Just yesterday, after waiting so long for Sven to drop his first post on his Sven Signs In blog, I decided to delete it. Then today he comes through and fires us this nice photo of Nelson’s Jamie Nicoll and Anka Martin (who is celebrating her 13th wedding anniversary with Sven today) getting in some solid snow training for this weekend’s Mega Avalanche event. Both Jamie and Anka are coming off awesome results at the Mountain of Hell (which is literately across the valley from Alpe D’Huez), where Jamie finished 10th in the men’s field and Anka 4th in the women’s.
They won’t be alone though, there is a massive bunch of Kiwis racing including Blenki, Cam Cole, Amy Laird, Sven Martin, Jeremy Blake, Mike the Hippy and the start list even has Rosara Joseph on it. (I didn’t realise she was healed up yet?) There’s only a couple of USA riders. Rosara’s Giant teammate Adam Craig has been talking the talk on Twitter, so it’ll be interesting to see how he fairs after all his build up. Ross Schnell is also racing, no doubt he’s been training hard with good friend and podium contender Rene Wildhaber who came second at the Mountain of Hell. Nico will be back trying to make up for last week’s crash and Jerome will be trying to repeat last week’s win and beat last year’s Mega winner Remy Absalon.
It’s probably worth noting that in 2010 when Jerome Clementz last won, Blenki came third on a DH bike riding flats! In 2011 it conflicted with a World Cup DH round so there were practically no DH riders; it’s strange that this year it’s not conflicting but the number of World Cup DH riders is pretty thin. With all those heavy hitting Kiwis it looks like we have a pretty good chance at a podium spot (or two).
Should be a fun weekend’s racing, best get your Twitter on for the quickest results.
Race results are just in from the womens race….awesome work by the Kiwis with Anka Martin finishing third and Rosara Joseph right on her tail in fourth!!
I was stoked to qualify for the main event. A very shonky run saw me finish in 28th place, good enough for 5th in the Master 40+ category. From memory Mike the Hippy is one place ahead of me, so the Wellington oldies are representing well on the slopes of Alp d’Huez.
Looking forward to tomorrow, apparently the snow is soft so there should be some sh*ts and giggles off the line.
Jeremy