Volunteering to coach at the Australian Under 19 MTB camp
meant I would be back on the Cairns World Cup course where I’d broken
myself. For the first two days I froze
on all the technical sections, still feeling the pain and stiffness in my
recently healed wrist. Did I really need
to be riding this stuff only 10 days before I headed to a race in Canada? When I am riding well, all I can see in my
head me, floating effortlessly down rock gardens. But now, all I could visualise was crashing
and ruining a holiday.
Helping the U19 girls by pointing out the lines, instructing
on body position and telling them to ‘let go and do it!’ must have worked its
way into my own subconscious though. I
also felt like a giant fraud coaching someone to do something I couldn’t or
wouldn’t do. By the end of the week in
Cairns most of my confidence had returned and I was feeling like a mountain
biker again. No, I didn’t hit the A-line
at Jacob’s Ladder but I think that was a prudent move! The best part of the experience was watching
the riders progress on the challenging track.
The athletes really inspired me by overcoming their fears and going out
of their comfort zones to ride features like ‘croc slide’ and
‘barramundi’. I feel they helped me more
than I helped them.
Staying on the beach at Holloways was not hard work but
there was little time to enjoy it as the days were filled with training,
psychology, sports nutrition, anti-doping education and a tour of the sports
science facilities at James Cook University.
The main complaint from the athletes was that the camp was too short
which was a great sign. Although it
might have something to do with the 28 degree winter in Cairns. I was quite sad to leave my old home town
again but my next adventure was due to start and I had work to do.
Holloways Beach - yes, we'll be back!
The prize for winning the pairs category in last year’s
Trans Rockies was a free entry for this year’s edition – rebranded the Single
Track 6. Coupled with my sister’s
wedding the following week in BC it was an easy decision to make. It will be the first race for my new Giant
Lust 27.5 after taking it out of the box for in Cairns. Last year I remembered thinking how much more
fun the trails would be in Canada if I had a dually so I’m really looking
forward to those arm-achingly long Rocky Mountains descents. After 6 days in the saddle I will appreciate
the rear travel. The smaller wheels
(than 2013) should suit the single track heavy nature of the 2014 race. My aim is to give the Canadian girls some
competition while keeping all my skin so I don’t spoil the wedding photos with
bandages. Wish me luck!
