Game Over Whistler BC

While warming up for the Jeep Dh Air Thomas overshot one of the big jumps, nose cased and went OTB he landed on his head and his neck brace broke his left collar bone ouch!.
Some how after he found his bike he got back on and rode to the bottom.
From there we we shuttled to the clinic to be treated, great service huge expence and glad we have race travel insurance.
He was pretty devo about missing out on the last two days riding while dads devo about doing all the packing.
Not the best way to end a great trip but he will recover to ride another day, just lucky we are in the off season back home

Garbanzo DH Whistler BC

Thomas raced the Garbanzo DH today, the race is on the longest downhill track in the world a 12kl course with a 3600 feet drop.
Unfortunately he had bike troubles with bottom bracket playing up about 500m in and by mid way not being able to pedal at all. Thomas was fortunate enough that his skill in pumping and holding speed through corners was enough to still post a pretty good time although he had to get off and push in some spots.

At the end of the 36 riders that completed the coarse, Thomas still finished on the podium in a time of 15mins 30 seconds. A great result only 12 seconds off 1st so pretty confident he would have taken top spot if not for mechanical.

Tommorow is his last race the Jeep DH air, a downhill about 3 to 4 mins with around 100 jumps. Huge crowds line the track and Thomas says it is more about styling it up for the crowds than winning. Something about street cred HA!

Canadian Open Whistler BC

Thomas raced the Crankworx Canadian Open DH yesterday in the 16 to 18 age division. There were 46 competitors from around the world in the race.
The rain held off but the conditions were wet. The track was technical and steep with big jumps and was described as world class.
His race run went pretty well with only some minor mistakes.
Thomas was just pipped of the podium by a guy from the USA and finished a very respectable 4th place.

We are very happy with his result. And congratulations to his mate Dave McMillan from Canberra for taking the win. 2 Aussies in top 5.
He is now practicing for the Garbanzo DH, which is a 15min down hill race and is on Tuesday. Thomas says he loves the track so stay tuned for the results!

Whistler

All going well in Whistler, Thomas says the tracks couldn't get any better,although we have had to deal prety cosistant rain and wet tracks, not to mention plenty of work for dad washing and keeping bike running smoothly
Crankworks officialy started yesterday and the crowds are starting to build, bands on every night in main park just outside our unit.
Thomas got 4 hrs to practice Canadian open this morning and will race in the morning (Sunday 17 July). It will be a wet wild and technical track against an unknown line up Go hard!

NSW/ACT State Round 4 - Coffs Harbour 10 July 2011

ANDREW CLAIMS SILVER MEDAL IN U17 STATE SERIES

With Thomas and Dad heading off to Whistler, Mum and Andrew headed off to Coffs for the final round of the 2011 Series. We made the 4.5 hr drive to the Blue Mountains to stay with the Trotters before heading off on Thursday morning for the long trek. 7 hours on the road and we made it to Coffs, did some shopping and set off for the 20min drive to Darlington Beach Holiday park. Must say, good choice Jenny, this was one of the nicest places we have stayed and very well priced too.

Friday and Saturday practice went well and the boys were really liking the track, saying it is so much fun. Ned and Andrew decided to come off in separate stacks and both skinned their lower arms (just to add to the scars for Andrew). Ned then decided to do the same thing again and skin the same arm for a second time. Ouch!

Sunday race day arrived and Andrew had been crook for the last couple of days but we dosed him up on panadol and went on our way. The boys did a couple of runs then Robbie and Ned headed up for qualies. Unfortunately Robbie just missed out and poor old Ned crashed again and also missed out on race run. Then Andrew headed up for his race run. Unfortunately being crook and also having a stack in race run Andrew ended up 7th. He needed to place top 5 to take out the Series but claiming 2nd overall is pretty damned good seeing as he's racing up a category. We have a bit of a break now until the Nationals start but will keep you up to date with Thomas' Whistler adventures. Bye for now.

Whistler 2011

Monday July 11
After a 4am start (usually reserved for fishing trips)Thomas and I headed off to Canberra airport (thanks Pop) to catch our connecting flight to Vancouver. All went well and about 20 sleepless hrs later we arrived at Vancouver airport. Very glad to stretch our legs and feed Thomas, I don't think Canadian airlines realises how much a 16 year old lad eats. We got grilled by customs I am sure they thought I was abducting my son never to return Ha.

On to the bus and a bit of a tour around Vancouver city picking up at hotels then it was a very scenic two and a half hour drive into the mountains to Whistler Village.
Impressed by our accommodation(Thanks Mum)Thomas put his bike together and hit up a few runs. Back home then out to dinner to hook up with 4 of his Aussie mates. Big day! go the jetlag.
Tuesday:
Turns out with lifts staying open till eight at night and isn't dark till nine thirty nobody surfaces till around 11 am. Thomas put in a solid day riding with mates and alone. He is super impressed with what he rode of the 40 or more tracks on offer and his favorite so far being the 15min Garbanzo run.
More soon Ian