Photo Epic: Dual Slalom - Crankworx Rotorua 2021
I’m going to say it - the weather in Rotorua in November is something I won’t forget. Arriving on-site, we were welcomed by a beautiful Rainbow. The morning/afternoon were sunny and hot, if not a tad windy. Settling down in the mid-afternoon, the clouds rolled in later in the day.
Kicking off qualifications under the same hot sun, which caused more than a couple of sunburns today; the mood changed dramatically; and quickly. A few times.
Seriously.
I’ve personally never seen a weather system change its mood nearly instantly. Hot and sunny to dark, moody clouds, opening sky's dumping buckets, then back to rainbows. Don’t like the weather? Wait 5 minutes. Like it? Wait 5 more.
With the unpredictable weather came some pretty interesting riding conditions. Line choices became something more like wishful thinking than strategic planning. Riders put in more footsteps than peddle strokes through the middle / lower part of the course. Those on-site gathered to watch the carnage. And Carnage there was.
While the rain was short, it came with force and drenched the track
Seek shelter
Despite the tough racing conditions, riders were having so much fun on track
Sam Blenkinsop knows a thing or two about riding in mud with all of his DH experience
Some of them even managed to stay upright
Harriet, doing all she can to keep the wheels upright and turning in the final few corners
Once the sun came out, spirits brightened and it was nothing but a good time
Tuhoto-Ariki Pene was a madman on course letting things slide the whole way down
The dirt here in Rotorua can stick to your tires like cement and it becomes a real challenge to keep the tires digging in
Left to right: Jenna Hastings, Kialani Hines, Martha Gill
Left to right: Tuhoto-Ariki Pene, Brook MacDonald, Dan Booker
The finish to the race was as wild as the weather. Popping the berm in the first corner, Brook MacDonald seemingly handed the victory to Tuhoto-Ariki Pene, however in the second run, Tuhoto suffered a race costing mechanical in the final section of the course; handing the win back to Bulldog. Dan Booker found himself beside Brook and Tuhoto on the podium when the mud settled.
On the women’s side, Jenna Hastings, again, kept the theme of 3’s running with yet another podium, this time, finishing third. For those keeping score, Jenna finished 1st in DH, 2nd in Dual Slalom and 3rd in Pumptrack this year at Crankworx Rotorua.
A future Queen of Crankworx in the making? Stay tuned!
Kialani Hines took top place, and Martha Gill finished 3rd.
The highlight of the day, however, was the slip and slide effect of the rains. Hoots, hollers and grins could be seen and heard throughout the track. Both Sam Blenkinsop and Brook mentioned it was one of those great days on the bike that’ll be remembered for a long time.
It certainly will.
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