So relieved and so excited to wake to blue skies. The deck outside my room is still wet from last nights rain but anyone who knows Rotorua knows that the trail surface will be near perfect by lunchtime. Jeff and I head into the forest for first shuttle bus and bust some laps down Corridor and Eastern Spice as well as a couple of rad singletracks that must have had the signs down. Jeff gives me a few lessons on running the phone app for his ShockWiz that I have fitted to my Pike and I push my Hightower to the limits while my body tries to hang on. Riding with Jeff Carter on his home trails means riding pretty damn fast and we leave the forest for Crankworx energised and I'm back on my game.
I finally get to try out the new Shockwiz. It gathers data from your air fork or shock and sends it to your phone so you can adjust your settings for each trail type. I'm excited to see how my #luftkappe and #shockcraft tunes will feature in the results
Jeff and I head into the forest. Jeff's having a few shuttle bus issues as per normal.."Ok, so John's taking the Landy to Wash rd, Emma has got the bus stuck on Hill rd, Brian forgot he's working today, Sarah can't drive this afternoon 'cause she's practising the Air DH, and the gearbox is jumping out of first on the big blue bus?"...just another day in Jeff Carter Land.
The ShockWiz phone app. I'm glad it doesn't tell you that you're riding like a pussy.
The next day after torrential rain and the trails are nearly dry already. Hero dirt for miles with a few slippy bits for added fun. Jeff Carter is surprisingly fresh after his 4th place in Masters at the EWS.
First stop is the media tent for food, RedBull and the latest gossip. The whole event schedule has been turned on it's head and there are a few frantic faces which only serve to stress me out so I head off to the Sram tent to get on the SWAG wagon. The Worralls team are always stoked to see me and after giving me the bird and trying to lock the door, I find the back way in and pounce on the unsuspecting new boy Logan and demand he fixes my brakes. You might think that being polite and asking for stuff nicely would work but NZ distributors and their staff are highly trained in customer services and fortunately for us consumers, the customer is always right and if you shout at them loud enough you always get your way. Go on...try it out yourself (I'm going to get in so much trouble now). So Logan freaks out and fits new brakes to the Hightower in seven minutes flat... He has a great future.
I successfully pretend that I have a problem with both of my brakes so my new BFF Logan from Sram/Worralls hooks a brother up with some new Guide Ultimates. As you can see he is super stoked to be working on the rodfathers bike. You may recognise Logan from the Crankworx promotional video where he eats shit in front of the camera.
You need a pro sticker like this on your bike if you want to get anywhere near a mechanics stand
OMG it's Brandon Semenuk. I want to go over and chat but he's one seriously serious looking dude and I'm sure he'll bite my head off. I sit in his seat later when no one's looking.
Back off Cedric... one pro at a time, can't you see I'm getting free shit?
Girlfriend...I don't know who you think you are but no one...and I mean no one tells therodfather that it's VIP only...don't you know who I am? Some random girl bogan tries to send me on my way.
There she is again...so, she thinks she can ride a bike huh? I just need a stick to put in her back wheel
Oh crap... my stick fell out. Never mind, she hasn't got a hope in hell of winning the Pumptrack Challenge.
Jeff has gone off to get some action shots while I watch the Pumptrack Challenge heats and move about looking for more SWAG. The tents are seeing lots of action, the crowds are piling in and the racing starts getting really intense as Keegan Wright and Caroline Buchanan are riding hard and seem to be unbeatable, and smash out each run with style to take the top spots to loud cheers from the crowd.
My home boys Jono Drew and brett Tippie getting the goods from Brandon Semenuk. I'm still too scared to get amongst it but I make my move.....
"Make like a punter and take a hike buddy". Brandons' security detail see me off. Sorry fellas (crap that was close...)
Oh my lord... acid flashback to the nineties and Cycle Services, 174 Cuba st. Wellington
"Tippie...just try that again but with a little more pazazz". Sometimes when you want a job done properly you need a professional on the job. Yes... I'm a legend on both sides of the camera. The Tip gets the lowdown from our very own George Brannigan. photo: Jono Drew
Jamie from Blueshark is one of the NZ Fox agents service specialists
Intense Factory Racing. It can't be easy servicing bikes in a paddock "Crap where'd that washer go?"
This happy laddie wanted my autograph. "What's your name buddy?".. "Kyle, Kyle Strait, I compete at the RedBull Rampage".... "Woah there big fella, just calm down, I don't want an auto-biography"...Kids these days.
The KING. Long Live The King. Matt Walker can do way more than just dominate Tinder. Damn...there's that girl again.
Neil Kerr from Spoke and Jeff Carter from therodfather.co.nz
Keegan Wright and Adrian loron battling it out. photo: Jeff Carter
Action photographer Sven Martin and a Maori Tiki's arse. photo: Jeff Carter
Adrian Loron gets unwittingly fisted by Caroline Buchanan..(I've seen her somewhere before?) photo: Jeff Carter
The lefthand tracks far end berm had more holes than therodfathers resume so the Empire of Dirt guys were kept busy repacking between runs. photo: Jeff Carter.
Micayla Gato, presenter and Challenge Enduro winner. And Jenha White from Shine PR, the Crankworx promotions company. photo: Jeff Carter
"Would you guys get out of the way..I'm trying to take photos...can't you see my media pass?" Cody Kelley, Richie Rude and Blenki rub shoulders with therodfather.
Crap...it's the feds. I bet those bastards from Pinkbike set them on to me.
A media pass means you can go wherever you like...and look over anybody's shoulder.
If you have a crowd phobia (or a 51 year old bladder) you can watch the action on the big screen.
With the racing action over for the day we head into town and meet up with Emma, Southstar Shuttles newest driver, and cruise the food market for dinner before we head a block south to settle in for the three way joust for top spot in the Deep Summer photo challenge where three photograhers show a series of photographs that they have taken with their own group of riders following a list of guidelines from the organisers. Mad Dog boris takes top honours.
Jeff, Emma and I hit the night markets for dinner before the Deep Summer photo competition.
There was a huge crowd there to see Jay French, Digby Shaw and Mad Dog Boris battle it out for the win.
It's not Rotorua if you haven't got a group of drunk locals heckling the event.
Then off to the final event... A pre release of a new bike movie starring Josh Bryceland and a band of misfits travelling the good ol' US of A with a quick foray into Canada, to keep the spirit of Stevie "Chainsaw" Smith alive.
Then a couple of beers and a bit of pro spotting before the drive home to rest up before starting it all over again tomorrow.
Then off to Eat Street to premiere the Fox head movie "Ride Your F#%king bike"
No alcohol outside the barriers people. Who cares...we're all athletes.
OMG beer, sooo thirsty. Damn, it's 10 0'clock....can I go home now?
TOMORROW: We take a break from CW to ride with old friends then back at the coalface for more bikes, big jumps and party action.