News and Info
Monday, 17 June 2013
Rockstar downhill race. 1st place!
Yesterday was the annual Squamish Rockstar Downhill race. I hadn't raced this race since maybe 2006, where I managed to edge out my friend and team mate at the time Shaums March for the win... 7 years later I figured I should contest the rockstar title again... This year it was the new young blood that put up the challenge....
Tantalus Bike Shop and the Test of Metal host a super gnarly downhill race through some of the toughest rock lines in town. This year the track was really nicely maintained and we had a great turnout of local talent. Rhys Verner and Lee Jackson, both Juniors put up huge challenge and we have all been battling it out together on Strava together this year so it was fun to actually do a real race together. Lee was hitting some crazy crazy lines that made me cringe and realize that I was going to stick to my 'old guy' smooth lines and go for a consistent race. In the end I managed to edge out Lee by 2 seconds and Rhys by 3 seconds.
*Of note, the course record of 2:28 set in 2010 by Shaums was smashed today by all of the top 5 riders and the new track record is 2:19, thanks to Dave Gillies for all his hard work on the trail buffing it in the week before the race! Looking forward to more Strava battles with Lee and Rhys and hopefully some real life rides together.
Ok... gotta go ride.
- Mike
Tantalus Bike Shop and the Test of Metal host a super gnarly downhill race through some of the toughest rock lines in town. This year the track was really nicely maintained and we had a great turnout of local talent. Rhys Verner and Lee Jackson, both Juniors put up huge challenge and we have all been battling it out together on Strava together this year so it was fun to actually do a real race together. Lee was hitting some crazy crazy lines that made me cringe and realize that I was going to stick to my 'old guy' smooth lines and go for a consistent race. In the end I managed to edge out Lee by 2 seconds and Rhys by 3 seconds.
*Of note, the course record of 2:28 set in 2010 by Shaums was smashed today by all of the top 5 riders and the new track record is 2:19, thanks to Dave Gillies for all his hard work on the trail buffing it in the week before the race! Looking forward to more Strava battles with Lee and Rhys and hopefully some real life rides together.
Ok... gotta go ride.
- Mike
Posted By : Mike Jones |
Mike has been racing and riding mountain bikes for most of his life. He grew up in Victoria, BC trying to keep up to guys like Geoff Kabush, Andrea's Hestler and Roland Green, despite the cross country background Mike's favorite time riding is on the downhill.
He was a fixture on the Canadian race circuit, including many North American World Cups and represented Canada on the National team 5 times and was the Canadian Downhill Champion 3 times.