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Video: One Rocky Mountain Racing - VDHS Series Round 3

Jan 29, 2015
by James Tamanika  
Views: 2,389    Faves: 7    Comments: 1

Being back at Buller for round 3 of the Victorian Downhill Series was exciting for most, but particularly our boy Ben “Beno” Hill who, although racing a different track, last year claimed the U19 National overall at this very same venue. “It’s good to be back. The track is different but I'm just happy to be racing again.”

Saturday practice and the boys negotiated their way down the dusty ABOM track, looking at different lines as the course got more and more blown out with every run. The ABOM trail is basically one flowy line, with a few sneaky Enduro style lines. Whilst the trail is fun and fast, it is not the ideal race trail for our boys and their Rocky Mountain Flatlines, with the larger wheelsets of other riders definitely making things easier, but never the less Olly, Beno, Darcy and Mitch all set about attacking the 2.5km course.

VDHS Series Round 3 - 2015

Mitchell Tamanika (U17) Junior Development Rider, Mitch, qualified 17th with an average run, trying to conserve energy for his race run. Come race time he put in a solid effort to finish 15th with a 4:23.93.

VDHS Series Round 3 - 2015

Darcy Coutts (U17) Mitch’s Junior Development team mate, Darcy, strapped with the U17’s number 1 plate, also a reasonable qualifying run to get a 5th place and bettered that result to only just miss a podium position in his race run to finish 4th with a 4:00.27.

VDHS Series Round 3 - 2015

Ben Hill (Elite Mens) Beno followed suit to the Junior Development riders, conserving during his quali run to finish in 14th. When it came race time for the Elite the course has blown out to the max, with huge holes taking over the bermed corners. Beno struggled to get the groove in his race run finishing in 15th with a 3:53.32.

VDHS Series Round 3 - 2015

Oliver Zwar (Elite Mens) Olly came into the event strong after a 3rd place finish at round 2 in Baw Baw. His quali was conservative and calculated to keep inside the top 10 but Olly, like Beno, struggled with aspects of the now blown out and deteriorated course in his race run finishing 8th with a 3:47.53.

Although the team missed the podium this round, all round it was a solid performance on a trail better suited to larger wheelsets, and Enduro style bikes. We now turn our attention to the series final at Mount Beauty where the trail is DH bike orientated and our setup is better suited. As always a special thanks has to go the sponsors Rocky Mountain Bikes, One Industries Clothing, Mountain Bikes Direct, Swift Supplements, Stans No Tubes, Jet Black, Schwalbe, Renthal Cycling, Scott Goggles, Ride 100% Goggles and Ride Fox Suspension.

Words: James Tamanika
Photos: explore|shoot|create and Jason Heidrich Photography
Edit: Cam Jam Productions

Victorian DH Series


MENTIONS: @RockyMountainBicycles @one-industries @schwalbe



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OneRockyMountainRacing avatar

Member since Dec 19, 2014
3 articles

10 Comments
  • 3 0
 Could ride that trail on a enduro by the looks! I think Australia has more to offer than what we have at the moment, just needs more exposure like this article, good to see!
  • 1 0
 Yeah didnt really need a big bike, but it was pretty rough by race time so they got put to good use. Also, most of us don't have the luxury of being able to bring up multiple bikes. Would've liked it to be run on International as we only get 1 month a year with chairlifted runs, may as well make the most of it and use manlier DH track! Despite that, Abom was a hoot, and the weather was awesome so the track was running super quick. Smiles all round!
  • 3 0
 good writeup tama! any reason they didn't run it on international?
  • 1 0
 Where were you rrish? Was a hoot. Abom ain't the hardest track but it was a hoot!
  • 1 0
 But they normally race down international. Why abom this time round
  • 2 0
 Part of the focus in rebuilding this year to encourage more first timers to have a crack. Whilst people were disappointed not to race international, overwhelmingly everyone had smiles in their faces racing abom. Wasn't technically difficult but it was a hoot.
  • 1 0
 haha @andytheaussie I've blown my knee mate, no riding for a while.
  • 1 0
 YO riish! Just this year. Focus is to rebuild... Now next season.... OOOOHHHHH MUMA! Get that knee sorted mate.
  • 1 0
 @OneRockyMountainRacing next season sounds killer then! hopefully going in for a knee reconstruction this month or next...







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