Day 1 at Buller

MT.BULLER, VICTORIA, AUSBig day of cleanup,,, crappy weather seems to follow me around the world, jeese. Windy, Muddy, rainy, cold, foggy, conditions were less than ideal for learning the track today. Mega wind storm tomorrow too which may or may not cancel practice and seeding,will see. Hardest thing is always Visibility though, tear-offs only work for so long, fresh goggles every run, boo.

Not too many people were excited to get dirty, but once in the thick of it, the track was fairly grippy. Whole trail was built with rocks pretty much, momentum killing rocks too, so it's not the most enjoyable track, but it has good points. Takes about a minute of Narrow dicing through trees, and hitting rocks before flow kicks in in the middle. Middle and bottom are pretty good though. Nothing too crazy out there as far as difficulty, but I wasn't really going full speed, yet, so we will see. sub 4 min or something. Lot of sneaky hops to get amongst. Not a big social day either, just getting it done and going home to sit in front of the fire and dry off.

I made a really ghetto little video, nothing too great, but maybe you will get a piece of the vibe from it... http://jillkintner.com/movies/bullerTwalk.mov

Mt.Buller NTL

Coming up next week, a national round in Victoria, AUS. Bryn's little Bro Rhys is on the World Trail building crew and has been building tons of  xc tracks up there. Think the DH trail is the same ol one, but I'm not sure. Victoria state round went down this weekend. Rhys raced, as did little Troy Brosnan and a few others. Rhys set the fastest time of the weekend, but had a crash in the final to finsih 3rd. Anyway there were an estimated 390 riders or something for a state round. So who knows how beat the track will be for a national round. It's supposed to rain as well, so should be pretty interesting. I'll keep you posted.

http://www.rapidascent.com.au/BikeBuller/

Race Cancelled

ROTORUA, NZWell after an incredible day of riding yesterday, the excessive rain from all afternoon, night, and morning has cancelled this race. Pretty unlucky for me, but at least mission accomplished with a visa renewal. I'm going to have to come back, hopefully soon, and spend some real time riding here!!.

I would've hated to see the track destroyed by riding it today anyway, so they made the right call. Kitted up  and ready to get dirty though, I really really had a lot of fun with this terrain. From my first run onward I was just smiling the whole time. So fast and flowy, with fun little gaps everywhere, ruts, actual jumps, etc. Think the shuttles have problems when it rains as the big busses/ trailers slide down the hill and freaks the drivers. It hasn't really rained here in awhile, so after today it will be all caught up to last another couple months. Never fails to rain on race day.

Rotorua DH track

ROTORUA, NZHaven't ridden this track yet, but made the hike up to have a look. Pretty rad, has quite a span of steepness, speed, dirt texture, overall about 3.5-4 min I'm guessing?? Loamy dirt, roots, tons of ruts, bumps, jumps, etc. Like most tracks it's got variety. Doesn't seem like much pedaling though, which i'm sure everyone appreciates. I can see why Luke Strobel likes these tracks so much, a lot like where we live in seattle. Hold on, slam into ruts.

Anywho, here is a bit of video from an old video. Not 100% our track, but it does have most of the sections in there http://www.pinkbike.com/video/164825/

Where's Bilbo?

ROTORUA, NZ New Zealand!! Pretty easy trip really, seemed like it almost took the same time getting to the Sydney airport in traffic as it did to fly over. Not a bad drive either from Auckland, nice way to take in some scenery, only annoying part was snail speed limits on one lane highways. The slower pace is good every now and then I suppose for a nature lover such as myself.  Sun was out the whole time too, which was lovely, but just cooking my right side as I drove for a few hrs:). At the end of it I was Looking like Braveheart all dressed up in war, half n half, but with red burnt skin not blue paint. Me n Mel.

Local Rotorua sensation-Craig Pattle has been hosting me for a couple days. Been good fun seeing the town, catching up, meeting crew etc. All the Kiwi DH stars are turning up as well. Cam Cole, Amy, Keiren Bennett, Justin Leov, Blenkinsop, spotted Wynn Masters' ride in the parking lot, Brook McDonald, Nathan Rankin, Matt Walker, and Elisa Canepa from Switzerland. So it'll be a good event full of talent. I'm most excited to see my pal Vanessa Quinn though. She's not racing mtb anymore- traded it for the family life a couple years ago, but word on the street is that she is racing Track in the velodrome. Hopefully I still recognize her and she hasn't turned into a giant quadricep:).

I was here in 2006 for worlds, but having a bit more time to explore, The forest reminded me a lot of Bellingham, which puts a mega smile on my face. Same color dirt, big trees, greenery, Transitions everywhere, not quite as technical, but flow for days, I was loving it!!!.!!! perfect conditions as well- so far. Thanks to Kiwi Bikes for the loner xc machine!

Been a bit tricky sorting out a race schedule, buried deep in the middle of Bikenz website, I've finally worked it out that it all happens sat and sun, and friday they tape out the course. Plenty of people out there as the shuttle bus is running for the other tracks. Designated drinking fountains all over too, it's mtb paradise not having to take a pack or be on the look out for mountain lions, bears, snakes, or even spiders!!. Epic. Only draw back I suppose is that the stAnk from being near geothermal hot springs areas. I've got a wee headache.

NZ weekend

ROTORUA, NZ Well, it's not quite the month long trip I was trying to plan for this year to NZ, but since my Aussie visa expires in a few weeks I gotta do a border hop, stat!!!. New Zealand is the best and cheapest spot to go from Sydney, so I am off, by myself, to renew another 3 months of Australian goodness, as well as do some DH racing in one of the best place ever!!-Rotorua.

I'd like to spend more time over there, with Bryn, but as long as we have our awesome half life in mountains of OZ, it's nice to live someplace for awhile.

4 days of NZ excitement coming up..... I'll keep you posted!!!

Kayak Explore

Just discovered this little gem on the interweb. It's a feature on Kayak.com for travelers, to check costs on tickets all over. You can set the departure city, and general month that you want to go somewhere, and the explore button shows you how much it would cost to go anywhere and any time. Pretty sweet  http://www.kayak.com/explore .

Flooding

Man, the news is so dire about the Queensland flooding. Darkest day they are calling it, so much has been destroyed; Houses, cars, land, crops, food, etc. Pretty sad. I'm sure most of you have heard about it. Fire in the West, flooding in the East, Australia is in a bit of a conflicted state these days. Glad we live high in the mountains. Positive thoughts to people who are not so lucky:(

LUX BMX Store

On our road-trip back from Cairns, we stopped off in Brisbane to visit one of our good friend's new BMX shop- Called LUX BMX. Evan and his business partner Mitch have created a shop with the essence and style of NYC. A Boutique-ish shop with incredible design, product, and people:) I was well impressed, loved the store. Well worth a stop. BMX has become an art outside the race world, color, graphics, branding, etc. very impressive.

luxbmx.com.au

MX missions

Been putting in quite a bit of time out on the little 150r lately, enhancing the ol skills, enjoying the forest. Pretty awesome to live out here in the blue mountains, just so much open space. Anyway, I didn't really take too well to mx tracks cause of all the jumps, but am loving trail riding missions. Got kinda thrown into the deep end on a 5hr group ride the other day, but survived, and am gaining ground on development:). The 150r has seen a lot of new experiences with river crossings, mud bogs, hill climbs, ruts, etc. I'm no pro but having a bit more fun. Think i've advanced from Newb to intermediate:) Bryn is awesome, so I have something to aspire to, and a friend to help pull me outta the mud:)

Merry Xmas 2010

Christmas at our place this year, so just been getting ready for that. Gonna have a pretty sweet ping pong tournament, some Peach sangrias among other things, bbq, family + friends, presents, and a scraggly pine christmas tree. NBA Lakers vs Miami is on in the States xmas day, but we are a day ahead, so miss that show. I'm more excited for Lakers vs spurs anyway:) Hope everyone has a happy holiday season.

Not much other news to report, except Bryn almost rode over an australian copperhead today in the trails.  And the Galah, pictured above is one of my favorite critters over here. Always in pairs, red bellies.

National Champs?

I didn't really hear this news, but I guess USA National Champs is splitting up the Cross Country and gravity events. XC bandits will be in the lovely town of Sun Valley, Idaho for the next two years while they have yet to announce where DH will be. Nice place, close to home kinda, 6,000feet, chairlifts, all good things,,, seems pretty weird not to have DH there as Sun Valley would be an awesome venue, but I am all for separating disciplines. www.bikeradar.com

Cairns

CAIRNS, AUS Here are a couple pics from our trip to Cairns. Tropical and green, but very very hot n sweaty in the far north rainforest. 3 day roadtrip each way. Lots of riding, early mornings, swimming, etc. Rode; 96 Worlds track, Kuranda, 5 tracks on Copperload, and smithfield.  Jacobs was there, so he did some riding with us:) but there were quite a few friends up there into mtb. It was the biggest mtb spot in Australia at one point after all. Tracks here were pretty unique as far as steepness, roots, wait-a-whiles, rocks even. There is a big variety in terrain up there, guess that's partly why Bryn lived up there for 3 years. Anyway, nice to be home.

Tazzie National Round

I wasn't there, but Hobart, Tazmania had a national round on the weekend. Big congrats to Ricky Boy, who got his first ever national win, and Jr.Atkinson- Rhys, for taking the bronze!!. It had been raining a bunch the week leading up to this event, but was bone dry for the finals according to my sources:)Here are the Resutls from MTBA

Elite Male DH 1 Rick Boyer  3:10.51 2 Shaun O'Connor 3:10.71 3 Rhys Atkinson  3:13.92 4 Dave West  3:14.66 5 Timothy Eaton 3:14.96 6 Aden Wyber 3:15.58 7 Kaine Cannan 3:16.38 8 Nathan Rennie 3:16.51 9 Jesse Beare  3:17.71 10 Marcus Fairbanks 3:18.49 11 Cillian Kennedy  3:19.00 12 Robert Armstrong 3:19.84 13 Ben Cory 3:20.98 14 Criag Yates 3:21.24 15 Jarrah Davies 3:21.49

Under 19 Male 1 Troy Brosnan 3:08.71 2 Brandon Yrttiaho 3:10.49 3 206 Phillip Piazza 3:12.83

Mega roadtrip

TOWNSVILLE, QLD, AUSTRALIA The forecast was predicting massive rains in the mountains, so we decided to head north and visit Bryn's stomping grounds in Queensland- Townsville and Cairns. Get back to his roots after about a ten year hiatus. Rain seemed to follow us all the way up the coast though, and it is now extremely hot n humid. Australia's drought is pretty much over and into flooding. Figures.

Anyway, the drive is like the same as doing Vancouver to San Diego, except on a lot of single lane highway crappy roads.  Big days, but we stopped in Byron Bay- home of the most delicious Chai tea, and Bundaburg- home of the best ginger beer:) All about the small things I suppose.

Bryn is a bit of a pinner on road trips, but I like to make the most of each place, so balanced out with stops, mini hikes to stretch, etc.

Reunion time. So after seeing the house Bryn grew up in, and all the little bike routes along the way, we also rode some of the DH trails he dominated as a wee lad. Pretty obvious why Bryn is so smooth through rough rocks, plethora here, razor sharp too. Met up the the crew that inspired him so much as a kid as well, Andrew Roberts and his wife Cass, among others. All the pieces sorta come together when you visit who you once were.

Cairns is the spot where I think he really became a dh'er though. Was once a Big scene there, sort of orchestrated by Glen Jacobs. Jacobs is there now, so we've timed it perfect. Gonna check out the '96 Worlds track, see the reef, find a minjin, live off mangos,,. Those sorts of things.

Having had a similar childhood always on bikes, there are a lot of differences between countries and how people's environment dictate the paths you choose. I didn't know anyone when I was a kid who rode dirt bikes or mountain bikes, just always BMX, but the same missions through neighborhoods, same inspirational ditches/ jumps. Guess it was no mistake I lived only 10 minutes form a track, and it's no mistake that Bryn grew up at the bottom of some pretty epic hills with a crew of dedicated xc/ dh mountain bikers.

Next stop Cairns.

NEWTON'S NATION DH

Bit different story with the weather today for finals, as it poured all night n day, causing our nice little mt.panorama track to become quite a slippery adventure down the hill. I must say the competition in elite men was pretty amazing. Guess the $2060 just for the win brings em outta the woodwork. (the pic obove guys weren't standing in order).

I Started the day on dry tires to practice my sliding, but ended up on my ass, and put one spike on the front, cause someone , huh hem- Bryn, accidentally grabbed a minion instead of the other spike. Bryn was dialed though, he had the two cut spikes and something to prove today.

So many riders backed out and went home, pretty weak, but I guess aussies aren't used to mud, and without the proper set up, it was quite slippy. Not good for the promoters either, they cancelled all the other activities and events at the festival, bmx, skate, scooters, concerts etc. Just luge and the Downhill were running. I thought luging down pavement would've been a bit of a death wish, but all clear.

Anywho, With my one spike, I fishtailed my way down the track, not a stellar time, but enjoyed it and came out $750 richer. So much changes with a little moisture; lines, bike prep, warming up even when you are freezing cold, bringing extra gear, staying warm, making yourself push hard in  uncomfortable conditions, sliding around, saving it, finding the edge. Nice that we live so close, got to sleep in our own bed, make breakfast, etc. It was like any ol day of training, except, sam and all the other guys were there making it feel pretty official.

In elite men, I only got to see the last 5 come out of the start, first turn was grassy n muddy but no crashes. Kovarik had a wild ride, no spikes, grass chunks flying, slipping all over, cased the first jump. So that goes to show it was tricky for everyone!! Ben Cory looked extremely solid at that top point, as did bryn. I knew it would come down to them to beat sam who was sitting in the lead for a bit. Didn't see Sam doing much practice this weekend, but he is always a threat, obviously.

Little Rhys killed it for 5th, beating out some top riders on his dry tires. he's riding so well. Our little family cleaned up today:)

What else? dunno, except it just took an hour and a half to power wash the shit outta our gear- bikes, helmets, socks, goggles, etc. Can't ever escape the rain it seems...

DH FINALS 1. Bryn Atkinson 2. Ben Cory 3. Sam Hill 4. Brandon Yrttiaho (u19) 5. Rhys Atkinson 6. Kovarik

QUALIFYING: BATHURST, NSW, AUS Atop Mt.Panorama, a small dh course spanning 1min 20+ has drawn some of the world's top talent. Newton's Nation is a big music and gravity festival, so there is a lot going on including this dh race. Somehow this one off event managed to pull together one of the best prize purses in Australia, and with that brings good racing. Sam Hill, Bryn, Kovarik, Rennie, Ricky Boy, Ben Cory, Etc just to name a few.

I made a little movie from seeding with my Contour HD helmetcam-  JILL'S MOVIE. Pretty fun little track, high speeds, natural terrain with jump features and rocks. It sort of reminds me of sea otter with the dirt and scenery, but a lot lot better, no uphills, fast speed, and chill atmosphere.

Kovarik posted the fastest time in qualifying by 4 tenths over bryn. I posted fastest ladies time. Sam and I went earlier than everyone else, He had some engagement at the Aussie supercross down near sydney, and I was the only lady that wanted to do a seeding run. SO yeah, the track is getting blown out as we progress, hot n dusty. Could change though.. .

Triple J radio interview

"Triple J will be holding a phone interview with BMX, 4X and DH legend Jill Kintner, live from Newton’s Nation! Tune in at 3.10pm Friday to hear the interview" That is all. http://www.newtonsnation.com.au/newsItems/56

So I will be on the air to speak about the festival this weekend at Newton's nation. Nice how they said I was already a Downhill legend:) Anyway, hopefully I don't let them down, or get bleeped :).

Cory Nastazio is gonna be there for the BMX comp they said, maybe you'll hear him too, I'll say hi to him for you guys. Aussies love Americans:)

Reading through the info , there is a razor scooter comp. You see millions of groms in oz dominating the skateparks, but this is a new level, comps:) Custom bars, colors. I'm for sure gonna have to see what it's all about. crazy.

CTI custom

Big thanks to CTi, for helping me out with such quality custom Knee braces!! Just got a fresh pair for moto riding this offseason!!. I have spent a lot of time wearing knee braces in my day, having ruptured both my ACLs. Did one when I was 16 from soccer, and the other a couple years ago during my Olympic experience. These guys got me through what could have been a disaster. The custom Stars and Stripes knee brace  won the bronze with me and is hanging on my wall:).

Anyway, I have tried a bunch of braces and highly recommend CTi based on comfort and performance. Bryn and I use them every week, for our Dirtbikes. Don't even notice em on after awhile. So if you have any issues with knees, or just need braces for protection, look up Ossur to find CTi Custom braces.

The art of Racing in the rain

Just finished this book, and would rate it in my top 3 of all time. It is a great story and very clever:) Here is a little summary , Check it out... http://www.garthstein.com/arr/ "Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it. "