Rocky Trail Grand Prix Orange

Orange's Kinross trails, home of the legendary Ginja Ninja, host to numerous XCO and endurance events over the years. It's blissful winding climbs and joyful bermed descents, were laced together with some XCO-bar-biting pinches and white-knuckle off-camber loose downhills for this the first of the Rocky Trail Entertainment Grand Prix.

It hadn't taken much arm-twisting but we had a posse from Tamworth arrive late Friday after my JetBlack MTB Racing team mates had setup a prime transition position within the event centre.

After a distraught melancholy of overnight moos for those who camped at Kinross, race morning finally arrived, and it was a comfortable and mild. A caravan of cars with bikes attached started arriving and plenty of pre-race rituals were underway. The event centre went from ghost-town to down-town as the RedBull truck arrived and 3x3 shades rose from Kinross's reddish dirt.

As the countdown started, we lined up close to the front as to benefit from the short run into the single-track. It was a cracking start and while the pace was on, it felt good on legs that had seen plenty of kms over the Christmas break. Sitting behind Tamworth local and frother Justin Roberts, our pace solid over the first three laps. 

With a 2019 endurance result not to be scoffed at, we followed a pairs-team from Inverell for as long as we could. These young guys were blasting around the track and had sneaked slowly up on us, Justin couldn't take the pace, dropping off somewhere mid-forest. A couple of laps was all we could handle but this had brought us onto the wheel of a local, who was more of a match to our 4hr endurance pace.

Settled back into a sustainable pace we were caught by the leading 4hr, then eventually the leading 7hr riders. Jon Odams had the lead on Ben Fillingham as he flew by us, but a tyre issue saw Ben take the lead and complete the 4hrs first. Mick Sherwood was on a very good rolling pace when rolling with us, when we paused at transition to take on more water, Mick was up the hill and gone. Mick went on to win the 7hr.

Little did we know there was in-category rivalry as a quiet Matt Clutterham rolled behind us, returning to Grand Prix racing after a few years hiatus. Again we paused at transition to sort out our gear for the final laps and Matt slipped up the trail to take 2nd by a mere minute.

An awesome day on the trails of Kinross and a timely reminder of what cool trails we have on offer around our regional towns. Can't wait to race the next event, we'll see you there!

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Full results here.

National XCO Series Round 1 & 2

Photo: Iona Reynolds

Orange hosted the opening rounds of the MTBA 2017 XCO National Series over the weekend, with all participants facing hot, dry and dusty conditions at Kinross State Forest. The first time National Series hosts put together a couple of short and steep loops, reminiscent of old classic XC loops for both days.

With a number of local Sydney based riders attending, given the chance to race Kinross again and catch up with riders from other areas, we sealed our trip to Orange with the race fees. It was busy at Kinross when we arrived, the Juniors and older Masters were finishing their round 1 race. Rego was a breeze and we were able to watch the start of the Elite Woman.

There were a number of big names in mountain biking in attendance, across many of the categories and riders had come from almost all states to represent. Did that mean that all racing was fast and furious? Thankfully no, there was some breadth albeit just a handful.

Photo: Iona Reynolds

With any XCO racing it was super fast paced, probably something we could work on after all these years of endurance racing. Those who could punch up the climbs had the time wins, but the trails featured numerous great descents plus a number of rough blown-out ones, putting smiles on dials.

A sprint to the first section of singletrack initially sorted the groups out, particularly on Sunday when there were some already heavy legs. Flowing trail took us up to the large rock climb and from there the trail differed for the each round. Saturdays round included the longish quarts-climb, previously used in a Ginja Ninja (2015?). From there we connected up to some firetrail before the epically good North Shore trail back to transition.

On Saturday our pace wasn't super fast and over the four laps we managed to pull a few riders back from our grouping. The older categories were hot on our heel though and the fastest of them caught us and in a couple of cases, just powered away.

Photo: Russ Baker

Sunday's route took us up a few climbs that felt like we had never seen them on previous visits, after turning right at the rock climb we continued to climb for what seemed like forever, some gradual but most of it steep or pinchy. This trail was only completed three times for our category, where as Saturdays was four.

We had a good weekend in Orange and were pretty pleased with our first outing at National XCO level. Bec Henderson and Anna Bec won the womans elite rounds consecutively and Dan McConnell made it all look pretty easy in the elite mens.

They were long hot days in the sun and dust so a big shout-out to our JetBlack MTB Racing team mates and our support crews. See you all at the next event!

Ginja Ninja 250

We headed to Orange to compete in the Ginja Ninja 250, the first round of the highly anticipated Evocities Series. Many top rides from around NSW/ACT were expected to enter this mostly regional NSW series, as it has large cash prize pool on offer.

Arriving on Saturday gave us the chance to ride a lap of the Ginja Ninja course, but it would have been rude not to ride two laps for all the fun the course offered. There were some slight changes over previous years course, with a couple more deliberate climbs thrown in this year, but on the flip side this also provided some exciting descending from said climbs.

We found out that the Banjo Paterson Festival had been running all week in Orange and Saturday night was the annual night markets. The park opposite DG Cycles in Orange was filled full of local food and beverage stalls. It was a great opportunity to sample local produce and mix with the thousands that converged on the markets that night.

Riders barrel along the firetrail before beginning the race loop. Photo: CrummyMTB

Race morning dawned and there was plenty of time for a civilized breakfast with a start of 10am for the Ginja Ninja. We had secured a transition location with a JetBlack 3x3 shade that had been erected the previous day. All that needed to be done, was any last minute prep (don’t forget our race plate!) and a warm up before all the fun began.

Slipping out of the way on start the Ginja Ninja and the Mayor start proceedings. Photo: Jude Keogh,  Central Western Daily 

We managed to hold a steady position near the front of the lead bunch slipping into the singletrack within the top twenty riders. From there it was all just gnashing at the bar and stem for the climbs, and whoops of joy while blasting back down again. 

The fire was lit and burning hot, it seemed we were lapping consistently, sub 30 minutes, and keeping pace with the leading age-groupers. We were keeping a close eye on our nutrition, the day was expected to warm up and we were burning energy fast with the high tempo. Our nutritional transitions were helped out by James “Chops” Lamb who was also looking after team-mates Kevin (riding SS) and Sara (riding Open Women), and during the midst of the midday heat he was on hand with a water-spray bottle keeping the team just that bit cooler in our fresh 2015 JetBlack MTB Racing kit.

For this event we weren’t stuck in no-mans-land riding by ourselves, it was nice to have plenty of company, like Alex from Quantum Racing and Garry James of Canberra Super Masters fame amongst those we rode with.

The author on pace. Photo: CrummyMTB

As for our team-mates, Kev had some mechanical issues and called it quits well before the 250^th minute. Still managed a top three placing for a guy new to the joy of single-speed. Sara rode strong amongst a very competitive womens field only to slip outside the top 5 in the final few laps. Well done to both, as this was their first Ginja Ninja outing.

Team-mate Sara Mills in the mix of the action. Photo: CrummyMTB

While the fast guys were jockeying for their top 5 positions we went on to place a solid 7^th against the quality Open Mens group. Thanks to the JetBlack MTB Racing team and all our sponsors for their support. We rode Pivot’s Mach 429 on a 1x10 (32/standard) setup. First race outing back from servicing for our X-Fusion Trace by DIY MTB, working superbly. 

See you all next week! 

Prime7 video.

Ginja Ninja Race Report - Belinda Althaus

Last Sunday the 16 Feb 14, riders descended on the trails of Kinross State Forest in Orange for the annual Ginja Ninja 250, held by Rocket on 2 Wheels.  Unfortunately the weather proved a deterrent for some riders with a handful of non-starters, however for those that did turn-up on the drizzly Sunday morning the race was going to prove a challenge in all aspects. With the rain setting in, there was a possibility of a delayed start, but to the luck of us eager riders the rain cleared half hour prior to race start and it was a case of go-hard or go home.  

150 odd riders competing as solos, single-speeders, pairs and trios contended the fast flowing 9km circuit around the forest.  There were 4 females contending the solo elite women. With minimal fire road and maximum single track, the race was tight, semi technical due to the wet, but loads of fun.  

The race started with a mass start up a fire-road before we traversed through the single track.  The first lap sorted the riders out, with a decent section of single track up a climb in the first kilometre giving those with speed a chance to gain a break from the field. The mud was a plenty, as were the various puddles that had popped up over the morning, however this didn’t bother the determined and we charged on.

Bel is having fun mist the mud.

I was able to get into a rhythm early; however parts of the track were quickly getting chewed up after all the rain.  Corners required careful execution, descents were a little slippery but overall the track held up, and I was able to hold consistent lap times.  Around the half way mark I was keen to know my position, and when I asked my assistant I was under the assumption that the leader was about half a lap (20mins) in front of me.  In the conditions, this was going to be a massive task; therefore I made the decision to keep at the pace I was going and prevent any other ladies from lapping me.  

Lap 6 concluded at a time of 4hr 4min, and I was at the point of making a decision to push out another lap, or roll in for the day.  Still under the assumption that I wasn’t near the leader I procrastinated before making the decision to head out again.  The final lap was quiet with many riders already finished, this made for a good lap.  I finally came through transition for the final time, relieved to be finished and to finally get some of the mud that had caked to my body off.  

A quick clean up and it was off to presentations.  At this point I still had no idea where I was sitting, but was pretty certain I had a podium spot.  To my surprise, Laura Renshaw who I thought was in first came in third, myself in second and Danielle Pollock pipping me on the post by a mere two minutes with us both totally 7 laps.  

Downside for the day was getting a flat around 4 laps, however with my trusty Lezyne Trigger Co2 pump, and tubeless tyres I was rolling within a few minutes.  It was a great day out with everyone enthusiastic and friendly even amongst all the mud.  Rodney Farrell did a superb job with organising the event, and the timing was efficient.  All the volunteers were friendly and the photographers and spectators/fellow cyclist were encouraging.  I will certainly try get back there in 2015 to give this one another go!