FLOW Rollercoaster Ourimbah

I've never been so on the edge as much as I was on my ASR-C. Especially with the top DH section I feel I was very close to the limit. My modified ASR-C now a 96er, slack geometry perfect, big rolling front wheel perfect, long wheelbase perfect. Sub 100mm travel, XC tread and integrated seatpost, not the wisest decision. All-n-all, great day out, sweet riding with shuttles to the top. I did test the ride up ones, just for laughs, and I know why I was the only one to do so.

With the success of the 2012 Rollercoaster Series and Championships, Rocky Trail have not rested on their laurels. For 2013, Rocky Trail have upped the anti with twice as many races on four separate trail locations, Ourimbah , Del Rio , Thredbo and Stromlo. In partnership with NSWMTB and local clubs, they have created a competition worthy of the All-mountain/Super D NSW State Series title.

More mountainbikers becoming aware of All-mountain riding, the fun fusion of gravity assisted trails with plenty of flow and a small amount of climbing. It really shows when you turn up to an event like this, where there is a wide range of mountainbikes and diverse levels of riding experience. What connects the competitors is the thrill of watching other riders kicking off the start line, the cries of encouragement and the buzz themselves knowing they are in for the same treatment.

Ourimbah was the first round of the FLOW Rollercoaster 2013 and the trail selected was a mixture of aggressive downhill and rolling XC trails. Rain during the week had left the trail mostly damp with patchy puddles especially in the lower sections. A hundred and thirty riders had turned up for the event, this kept the shuttle buses busy ferrying riders and their bikes to the top of the hill.

After all the adventures practising the set course in the morning all the riders gathered at the start shute for their timed runs. Hopped up on free energy drinks and banana bread riders were set off on the challenging course at 30 second intervals. In the Elite male category it was the intimate local knowledge and skilful ability of Brad Kelly that shone through. Brad easily trumped all-rounder Jon Odams and downhill champion Michael Ronning, placing second and third consecutively. In the Elite female category the racing was even closer than their male counterparts. Genevieve McKew pipped Vanessa Thompson by just four seconds, with Lauren Mackertich placing third.