Sickline 2014 - so far

For the second year in a row we decided to enter the Adidas Sickline. Dan, Richie and Rob will be taking part this year, unfortunately I'll be watching from the side due to the shoulder. 

We left England on Sunday evening, arriving in Oetz around 8am Monday. A glorious sunny day welcomed us. After unpacking and having breakfast I got kitted up for taking the roadie out whilst the others prepared to take on the Wellerbrucke. 

Leaving the boys at 10am I started the 3 hour climb up the Timmelsjoch Pass which takes you into Italy. 

Finally getting to the top of the pass in just over 3 hours the mad descent of 1700m back down to Oetz was more than welcome! Having never descended a mountain on my roadie I didn't know what to expect, but after a couple of switch backs I got into it. Tucking up in one of the straightest sections I managed to hold my bottle to clock just over 60mph!

Whilst I was bombing it back down the valley the boys were putting in lots of laps of the Qualification Course. The course has changed a fair amount. Champions Killer Minus 1 isn't as big as last year and the eddy used to start the qualification run is easier to get out of. The line for Champions Killer is still important to hit, if missed you either get back flipped or spat out into the eddy river left.

After a well earned sleep it was Tuesday morning. Feeling a bit sore from the biking I decided to join the rest of the boys and paddle the qualification course. I started below Champions Killer for my warm up run, whilst Dan and Richie started above. Managing the first run well I was back up and sat in the eddy ready to run the qualification section. Running Champions Killer requires a hard right boof stroke so I was a bit nervous about how it would go. Fortunately I got it spot on and skimmed across the boil heading for the finish line. I did three more runs before calling it a day, as my shoulder was getting sore. 

In the afternoon the others continued lapping the course whilst I took photos of their runs, which once we have a card reader (as Rob forgot it) will be posted!