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Brief 2014 Recap

12/26/2014

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The season started off slow for me with training all through the New Zealand summer to get ready for the USA, world cup in Berlin and at the latter half of the season in Argentina and back to USA. Results wise could have been a lot better but knowing I put my heart and soul into this year, sport and life was my main goal which I achieved in my books. Even though results on paper weren’t what I was looking for, glimpses of what I can achieve when I align all my planets align is what I am excited about moving into the 2015 season and further that chasing the Olympic medals in 2016 giving me the motivation to keep on keeping on.

This year also marked my first full year of becoming a fulltime BMX athlete and I still to this day wake up every day excited, happy and looking for challenges of how I can make myself better than the rest and reflect and appreciate what I have which I am forever grateful for.

Another big passion of mine has been giving back to the riders developing and coming through into the elite level along with coaching around the country which will also carry on into the New Year and next season.

This year has had its ups and downs but what has stayed up this year is all the support around me. Firstly I want to thank all my sponsors for believing in me and making it possible to live my dream and wake up every day and better myself as a person and as an athlete as well as allowing me chase my dreams and aspirations in BMX. Royalty bikes, Box Components, Ride 100%, BikeNZ, Gatorade, Crown kiwi and Outdoor tech. Also a big thank you to all the coaching staff and support staff in my corner batting and believing in me, without you guys this journey wouldn’t be possible! Another thank you goes out to Massey University Academy of Sport, the Prime Ministers Athlete Scholarship and Taranaki Elite Athlete Foundation for helping me move forward in my education, something I never thought I would further. And lastly a big thank you to my friends family and girlfriend for sticking by me this past race season and beyond.

All that said, Thank you all for the support and following, stay safe, see you around the track in the near future and I’m looking forward to taking on 2015 head on! #nine4nine

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UCI races, Knee problems and the daily grind

12/21/2014

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It’s almost the end of the 2014 year and damn has it gone by fast. Since my last update I have gotten back into the full swing of training from a much needed 4 weeks off.

Post North Island Titles I had 2 exams for University, one in Business Communication and one in Sport and Exercise Science. As usual I scraped in and passed the papers so no more Uni until next year, which I’m super pumped about!

I have continued running coaching clinics down in the deep south, running one in Invercargill and another in Christchurch, along with some regular coaching up in the Waikato when I am home during the week.

One thing since being back into the swing of things, I’ve had a few injuries that once again have set me back and put a damper on training and my original plan of attack of getting faster. This past year my knee has slowly gotten sorer and sorer and finally the pain was too much. Scans along with the X-rays showed a few solid issues cutting out all gym work along with deadman sprints and gate starts but on a positive at least it’s not too major requiring surgery or the likes. All these little things are teaching me to be patient and showing me even when a training plan is changed; I can still make gains on the bike which is the most important part as well as teaching me new ways of training. Treatment has seen me drive to Auckland each week to get shockwave therapy which isn’t pleasant and I don’t wish upon anybody hammering my tendons, knee cap and muscles. Fingers crossed it shows signs of improvement moving into the new year and I can get back to normal training and maybe be able to pick up a barbell in the gym.

This past weekend I had a UCI race held in Cambridge and Te Awamutu for Olympic qualifying points and almost every New Zealand elite racing which was good to see. Firstly big props to the guys who got the tracks in perfect condition especially the crew at Te Awamutu, as the conditions were atrocious but the track held up in some pretty crappy weather. Day one at Cambridge I cruised through motos into the final. Final came around and I took the holeshot and felt good down the second straight only to unravel all my hard work down the 3rd straight casing 2 jumps in the rhythm killing my speed enough to get line scabbed down the home straight ending my day in 2nd.

Day two saw rain, rain and more rain making conditions a little tricky. With the gate slippery and wet it made things interesting trying to start. Once again I cruised through motos with 3 wins coming out of gate 3 2 in the main. I popped out really well, taking the lead only to last till the first jump making a mistake and coming up short and killing my speed once again getting nudged out for the lead and I couldn’t get it back finishing once again in second. Post racing I pulled out 2 key things which I will be working on moving into my next race on the gold coast, Australia in 2 weeks. This race over the years has always been a favourite of mine and this year is looking like it won’t disappoint with over 45 elites entered to square off with. Fingers crossed the weather plays ball as I remember a certain year we had to run down the last straight carrying our bikes over our shoulder.

I have also received a Massey University Academy of Sport scholarship to help guide me through next year in sport and education which I’m super grateful for!! Santa’s almost here so I wish you all a Merry Xmas.

All for now, keep shredding! #nine4nine

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Cambridge and Te Awamutu UCI race, Knee problems, and the daily grind.

12/21/2014

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