we left thredbo today – it was pretty emotional to think after all the fun we had on the trails our bikes will be gathering dust (and by that i mean not the good dust) for the next year.
that said we got one more riding opportunity coming up: a freeride clinic at green valleys. to be honest i am really looking forward to that, particularly since the last jump on the ‘last ride’ nearly saw me book a priority slot at the nearest emergency department.
i was very tired and must have failed to raise the front properly on departure (i had done this jump so often and never gotten it wrong). i felt it instantly but at that point you are only a passenger and have the choice to either bail or ride it out.
one should never have such a clear view of one’s handlebar during a landing: note how my chin is in line with the bars and more scarily the front edge of the tyre? definitely a code brown moment. i took the hint; it’s always good to walk away unscathed from a ‘last run’.
this one was probably the longest jump during the entire bike trip, by my standards anyway. i was relieved and excited to land this one without an issue.
it’s a step up out of a compression after a pretty fast section and it takes a lot of nerve to stay off the brakes on approach. i usually didn’t have the nerve but with my mate al standing there with a camera i had to try. mid flight i was starting to wonder whether i should have brought a passport …
and this is nat’s group from the gravity girls clinic in thredbo. you can tell from the way everyone is wrapped up that it was cold & wet. natalie said it was snowing a bit as they went up for the first run (there was a layer of white on the mountain in the morning). coach jo (on the left) was clearly the most enthusiastic.
of course nat was the youngest & smallest but in no way the slowest or least skilled.
i’m so proud of my little girl. can you tell?