AUS CYCLING 2021 DH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

FOLLOWING THE CRAZY YEAR OR CONFUSION AND CANCELATIONS THAT WAS 2020, THE VIBE FOR THIS YEAR’S AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL DOWNHILL MTB CHAMPS WAS ALL ABOUT A ‘NEW YEAR, NEW ME’ ATTITUDE. FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME WE GOT TO SEE THE COUNTRY’S BEST GRAVITY RIDERS BATTLING FOR NATIONAL TITLES AT THE ULTIMATE VENUE FOR SUCH AN EVENT, MAYDENA!

HEADING INTO THE RACE IT WAS PROBABLY FAIR TO SAY THAT EVERYONE WAS EXPECTING THE RIDING, RACING AND GOOD TIMES WERE GOING TO BE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS, HOWEVER WE DOUBT ANYONE COULD HAVE TRULY ANTICIPATED IT WAS GOING TO ALL FALL INTO PLACE AND ‘GO OFF’ AS HARD AS IT DID! MAYDENA AND AUS CYCLING CERTAINLY UPPED THE ANTE IN A BIG WAY AND DELIVERED A NATIONAL CHAMPS FIT FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS.

Okay so let’s set the scene; hosting a National level event at a (relatively) new venue is always a mammoth task. New tracks, untested systems, and many unknowns when it comes to weather kept riders on their toes for every run. Thankfully the crew at Maydena were on the ball and kept everything running smoothly. Frenchie, Rhys and their entire team on the ground down there did a sensational job. The riders were stoked on the track, the racing action was incredible to watch from the sidelines. The food/catering was amazing and in abundance all week long and certainly no one went thirsty either. All in all huge props to all those that played a role behind the scenes.

Now, let’s move on to the racing. As mentioned, this track was brand new and had challenges thrown in all the way down the track. Before the race, a preview video featuring the best riders in the country flowing down the track like it was nothing. Of course, being shot on a super stabilized Go Pro, many comments were branding it a flow track.