Cannonball MTB Festival: ODI Dual Compressor - Photo Epic

Dec 4, 2015 at 8:20
by Ben Stevens  
Cannonball Festival was once again graced with perfect blue skies for the first official day of racing. The RockShox Dual Compressor was the first event scheduled for the weekend’s festivities. A fast paced head to head race, down what could only be described as a downhill BMX track Filled with side by side berms, loads of jumps and a little bit of open track for riders to have a go at overtaking their rivals.

Looking down Thredbo Valley
  Looking down Thredbo Valley

The day started out busier than the last with all remaining entrants turning up to register and all of the team tents being set up in the race village. Practice was open in the morning for two hours before timed seeding began at 11:30. This gave riders just enough time to get a couple of runs in and work out the best race lines to make sure they qualified in the top 8 to have the chance to race head to head through to the final and hopefully the win.

Thredbo s master on the mike Danny Taliana can be heard all throughout the weekend filling the air with quality commentary.
  Thredbo's master on the mike Danny Taliana can be heard all throughout the weekend filling the air with quality commentary.

Major sponsors Sram and Rockshox set up the tents early today and were full in no time servicing bike and looking after the racers.
  Major sponsors SRAM and RockShox set up the tents early today and were full in no time servicing bike and looking after the racers.

There were a number of riders in the Elite men’s field that chose not to race Dual Compressor, focusing their efforts on the Flow and Downhill races over the coming days. This did not however affect the quality of racing put on by the remaining pro’s that were keen to race including Top Australian riders Thomas Crimmins, Graeme Mudd, Chris Kovarik and Jackson Frew who’s stepped out of Juniors to race Elite this weekend.

As the heats narrowed down the field, the final two Elite men happened to be old 4X rivals Blake Nielsen and Graeme Mudd. Mudd had qualified fastest in seeding, giving him a slight advantage in having the choice of start gate. It was not quite enough and Nielsen took the win at the end of the day. The final for the Elite females came down to local Thredbo riders Tegan Molloy and Kellie Weinert, with Molloy in great form taking the win.

One of the events main organizers Timmy Windshuttle does a bit of everything to make sure it all runs smoothly throughout the weekend.
  One of the events main organizers, Timmy Windshuttle does a bit of everything to make sure it all runs smoothly throughout the weekend.

No compressor racing for these boy s. Remy and McMillan off to cut some Downhill laps in the sun.
  No compressor racing for these boy's. Remy and McMillan off to cut some Downhill laps in the sun.

All systems go in the Rockshox tent today. Setting up a rear derailleur is a fine art.
  All systems go in the RockShox tent today. Setting up a rear derailleur is a fine art.

Prime location for viewing the finish line action.
  Prime location for viewing the finish line action.

Lots of different lines to take on the way into the finish
  Lots of different lines to take on the way into the finish.

Full speed only moments after the start gate.
  Full speed only moments after the start gate.

Muddy at full speed leaving out the style to finish on top in the seeding runs.
  Muddy at full speed, leaving out the style to finish on top in the seeding runs.

Frew raced well today ending up in 4th place after Daniel Campbell beat him by a nose in the small final.
  Frew raced well today, ending up in 4th place after Daniel Campbell beat him by a nose in the small final.

Neilsen didn t even break a sweat taking the win.
  Neilsen didn't even break a sweat during the heats.

45 seconds down and then a long steep push back to the start gates.
  45 seconds down and then a long steep push back to the start gates.

Anthony Elliott getting in the zone while waiting for a clear track and the heat to start.
  Anthony Elliott getting in the zone while waiting for a clear track and the heat to begin.

When your that far in front its the right thing to do and throw in a whip for the crowd.
  When you're that far in front throwing a whip for the crowd is the right thing to do.

Sprinting for the holeshot. Many races were won and lost here.
  Sprinting for the holeshot. Many races were won and lost here.

Molloy laying it into one of the dual berms at the top of the track.
  Molloy laying it into one of the dual berms at the top of the track.

Style for days in the junior Final.
  Style for days in the Junior Final.

Blake Neilsen timing the jump to perfection putting him in the lead early and knocking Chris Kovarik out of the heats.
  Blake Neilsen timing the jump to perfection, putting him in the lead early and knocking Chris Kovarik out of the heats.

Neilsen and Frew battling it out in the heats. So many races throughout the day came down to the wire.
  Neilsen and Frew battling it out in the heats. So many races throughout the day came down to the wire.

Many riders opted for a hard tail today. Mudd show text book style through this dusty berm.
  Many riders opted for a hard tail today. Mudd showed text book style through this dusty berm.

An awesome race in the mens final with the boys finishing with only a bike length in it.
  An awesome race in the men's final, with the boys finishing with only a bike length in it.

Cannonball ODI Dual Compressor

The Race Village set up ready for the weekend.
  The Race Village set up ready for the weekend.

Elite Womens Podium. Tegan Molloy Kellie Weinert and Sarah Booth.
  Elite Women's Podium. Tegan Molloy, Kellie Weinert and Sarah Booth.

Elite Mens Podium. Blake Neilsen Graeme Mudd and Daniel Campbell
  Elite Men's Podium. Blake Neilsen, Graeme Mudd and Daniel Campbell.

View the course preview.

Finishing up in the early afternoon it was a great event to kick off the weekend, getting riders and spectators alike ready for the Pump track event to be held later in the night.


MENTIONS: @ThredboResort / @SramMedia / @benstevens



Author Info:
benstevens avatar

Member since Sep 25, 2014
19 articles

4 Comments
  • 4 0
 Awesome article Ben, wishing I was there for sure. Looking forward to the rest of the weekend's coverage.
  • 1 0
 Thanks mate, it was a fun weekend. So busy with all the event it holds, but stoked with what I got out in the end.
  • 1 0
 Commendable! So many articles - thoroughly enjoyed it Ben. See you soon.
  • 1 0
 sweet







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