracted not only me but the wasps too and got stung on my face by a wasp inside my helmet! Bad times, but funny and ironic.
The drive home left us with the feeling of blissfulness after a hard days riding and contented souls having spent the day in the sun doing what we love most.
Sunday was a few runs of Stockwoods jump/ bmx track in Bristol. Everyones jumping was getting better and better and looks like rookie Laura actually jumped higher than the rest of us! Following that was a lap around Leighwoods and Ashton court. Back to devil pedals for me but Emma has decided to take a break from them after the Woodbury race. Ashton was fun as usual with its countless rock steps and swooping flowing sections and we all even survived the slow climb towards the beginning.
An amazing weekend of riding with the first two BBQ's of the summer achieved.
In the evening was yoga and beers. With more yoga from lululemon we a were refreshed and ready for a practice run. Having qualified in 43/126 I was happy and enjoyed an empty course one last time.
Up top waiting for the race to start I was in the 5th row back. I was really nervous having never done a mass start race before.
