Bromont World Cup. A crash and a podium.


Downhill is what we do. But from the get go this weekend I hadn’t expected it to go as far downhill as it did… and then make a complete u-turn.
I was having a great week at practice. At times I was feeling really good on the downhill track and pretty confident in my ability to qualify this week.
The track was dry when we inspected it and by the morning of practice it had completely changed with the downpours that ensued. But that’s racing… rain or shine I try to face the day with every intention of riding to the best of my abilities and beyond. One spill in practice and I was feeling focused for qualifying. I had a pretty good run but after last weekend I was definitely a little cautious, which I couldn’t afford when I hit a rock and my chain came off my chainring. Luckily I was able to spin it back on just in time and made it into finals.
Racing Saturday morning was met with sunny, beautiful skies. And the track was drying out again, except for a few sections that got so soaked they wouldn’t dry out soon. The Bromont course is a very rocky track, one particularly fast rocky section I felt very confident in was my quite literally my downfall during my race run. I was seen by many on freecaster.tv, spinning and sliding out of control down the rocky face, lost my goggles (which someone was kind enough to return) and managed to turn my bars so far sideways I had to stop and fix them after getting out of the rock section. I lost so much time in the process I finished last, much to my disappointment.
I couldn’t believe it.
I took my frustration and decided to let go of expectations and just ride my bike. Mountain Cross remained for the day’s competition and I needed a little redemption. I was asked during practice what I wanted from the day and I answered honestly, to have fun riding my bike. And that’s what followed. My first heat was challenging with Mio Suemasa, Anneke Beerten, and Neven Steinmetz in the gate along side me. I came across the line in second to Anneke and was into the round of eight. In a dramatic second heat, I battled for 2nd and came out on top. I was into the finals for the second time in 2 weeks.
I was up against the same three women in the final as I was last weekend in Mont Ste Anne. It was Jill Kinter, Anneke Beerten, Fionn Griffiths and myself lined up for the start.
I had a pretty good start from lane 4 and held my line, managed to get past Anneke and Fionn for a brief moment when Fionn shot in front on an inside line and took first. It was a great race and I finish 4th. I also walked away with the pride of knowing I was one of the only women to attempt the pro line of challenging doubles. That was one of the highlights for me.
This week I am in Vermont for the Mount Snow Mountain Bike Festival. Looks like it’s going to be a busy weekend!

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