2009 Australian Mountain bike Championship, Mt Stromlo Canberra.

Words by: Josh Button

In its third year running Mt Stromlo has been the venue for the Aussie National Champs. The track has changed heaps over the years and it is slowly getting better and better.

I arrived into Canberra on the Thursday before the race. The boys and I went for a little pedal on the XC course to get our legs spinning, because there is one thing that this course doesn't lack; pedaling.Practice started early Friday and when I arrived at the venue I was greeted with a big bag full of goodies from Fox gear and Mongoose. Young Troy and I got our new 09 Mongoose jerseys and Fox hooked us up with a couple of pairs of fresh pants, some new gloves and heaps of casual wear to rep around the streets. The kits came out looking so sick, they are really bright so they stand out and come up much better in photos. I did a few runs with Broso on Friday, we caught up on things and had a ball. I was stoked to see Mick Hannah come out for this event, I got to hang out with Mick in France mid 2007. He is the nicest bloke ever and such a sick rider. Mongoose definitely chose a great rider package.

I decided to race 4X at this event also, so late Friday Avro I went up for a few laps. It was so windy and you could hardly even roll the course without being blown off. It was no fun at all so I pulled the pin early. Friday night we meet up with all my mates and the parents at the Kingo pub. $10 Chicken Schnity and a fire engine went down a treat.

Saturday morning we had split category practice. Elite practice didn't start until 2pm so we decided to go to the rope swing into the Canberra river. We sessioned that for a couple of hours followed by some burnouts in Will's hire van and off we went to practice. It was boiling out there, the wind was pretty bad as well, it made all the jumps real scary. I did about 3 runs and had a few goes at the rock garden. Heaps more lines have opened up now so you just have to ride them all to see what suits you. I was riding pretty good and feeling fit. Later that arvo we had 4X. I quickly got some practice laps in but I wasn't riding too good. I just wanted to stay on the DH bike. Anyway I proceeded to the heats. My first heat was hard. The three BMX'ers dropped me out of the gate, I caught them in the first turn but they had a bit of a tangle on the inside so I went outside. As everyone knows outside on the first turn is way slower and although they tangled they still dropped me to the finish line.

Second heat was just as tough. I managed to get a good gate and rode alright to the finish pulling off a third.


Third heat was a disgrace, I got a good gate and was holding second. Coming up to the big jump on the second straight, old mate goes inside and trys to put me into the barrier, we tangled a bit, I lost all my speed for the jump and he got me. I kept going and tried to get him on the next off camber inside turn, I came in hot, burried the front wheel and went over the bars! I got up and everyone was way ahead. Had a laugh at myself and kept going, I threw down some style for the crowd and my night was done, no quarter finals for me.

Australia day morning we had seeding for downhill. I walked the bottom of the track and checked out this double line which I haven't heard of or seen anyone do before. You came in over some switch backed whoops, into a little off camber left hander and into the booter. I felt really good riding into that section so I thought I would have a go at doubling of this bump and using the second hump as a landing. Practice started and I came down the hill and prepared for the gap. First run in I hit the whoops sick, came into the little left hander off tap, front wheel slid out and I was on the deck.

Haha good start.

I pushed back up in the 35 degree heat and had another go. Got the whoops good, set up for the left hander, threw in a crank and sort of half committed, I front wheel cased it, forks bottomed out hard! But the 09 Boxxers wanted more. I decided to push back up and have one more go. Got the whoops sick, slid out a bit on the left turn, one crank and boosted, I nosed in, came up a bit short and did the slight front-to-rear wheel case out. The Boot'R loved it though. After that I called it quits for that line and decided to keep rolling over it.

Seeding came and I decided to have a bit of a dig. I did the top bit really smooth, but I came into the rock section a bit hot, somehow I managed to stay on. I rode the rest good and had a bit of a pedal at the bottom. I ended up seeding in 9th place which I was happy with considering how many good riders were here. Mick seeded into first which was rad.


Sunday night a big juicy steak and some fresh vegies was awesome, thanks to Lyn Lavis and the family for having me. We went and checked out the Australia day live festival for a bit which was cool.

Monday morning I was prep'd and ready to go. My dad rocked up that morning and surprised me which was awesome.

Troy Broso had his race early. He had a good run but cased the last jump hard which put him in 3rd by .3 of a second. 3rd is still awesome in the U/17's div. When Broso grows some legs those kids better watch out. I did two practice runs in the morning, both of which I crashed in the same turn. The track was so dry and skatey. A few hours to chill and have a bit of a nap and it was time for finals. Halfway through Elite men finals the wind started blowing. Reports came through that it was a head wind for the final sprint which made everyone really happy haha.

It was time and I was in the gate, a good start and a nice top section. I pinned the top rock garden and held my speed good. I got a bit sketchy off the big drop and lost some momentum. Coming down to the corner I crashed on that morning I was really cautious, I hit it heaps slower, maybe too slow but I didn't want to lose it again. I sprinted the bottom pedal fighting the head wind, cased the last jump a bit and came over the line with a 2:57.10.

A second slower than my seeding time, but the track was way more blown out.

The top seeded riders came down and in the end I finished up in 9th. I was a bit annoyed not to better my seeding time but to be pretty close to some of the really strong riders was good. Mick took the win which was so good. Two Mongoose Boot'R's in the top ten ya!.

Thanks heaps to all my sponsors Mongoose bikes, SRAM/Rockshox, Fox racing gear, Adidas eyewear, Dee Why Bike Hub, Lotek, Crankbrothers and Maxxis tires.

Overall it was a great weekend. But I am really stoked its not all over, because tomorrow we head down to Mt Buller in Victoria to race the 4th round of the National series. Im leading the series at the moment so it'll be exciting to see if I can hold onto the number 1 plate.

See you soon.
JB

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