Europe

After 23 hours on a plane, I've finally arrived in Europe!! With two stops in-between, Sydney and Dubai,  then landed at my final destination of Munich were I met Tamara. Ive known Tamara for a few years, were I met her in New Zealand when she came over to race our National series. I came over last year aswell, she was kind enough to let me stay with her family for a week or so in Schladming, a adorable small Austrian town which is surrounded by mountains, hills, the scenery just looks too good to be true I tell ya! I will be staying and traveling to the first couple of races with her and Maria, her mum, which is a huge help, giving me the best kind of accommodation and feeding me! What stars :) Even Wally helped me build up my bike, my Austrian mechanic sorted. Dads just always seem to know how bikes and things work easily?!

As the Ulrich family live in Schladming, it is very convenient that they have the Gondola open in summer and winter. The Plani has held World Cup races before so the tracks are awesome and so much fun. I came here last year for only a few days which wasn't long enough, so now this year I will have more time here to ride and train in this perfect area, only a few minutes ride down to the gondola station through the town centre which is very cute! 

This weekend is the Austrian National Champs which are once again, conveniently here in Schladming, which I will be racing. Got the Lapierre all built up and tomorrow is practice day. This morning it looked like it was going to be a wet and loose race because it had been raining since I arrived, but the weather cleared up this afternoon and it was drying up when I walked the track. The track is mad! Theres a few sections which look like they could get pretty wild as its just roots, holes and technical, but then there are nice fast open sections. Brought some mud tires just in case the weather decides to turn around though! Local word is its going to rain on sunday for the race, that will change things for sure!

For now, I am watching austrian South Park on TV which I totally understand. shizernhusea!