Team Fluidride recently returned from Chile where we were doing some racing, and riding the many trails around the Santiago area.
Our first stop of the trip was the Valparaiso, where Lars Sternberg (pictured) took third place overall behind France’s Cedric Gracia and Chile’s rising star Oscar Yunge in the 4th annual Cerro Abajo Urban DH. 3 time winner and crowd favorite Antonio Leiva finished 5th in what proved to be a very fast field of riders. Fluidride had a very successful day with three riders in the top 20 (Simon 13th, Zeb 19th).
After racing in Valpo, we headed for the high Andes where we stayed for several days of completely insane riding near LaParva. We were joined by Cannondale the Cut rider Chris Van Dine, as well as Amelia Colasurdo (Cannondale) and some more local riders for some first descents down scree lines high in the mountains (almost 12,000′!). The rides started in lunar shale, and descended through high alpine meadows, then into almost desert like single track. Each run provided nearly 8,000 vertical feet of descent. If you haven’t been riding in Chile…start planning your trip!
The Valpo urban dh is unlike any other race around. Check out the video to see why!
I depart for Cleveland Ohio on Fri for Ray’s 3Ride.
Ray’s MTB indoor park is the first of its kind, an indoor park with terrain specifically built for mountain bikes. The indoor park features table tops, hip jumps, a foam pit, pump track, northshore stunts, etc. The 3ride is a two day competition consisting of a Dual Slalom race, Time Trial, Street comp, and Jump Comp. Each event has individual awards, and an overall award for the best 3 of 4.
Rays Indoor MTB Park is located 5.3 miles west of Downtown Cleveland, Ohio in the Walford Industrial Park at 9801 Walford Ave. It is open from fall through winter, and on every day except Monday. For more information on Ray’s Indoor MTB Park call (216) 631-7433; www.raysmtb.co
On Feb 15th 6 members of the Fluidride squad will depart for Santiago Chile.
Simon, Zeb, Nate, Jack, Brian, and myself are going to be racing the Valparaiso cerro abajo and the RX Cup IV . We will be competing against some of the fastest racers in the world in a quest for good times and gold medals. A few of us made the trip last year and felt it was important to return to race once again. Santiago is located in the southern hemisphere so the weather will be warm. It is a great place to travel to for some winter training, being located an hour from the base of the Andes mountain range, Santiago is one of the worlds best areas for a little downhill shredding.
Stay tuned for trip updates and results.
Aug, 25th 2006.
I got 13th place today in Mountaincross.
What an amazing feeling. To go from getting 12th in slalom at the Deer Valley Norba last year, and being so estatic about that, to being 13th in the world a year later…. I can’t describe it.
The course was huge. Steep start, like Helltrack in Rad. It had theese deep pits you would jump into and out of. It was the first time mountaincross felt moto to me. Sometimes it felt like you were floating. Big 35+ft doubles and tabletops. There were so many spectators as well, and they were going absolutely nuts.
We qualified a few days earlier. It was getting fairly windy, and on the big jumps it was sketchy. I qualified 15th place which I was pretty happy about. Right in the middle, just where I was aiming for. I think top 5 was Prokop, Lopes, Rinderknecht, Tshugg, and Gracia.
In my first round I had Lopes, Lucas Tamme, and Wyn Masters, ( a local Rotorua shredder, and super cool guy) I had practiced the inside of the first turn a few times, which was good as I went inside of Lucas and pulled it off. I think he fell and balled up Wyn which gave Lopes and I a quiet rest of our run. (very relieved for the time being bye the way)
Next round I had Lopes again, Michael Deldycke, and Michael Mariosi. All who qualified top 8, leaving me last lane choice. Of ocurse I got the outside which I didn’t mind so much actually. I really came out of the gate too. I think after reviewing the video if I had been inside I may have ended up out front. Purley speculation but… I can’t help it. On FLATS too!
Anyway I didn’t expect to be in second place into the first turn, but just a bit outside (not protecting my line enough) and left the door open for M & M to get by. After that I battled back to 3rd and just couldn’t squeeze by Mariosi to qualify out. Oh well, shoulda ate my wheaties I guess.
Next year will be fun.
