updates

HALO 

Ive been super slack on the updates but I have some down time now so lets do thiiiis. 

I went to Australia in Tawoomba at the end of March to race Oceanias where I finished 2nd taking home the silver medal for NZ . Good times! 

Fort William Track walk 

After that was Crankworx in Rotorua which was MEGA. It was a great event until my race run where I think I had one of the biggest crashes yet… It was all on the live feed and Its up on my instagram if you want to have  a look…. ouch. BUT I only cut a big ol hole in my hip so I hobbled away from that one :) 

Currently I am sitting in a cafe in Schladming, Austria! I flew over to Europe about 3 weeks ago where I have raced the Fort William World Cup in Scotland which was a … eventful weekend. The weather caused some delays with practice , so they had qualifying and race on the same day.. which was kind of good to just get it all done! I managed to Qualify in 19th place with a horrible run, made it into the finals where once again I had a horrendous run with a crash.. Happy to have made it into the finals either way . 

Fort William post race or Qualifying..looking stoked on life

Straight after Scotland we got on the road to get to Leogang in Austria for the next World Cup.. It was a change to the cold and wet weather we experienced in Scotland which brought the mood up of living in a van . Im traveling with my friend Victoria who I met in Whistler last year, unfortunately she had a off in Fort William which has resulted in her breaking her pelvis which we just found out. She had a CT scan this morning which has showed up with a break… She's one tough cookie. Currently in the process of sorting out the best option for her.. for the rest of this trip.. decisions….

Vic and I… Home is where you park it!

This weekend I have an IXS European cup here in Schladming which should be schlippery fun as there is for cast is a bit rainy right now.. 

Peace out xxoxox

NZ Nationals / Injury Update.

Helloooooo internet. 

I have not posted anything in a while as not too much has been happening. Until NOW...

I arrived back from Canada mid October after having the most amazing time in Whistler and the two World Cups I raced in getting my best results yet. I made a quick edit from riding in Whistler , CLICK HERE TO WATCH: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/video-sophie-tyas-in-whistler.html

Unfortunately I came home with a hand injury which was more serious than I first thought, I had done damage to tendons in my hand and fingers which left me unable to grip. This took me out of riding until the start of January, just in time to race Round 1 of the NZ national series in Cardrona on my BRAND NEW 2015 BANSHEE LEGEND, I got it mid November,  do you know frustrating it is looking at a fresh biking sitting there and unable to ride it… BOO. I was absolutely gutted about the hand as it set me back in my riding and training leading up to our National series, in which I was eager to have consistent top 3 finishes.  

Cardrona race, rad shot from Sven Martin 

Now I am Extreeeeeeeeeamly over injuries. Last year was a mare so I'm keeping 2015 INJURY FREEEEE. *touches wood*. In the 4 National round I finished 6th, 5th , 5th and 3rd in the Pro Elite women. 

National Champs was just this weekend in Rotorua, held on the track they used in 2006 for the Downhill World Championships.. the first time a race has been held on it since then. IT WAS AWESOME. The Rotorua mountain bike club (Descend Rotorua) and Empire of Dirt are getting it ready for Crankworkx NZ which are being held at the end of March. Everyone is extremely excited that this HUGE bike festival is being brought to the bottom of the Southern Hemisphere, which will be great for New Zealand and the Mountain Biking Community. Its a push the sport needs and fingers crossed we will get some more young girls get into it… A major lackage of gals coming through right now…common girlys, its not that scary. 

Crashing in my race run in Christchurch..Opted for the harder high line..it got me that time

The Track was proper DH GNAR. Wild. Loose. Big ol rock garden, Jumps, techy, fast grass section.  I was having a lot of fun and it tested your skills for sure. On the morning of race day, I had a big crash down a chute, hard into a tree with my head… just so happen to be the same tree my friend Vero got knocked out the day before on..I was very lucky. I was a quite shaken up afterwards and had a headache for the next 2 days :'(  This was the biggest crash I have had in a while and it knocked my confidence a back as it was so close to race run. 

I managed to place 3rd in Elite women taking home the Bronze Medal, although I wasn't very happy with my seeding and race run as I felt I held back and didn't push it as hard as I wanted. In saying that, I am just happy I even got to race National Champs this year as last year I was unable to because I broke my back . ( Which I just found out the other day that I broke it!! Chriopractor X-rayed and said it had been broken…what in the world) 

Showing off the 2015 Banshee Legend.. what a Beaut!! 

Next week Im off to Australia to race the Oceania's in Tawoomba. I am happy to be back riding and having a great time, slowly getting back to where I want to be. It is very frustrating but I know I will be back up to speed very soon…. :) :) watch out world 

Thanks again to everyone supporting me, MUM + DAD, Nana + Grandpa. Bruce at 3Sixty Sports , Aaron at ARC engineering LTD , Banshee Bikes, Halo Wheels 

xx

3Sixty Sports team looking swag, cheeky boys. 

Windham World Cup

Before I arrived in Windham on the Tuesday evening, I spent a lovely night in Chicago Airport due to lightning storms so I missed my connecting flight to Albany NY. Sleeping on my bag whilst one leg is wrapped around my bike box for full security.. Was seriously scared I was going to wake up in the ghetto. Great first night in the US of A #freedom. 

Finally arriving to Albany the next afternoon, having to cram all my belongings into a tiny little Fiat, the wee two door car with myself and Jamie Hill. Two bikes, two big gear bags, tools, extra wheels and everything in-between... all held down with a single shoelace with the boot half open!! I seemed to have picked up ultimate packing skills over the years, being able to fit as much as possible in to the smallest amount of space, gypsy101.  

The Windham track was short, compared to the long Mount Sainte Anne it was totally different, very much one line down, fast, very fast . I don't think I had ridden a track that tapped out before. First run I was like woooo this is crazy yalll, but I adjusted to it and embraced it once again. The jumps where big and fast, ok everything was very fast. Hitting big jumps for the first time is quite scary for me, but I feel I am improving day by day, sending and getting air time is getting more fun rather than being a total cat about it. 

Jarna, Alanna, myself and Ralph all loving freedoms . 

My qualification run down the hill was together but not as fast as I wanted. This track you could totally let it go in some sections, but it was finding the in-between where you could go as fast as you could but be not totally out of control. I have got my confidence back riding but seriously still don't feel like I am up to speed as I was before my injuries. I know I can go a hole lot faster..it will come. Emmeline and Josh this weekend where flying, so much respect. Also the times where ridiculously close for the lads, so happy for Blenki and Brook, two kiwis on podium :) I came down in 17th place for qualis so made it in yeoooooow :) :) Also put on a sweet show, full ronnie back the last big sender, had a bit of a swap out..everyone was quite surprised that I was able to ride it out and not crash..skills.

Race day, track was more blown out as per usual, big ol holes and more dust.  I wanted a fast together run which I tried to do. I felt as it could have been a lot faster, but I did the best I could. I finished in 15th place, which is my best result yet. 

Now Im headed back to Whistler for Crankworkx to compete in some of the events there. Windham will be my last World Cup for this year, due to lack of funds, I will also not be able to make it up to Norway for World Champs which is really gutting as that track is amazing and Im feeling good. Hopefully next year I will be able to make it to Andorra for the World Champs there and also be able to race more of the World Cup circuit. 

Peace! 

xoxo

Mont Sainte-Anne World Cup

Having spent the month leading up to the Mount Sainte-Anne World Cup in Whistler riding/ training everyday this prepped me well. It  was FINALLY going to be my first World Cup of the 2014 season, I went in with an open mind, wanting to have fun on my bike but stay on. 

Track walk got me extremely ardent to ride, the fast, wide open track. It had plenty of different sections varying from big berms, jumps, flat out open sections to technical rock gardens and just mega fun! Check out a helmet cam of track here:

There was not too much pedaling which was even better but the fact that it was a 5 minute track of pure gnar and speed really was tough. Holding on was a big job. 

Coming back off two lame injuries to race one of the baddest ( sickest) tracks in the world was daunting at first, especially first run, seeing how fast you could go was quite scary, the speeds where ridiculous!! I reminded myself to embrace it, then things got awesome. I ride to have fun, to enjoy myself because what is worth doing if you are not  truly having a good time, no point in being miserable..and I am never miserable on my bike :) 

Rain had been falling in Mount Sainte Anne a few days before first practice making the dirt prime condition aghhhhhh especially after being in Whistler which is very hard pack dirt, coming to ride this perfect moist dirt just got everyone amping on life. YEAHHH BABYYYYY YEAAAH

Thursday was Qualification day, to race you have to qualify in the top 20 for women which I had never done before. It is my second year in the Elite Field which is a big ol step up. It rained the night before aswell so in the morning things where sooooo much fun, I really like riding in the mud, its just a bit wilder. 

The track was starting to get rougher with big holes and ruts forming which made it hard on the body.  It dried up quickly though for the quali run. With over 40 girls where on the start list I really didn't know what to expect, on the start gate I thought to ride the best I could, the smoothest I could and just stay on. Knowing the length and roughness I sort of ruled out the fact that a few girls would push it too hard and crash out, so staying on was what I needed to do. 

Photo Credit Laurence Crossman-Emms 

My run was together but could have been faster, made a few silly mistakes but no majors. Coming over the finish line I felt as I had not gone fast enough..but when I turned round I had come down in 12th!! I was extremely surprised. Qualifications go with the fastest riders first and 30 second intervals. I was truly ecstatic to come down in that position, knowing that I had a very high chance of making the finals! I ended up in 15th wahhhoooo! I was so happy to have qualified for my first ever World Cup. Having such a disappointing start to the season this really picked my confidence up, I had not done a race since the start of March. 

Saturday was finals day, a new experience and one that I want to consistently continue on. Oh wow the track on Saturday was even rougher having all the boys do there runs after us at full pace, holes and ruts where that much deeper. My race run I got a bit offline and ended up getting tangled in some tape which wrapped its way into my cassette and derailleur, enabling me to change gears. That sucked but I had to focus on holding on. I finished in 16th place. 

My Banshee treated me well all weekend and gave me my best result yet. You beauty! Thanks once again to everyone that is helping me out this season I am so grateful. 

I am now headed to Windham for this weekends World Cup…. very excite to see if I can pull through again. 

PEACE OUT

xxxx

Whistler

Im B.C bound and its AMAZING. Whistler is where I am based which is about a hour and half away from Vancouver. The tracks are better than I imagined. I have been here for just over 2 weeks now, getting back into riding my Banshee Legend, considering I only got a short amount of time riding it before I broke my collarbone, she's loving it! 

I will be heading to the next two World Cup races at the end of this month, first to Mount Saint Anne on the other side of Canada by Quebec, then to Windam which is by New York. The following week is Crankworx in Whistler, which is a week long bike festival with many different rad competitions such as a few downhill races, Whip off Worlds and the Slopestyle! Its one of the biggest events of the year for mountain biking. 

At the moment it is about 33-35 degrees each day..it is soooo hot to ride in! There is plenty of lakes around the area so thats the best way to cool down after a hot days riding. 

I will be making an edit of riding and life in Whistler soon. Keep posted :) 

Namaste :) :) 

Injury

Since the last post, my back is almost 100% after my big crash in February, missing National Champs but I managed to ride at Oceania's on my brand new Banshee Legend placing 3rd Elite Women in the muddy conditions. I was taking it easy as I was on a brand new bike trying to get the feel of it, also not riding for a long time, I was riding cautiously.

"eww mudd"

My new Banshee Legend is AWESOME. Bruce from 3Sixty Sports NZ has stepped in to help with chasing my dream of being a Top Professional Mountain Biker. His support gives me determination to push harder and get top results. When people are supporting you, it gives you hope and belief, they believe in you. So you believe in yourself.. I am so grateful for everyone who helps me out along the way it means so much to me. The Banshee looks and also rides so well! Aaron from Alta has also stepped in with Royal Racing gear for me which looks so nice aswell, matches my bike! aint no clashing going on here :) The Royal gear is so light weight and drys quickly which is very handy after a muddy day of riding. 

Leading up to my first World Cup of 2014 which was going to be Cairns in Australia, wasn't too good because of the back but physio 3 times a week was very helpful for rehab. I had been training 3 sessions a week with my coach Aari one on one, mainly just getting my strength and fitness back up to scratch. Riding gondola, dirt jumps and trails on other days too. All was going well and I was getting very excited to be back on the World Cup scene. 

I flew to Cairns on the Saturday a week before the race (because flights where unbelievably expensive around easter!) to get some riding in and adapting to the humidity! 30 degrees plus everyday....

On Sunday I decided to go riding with the guys I was staying with, Eddie and Wyn masters and Casey brown. We were just riding local tracks, shuttling on the main road. The track was fast and loose, anyhow on my 2nd run at the top of the track, there was a fast drop in to a corner.. my front wheel slid out from under me on the corner and I managed to brake my collarbone.. I rode down the rest of the track as I thought the pain would just go away but no..it cut me deep.in the HEART 

I knew it was broken when I did it, I just didn't want to face the fact. Absolutely gutted, such inconvenient timing...no words can describe how I felt.. WHY! Coming back from my back injury, this was just a huge disappointment and set back even more. I was planning to race Fort William, Scotland in a month or so for round 3 of the World Cups, now I will have to see how this heals up.  As it is broken on the end of the bone, it is an Uncommon brake with a higher chance of not healing right...so I am pushing for surgery as it will heal faster and stronger. 

Injury. I never really get injured that much but the start to this season has been horrible. I know it can be turned around though so I am staying positive. I hope to come out stronger mentally from this, giving me determination to get back racing as soon as I can. Like I said on my last post, downhill is a high risk sport and sometimes you pay the price, without consent!

Plans now are to try get surgery sorted here in Christchurch then see what happens from there. I will defiantly be racing some World Cups this year, my plans are now in the open because of this. Everything will work out and be fine :) 

Once again, thank you so much to everyone that is supporting me and helping me out. I will come back stronger! 

Peace xx

Queenstown

Relocating to Queenstown for the summer has been awesome!! So much riding and so many activities to be done!  Working a full time job Monday to Friday doing gardening, saving up for  2014 overseas racing adventure. 

Queenstown has been so good for my riding, having the gondola very assessable as it is open till 8pm, so riding Downhill after work isn't hard at all. Also Wynyard just down the road with Dream track and Mini Dream jump park has been very good practice for my jumping skills and my confidence with jumping is so much higher now. Also Gorge Road, the renowned dirt jump park with the most amazing lines, sculpted perfectly for Bmxers and Mountain bikers. I have been down there on some of the boys dirt jump bikes, practicing as it is a very good skill to have. 

Coronet Peak is so much fun with awesome trail riding tracks which you can just bomb down, ahh endless amount of tracks I could go on about all day! Its a pretty decent place to live, if you love riding your bike. 

With NZ nationals this year I was able to race two, Christchurch and Nelson. In christchurch I  placed 2nd in Elite and at Nelson I was 1st, it is my faveourite track swell so was very happy :) 

Unfortunately about 3 weeks ago I had a big crash on my Downhill bike up the Gondola, a big over the bars and flying though the air to landing on my back very hard. And a trip to the hospital..  The ground up there when it hasn't rained for a few weeks, it is rock hard. SO HARD. Two weeks out from National Champs after I had been feeling so confident and felt like I was progressing well on my bike, I was unable to race Nationals because my back is yet to recover fully. Muscular damage / Muscle spasm has kept me off my bike since then. I could hardly move when I first did it but it is getting better with the Physio, stretching and resting that I have been advised to do. 

Very disappointed at the inconvenient timing that this happened, as Oceanias is in less than 3 weeks and am still having many problems with it. I know I will not be in top form for oceanias as missing out on so much training and riding time will defiantly effect me. Time will tell and I shall see how it is by then. 

Main goals are for the World Cups and international racing this year, so I will focus on them.  Injury happens and especially in downhill you have to expect it every now and then..

xxx