Nelson mountain bike clubs downhill winter series started with a muddy splash last weekend. The race format has changed this year. Two Downhill races on two tracks, Fringe hill on Saturday Broken axe on Sunday.
Rain during the week and over night on Saturday made sure the trails were slicker than a slick thing. But the weather held just enough for some really fun racing.
Aiden Limmer
Lou Kelly
Louise Kelly and Aidan Limmer held off all comers to take home the cash for fastest man and woman on both days. In the mens field strong challenges came from Shannon Hewetson on Saturday and Shannon, Kieran Bennett and Loui Harvey on Sunday, Louise was in a class of her own on both days, winning fringe by over a minute, but the return of Liv Johnston reduced the margin to 22 seconds on Sunday.
Race organiser Loui Harvey puts his school teacher voice on for race briefing.
Sunday morning started damp but conditions on track were excellent. with so many practice runs available choosing the right time to get on the shuttle was key.
Dh winter series… Coming to a back yard near you…
There was a strong Grom field and some fast Grom times.
Club racing is and always will be the grass roots of our sport and the horde of eager helpers turning up on a cold damp morning in July to stand in a muddy hollow on the side of the track cannot be thanked enough.
The series continues in two weeks time in the Pukaka valley near Blenheim. Before returning to Nelson for another double header two weeks after that, racing the classic Nelson DH track Kaka on Saturday before heading out to Cable bay adventure park on Sunday to race a brand new track on a brand new bike park that’s complete with the worlds longest flying fox and licensed cafe and beer garden at the bottom.
Full results can be found here for Saturday https://nelsonmtb.club/assets/Uploads/48840b6d14/Top-of-the-South-2019-Race-1-Fringed-DH-Race-Run.pdf
And here for Sunday https://nelsonmtb.club/assets/Uploads/45c99b3af2/Top-of-the-South-2019-Race-2-Broken-Axe-Race-Run.pdf
Details on how to race the rest of the series is here. https://www.facebook.com/events/2148636488567461/
