Race Report: The BIG EASY

The Big Nasty

The Big Not So Easy race was held on the 23rd of January, started at snow farm and finished at the albie! The race organisers touted it as fairly easy, turned out to be relatively nasty. Absolutely gorgeous day up at the snow farm with a cloud layer further down the valley. Started out with a reasonable climb up to Mt Pisa, I was feeling like crap so decided to slow down a wee bit and see how i felt... but didn’t feel any better so sped up again. From the top we started on a rolling track that was really really fast with big ruts and some sweet jumps. (which i hit only because i didn’t have a choice) . This section was super fast with a really high potential for injury if you came off. So far so good. From there the race went up and down up and down up and down into the mist. When we joined onto the Big easy course (the short course) there was approximately 76,000 people standing on the road pushing their bikes up the hills and pushing their bikes down the hills. They looked miserable. We were in the clouds constantly so people were certainly not enjoying the view. It was like a war scene. At one point on a downhill some guy fell in front of me – luckily I can bunny hop (cleared most of him). It was carnage. It took a huge amount of energy trying to get past all these people. 
Then we came to the big downhill.

The race organisers had told people that this was a family ride. Well it was not. The last downhill was STEEP, ROCKY, and WET with slippery long grass. A serious downhill for an expert rider let alone a beginner. Needless to say most people were walking their bikes. Still. I passed Jerry Rowley sitting beside the road, he said he was ok turns out he had broken a bone in his back and a smashed face. No biggie for an ex-farmer like Jerry. Anyway I made it to the bottom without puncturing or crashing (because i am smart and know when to ride slowly). The race course proceeded along the Cardrona Valley another 15kms to Albert Town. This part of the course was designed and marked out by a runner. It was horrible. Going across open fields with huge holes in them through fresh pieces of track with sticks all over the place ripping peoples derailiers off, getting lost ( i got lost 3 times). At one point, we just walked down the middle of the river for about 300m carrying our bikes. Not much fun. Finished off on a sweet piece of the outlet trail and back to the Albert Town Tavern for a beer and a bake in the sun. Ended up coming 5th I think, which is ok considering how bad I felt. I think this was the first mountain bike race these guys organised and unfortunately it showed. A lot of people were bruised and battered not to mention shocked at how hard the BIG EASY was. But they still managed to finish which is a true testament to them all. 
Not to sure how many will be back next year. I will be.

DD. 

 Aspen, Colorado (29 January 2010) – Racers Edge Team rider and Freeskier Amy Sheehan has just received word that she’s been added to the invite list for the premier action sports event in the world, Winter X Games 14. Sheehan is one of only 12 women on the invite list for this prestigious event.
 
Amy’s father Mark notified Snow Sports New Zealand of her late invitation to the games today. 
Having just arrived in the States two weeks ago and after a long break from skiing, Sheehan’s plan was to take it easy and focus on training. The invite came as a welcome surprise.
 “Amy’s decision to fly under the radar this season has allowed her to refocus on her passion for the sport and just have fun,” said Mark.

“It could be that by taking the pressure off she was able to achieve her potential which in the end led to the invitation.”
By chance, Sheehan was sharing the slopes with an X-Games selector who was so impressed with what she saw that she suggested Sheehan seriously consider competing in the Games. 
Sheehan was invited to the practice day, which is virtually unheard of at an X Games, and by the end of the day she was officially added to the invite list.
“I am pretty stoked,” said Sheehan. 
 
“I have only been in the States for two weeks now and was looking forward to cheering on the boys (Lyndogg, Joss and Byron).”
 
“As you can imagine I am rapped with the opportunity to represent New Zealand alongside them.”
 
Amy’s brother, Lyndon, who is also a Racers Edge team rider remains on the alternate list for men’s ski superpipe where, if he makes it, he’ll join teammates Jossi and Byron Wells. Jossi will also compete in the men’s ski slopestyle.
Shelly Gotlieb is the first snowboarder to represent New Zealand at an X Games. She will compete in women’s snowboard slopestyle. In all, New Zealand could field five athletes at the Games which is more than double the number ever before and a major achievement given the small number of athletes invited to attend.

Good luck AMY!

Photo Credit: Getty Images Sport, Cameron Spencer

Hamish Fraser
30/12/09
Trying to warm up when a southerly squall is on the start line is pretty tough, but hiding behind David Drake helped. A cracking pace into a fierce headwind soon heated things up though, and I found myself just off the pace, chasing the front bunch with a couple of others. On the Hawksburn hills the sun came out, and getting to the top of the Pylon Track it was time to head back down to Bannockburn. I was being carefull not to puncture but still trying to keep up the speed. Meeting the 'Sport' couse the traffic increased and saving a bit of energy, took on the last hill before the descent to Akarua Winery. Round Bannockburn Inlet and up some tricky single track was the finish line and Bella & Jessie (my two daughters) who had done the 10km Recreation Ride. I was a top 10 Finisher so pretty stoked with that.
"Big ups" Tony Culshaw on his Gary Fisher 29er Singlespeed!

David Drake

It was the first race of the season for me so didn’t really know how I’d go, like Hamish said the weather was looking extremely sketchy which is great for me because the harder it gets the better i do. Every stitch of clothing I brought I had on and Hamish wouldn’t even share one of his arm warmers. 

So we are standing on the line facing south into the wind and cold freezing rain waiting impatiently for the starters gun. Couldn’t come soon enough and we were off into the wind... After the opening section a lead bunch formed up of about eight riders and we rode together until the first hill. I was feeling good up until this point and climbing well. Up and down the race went until about an hour in and all of a sudden one minute i was feeling good and the next i was feeling baaaaad.

This has never happened to me before but I totally blew up. I was seeing stars, my hands went numb (thanks Hamish) and I could hardly turn the pedals. People starting riding past me including and old geezer with grey hair and long wooly socks. The shit had hit the fan. 

I struggled on, (because my only other option was death) and managed to make it to the finish. After crossing the line, I went stratight to the dairy and bought as much food as I could afford (i only had $10). 

I don’t know why I blew, didn’t have much lunch and think i may have had a belt of man flu. 

Excuses are for the weak.

Any way great start to the season, another race this weekend (Skyride) will see how it goes -Might try eating before hand. 

If Hamish beats me again I’m retiring. 

Over and Out. DD.

After organising shuttles and a driver with Tania Reid, we arrived at Garston ready to go on the 75 km race. A good start found me in third place at the bottom of the first hill (800m climb). Leader Alex Mcgregor, was standing up and trying for the course record (~2:56). Half way up, he was 3 minutes in front of Geoff Blance and I. As we rode our "29ers" past the Southland Ski Hut, 4th and 5th were a minute or so behind us. Over the Saddle and into the Nevis we were riding well together. After numerous river crossings I noticed my rear tyre was losing air. Having tubeless tyres, I stopped to top up the pressure with gas, hoping the sealant would block the hole. Jumping back on my bike I could still see Geoff and no one had passed me. However another kilometer on I was still going flat. "Hmm, put in a tube", pulling off my pump the nipple broke and all the air escaped. "Argh!". About 10 riders had passed, and I manged to 'borrow' another tube. Back on my bike, over the gorge and down the flats to Nevis Crossing I pulled in some of the riders who had passed me. Looking up the next hill (600m climb) I could see a small line of bikes. Putting my head down, I only eased up to say "Thank you" to Anja McDonald for the tube. Passing Blair Coope and another guy just before Duffers Saddle, I hit the downhill and putting it in top gear getting past one more rider before the finish at Bannockburn in 3:30:42. I was really happy with my result as I ended up 7th Open Male and 14th Overall, bettering time and place from last year even with a puncture!

Hamish Fraser,
Racers Edge Bike Team Member
and Mechanic

The Volkl NZ Freeski Open finshed up yesterday with kiwis continuing to dominate and take out both the mens and womens titles in the Half pipe. Jossi Wells and Janina Kazuma were the winners on the day however not for lack of strong competition. Racers Edge Federation Team member Lyndon Sheehan also made it into the half pipe finals. The kiwi competitors also dominated the big mountain final held at The Remarkables, Geoff Small 8 time winner for the mens and again Janina Kazuma 5 time winner for the girls. 

Photo: Camilla Stoddart

The Volkl New Zealand Freeski Open is fast becoming the traditional opening event of the international skiing calendar, rivalling the US and European Open events as a benchmark in world-class freeski competitions.

Photo: Camilla Stoddart

Volkl NZ Freeski Open Underway!

The Fifth annual Volkl NZ Freeski Open, which covers three major freeski disciplines: Slopestyle, Halfpipe and Big Mountain, is underway. 

Establishing itself as the biggest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere and attracting athletes from across the globe, the Volkl NZ Freeski Open has now been officially recognised on the international freeski World Tour alongside the world’s biggest freeski events.

The North Face Big Mountain is the first-ever Southern Hemisphere Freeride World Qualifier Event, while the Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) is including the Slopestyle and Halfpipe as an AFP points event.

The big mountain qualifiers were postponed yesterday due to bad weather at The Remarkables however today they are good to go! The final will be held at Treble Cone tomorrow in the Matukituki Chutes in the saddle basin. 
The Slopestyle will be held at Cardrona on Tuesday 18th August followed by Halfpipe on the 19th. 

Members of the Racers Edge Freeride Federation team including Amy & Lyndon Sheehan, Mikey Austin and Jossi Wells are competing in the event so best of luck!

Racers Edge Federation Team...click here to check them out!

Mikey Austin Open 2008

CARDRONA DISABLED NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The first day of the Cardrona Disabled National Championships concluded yesterday with Paralympian and World Championships silver medallist Adam Hall taking home gold in the Super Giant Slalom (Super G).

Hall, 21, of Wanaka won the Open Mens Super G with a time of 44.74 seconds. 

“The snow conditions were fantastic and the course was in great condition for racing,” said Hall. "The Cardrona event crew did a great job."

Second place went to teammate Pete Williams of Auckland who finished with 48.45 seconds. Peter Baddeley of Christchurch placed third clocking a time of 58.92

Yesterday was the first day of racing of the Disabled Snowsports National Championships, with more racing set for the rest of the week including the first World Snowboard Federation (WSF) Adaptive Snowboard World Championships.

The competition for disabled skiers and snowboarders is one of the highlights of the week-long Adaptive Snow Sports Festival, from 26-31st July.

Challenge Roth - the biggest race of my European season took place one week ago

It will be a race for the history books marking the world's fastest women's time over the 3.8 - 180 - 42 distance now set at 8.31.59 - by Chrissie Wellington (UK). She commented that outside Kona, this women's field was the strongest in the world. Behind her, Rebekah Keat (Aust) finished under the former world record and another 2 women finished under the 9 hour time. Chrissie remarked that whilst she'd like to be the fastest for the longest, she believes that records are made to be broken. She hoped that her achievement proves that nothing is impossible and that it will inspire others to do more.

For Challenge Roth, a further 6 new records were made. For New Zealand's record books, Richard Ussher is now the fastest man ever over the distance and was the surprise dark horse on the day finishing in remarkable third place, beating two Ironman World Champions and two of the three race favourites. The race favourites were also beaten by 'second ranked' German athlete, Michael Goenner proving that anything can happen in races such as these. Performance is only as good as the athlete on the day.

Race conditions were ideal for racing - cool (low 20's), light winds and some cloud. The cracking pace set from the front of the race by 'Stormin' Norman Stadler and then Chrissie and Rebekah in the women's field meant that many top athletes suffered, having pushed themselves harder than they were prepared for. Unfortunately, top NZ athlete, Gina Ferguson was among these and was forced to withdraw due to physical breakdown.

I resolved to reach the finish line under 10 hours and made it to this magical line in 9.55.25. Just 3 minutes slower than my best ever time in 2008 and in the same placing overall (15th).

Challenge Roth 2009 was just not my day. I feel disappointed that I didn't reach the goals I wanted but I have still been showered with supportive messages from family, friends and contacts congratulating me on my race. I don't feel deserving of these compliments but one reminded me that I am not a machine, I am human and we all have bad days in the office. The value in this race is in what I can learn for the next one.

Thank you, dear sponsors, supporters and friends for your help to get me to the start line, and support to help me to the finish. I'm not giving up here either: I've booked my flights to Canada and am considering some middle distance races to take me to the end of the northern hemisphere summer.

Merryn getting ready to race!

Merryn is getting all organised for her biggest race of the year – Challenge Roth. 

This triathlon includes a 3.8 km swim, a 180 km cycle and a 42km run and will take place on July 12th. There are 4217 starters from 51 different nations competing including 2462 men, 318 women and 479 relay teams. Prize money of 15,000 euro is up for grabs for the top man and woman. 
Merryn has been recovering from Challenge Kraichgau and getting all ready to go for her next big race.....
“This last week, included two of my hardest training workouts: I ran 2.5 hours in the rain as part of a brick session on Tuesday and biked 180km on Friday. My energy tanks felt pretty much empty by the weekend, but that was perfect. Now I am able to taper and concentrate on resting as much as possible to fill those tanks up. I have shorter workouts now, with a little intensity to sharpen me up.”

We will keep you updated with how Merryn goes in her race but for now we hope you are out there enjoying the snow...bring on the sunshine!

NZSIF Industry Demo Day at Cardrona!

Racers Edge had a stunning day yesterday up at Cardrona for the NZSIF industry demo day! 10 of the luckiest staff members got a day up the hill to try out what the 2009 ski industry had to offer.... Not only did the sunshine show up to the party but our favourite ski suppliers Volkl, K2 and Atomic were there letting us have a blast on their new gear. 
A few of the favourites were the Volkl AC50, the Atomic D2 and the K2 Apache Xplorer. It was great to test out all of the different options as we are now able to pass this information on to our customers. Racers Edge will be hosting their demo again this weekend so make sure you stop in and trade your skis for a couple of runs!

To check out more pictures... click here!

GREAT OPENING WEEKEND!!

Cardrona and Treble Cone opened up their gates with a fantastic start over the weekend!! 

Both mountains have great snow and beautiful weather up above the inversion cloud that has been looming over Wanaka for the past week or so. All chairlifts are open at both ski areas which is an impressive feat for this time of year. 

Racers Edge had their first Demo day up at Treble Cone yesterday and will be up there again today so if you are heading by stop in and have a try at some of the new ski range for 2009!! Charlie and Kevin will help you choose the ski that is right for you, your ability and the current conditions so swing by and have a chat. 

Demo days will be running every weekend throughout the winter so don’t be afraid to go for a couple of runs on some of our new skis, however we are a little weather dependant so give us a call down at the shop if you are interested or want to know which mountain we will be heading to that day. 

Racers Edge also has their rental up and running, we open at 7.30am and can get you set up quickly to get you and your family up on the hill. We have the best skis in town with loads of new skis in our executive rental fleet this year. Our staff are fully trained to select and set you up with the most suitable rental ski or snowboard equipment for your day on the mountain. 

As for the week ahead we hope that you all get a chance to head up there and enjoy the sunshine like we did on the weekend.... Bring on the snow!!!

Wanaka Winter Season Starts tomorrow!!

Cardrona will be opening up its gates tomorrow with an awesome start to the winter season..

They have a 100cm upper ski base and are bragging good cover on all aspects which should see their opening day to be a great one..! Snow making has been "filling in the gaps" but they have been getting their fair share of snow over the last couple of weeks..

Treble Cone is not far behind opening on Saturday with a 110cm base in the Saddle Basin... They have been making huge amounts of snow this week and claim all trails are ready to open! 

So.....get into that back cupboard and dust off that ski gear if you haven't already because 2009 is set to be an awesome season!!

Great start to winter in Wanaka

The surrounding mountains are white and more is on it's way. It has been an extrordinary May in Wanaka this year with a much colder temperature than previous years. The saying snow in May doesn't stay could be eating it's own words, with more snow on the way to top up an already pleasing dusting. This is reason enough to wipe the cob webs off your skis, get them tuned up or come visit Racers Edge either online or at 99 Ardmore St, Wanaka to find yourself the latest in ski and binding technology.

Canterbury has also been slammed by the southerly blast and up to 100 keen skiers in canterbury were hiking the new 90cm of snow on Mt Hutt yesterday. The ski fields are anticpating a great start to the season so don't be lazy with you pre-season ski fitness and ensure your equipment is up to the mark. To all those passionate skiers, HAPPY WAITING!

RACERS EDGE ARE PROUD TO SPONSOR MERRYN JOHNSTON

With a time of 10 hours, 3 minutes and 56 seconds Merryn Johnston took out 2nd place at Challenge Wanaka, shaving off over 30 minutes from her time last year and earning her a podium position for the first time ever racing in the Pro Women division.

Challenge Wanaka is a gutt wrenching 3.8km swim followed by an 180km road ride and then a 42km marathon run. Merryn finished the swim leg in 3rd position behind event winner and course record setter Gina Ferguson, and Hillary Biscay 3rd time pro women competitor. The weather held out during the swim with a mild westerly chop on the lake and gave the first half of the bike leg a nice tail wind, however the turning point at Cromwell faced them into a massive headwind.

Merryn came off the bike 2.15 minutes behind Hillary Biscay who was in still in 2nd place, but early into the 1st lap of the run leg Merryn hit the afterburners and started the 2nd lap of the run 2.30 minutes ahead of Hillary. With the support of her local crowd Merryn dug deep and finished in 2nd position 12 minutes ahead of Hilary, putting her on the podium and some cash in her pocket.

Local outdoor retailer Racers Edge were stoked to sponsor such a successful event that captured the entire towns support and got everyone buzzing. Racers Edge also sponsor Merryn and they were ecstatic with her performance. "Merryn is Wanaka's wonder girl that works for Racers Edge part time, and offers many customers tips and advice for training, she is extremely modest and will do anything to help anyone", said Charles Cochrane a director of Racers Edge. 

Merryn was in top shape heading into the event, having spent a large proportion of the year training for such Ironman events. During the middle of the year she headed to Germany to compete in her first Pro Woman's Challenge Roth, where she smashed her personal best with a time of 9hours, 52 minutes and 22 seconds. Merryn said " Challenge Roth is the world's fastest course so the times between events are not comparative". 

Challenge Wanaka will be back next year and is expected to grow again with the introduction of a half ironman circuit.