Downhill mountain biking news from SwitchbacksDH

SwitchbacksDH riders Mega Avalanche Results

Bad weather awaited the 1000s that descended upon Alpe D'Huez this past weekend for the absolutely mad MegaAvalanche.

The SwitchbacksDH camp had no less than 7 riders entered. Jim Stock, Mike Skinner (pro Iron Horse guest rider), Paul Aston (pro Solid guest rider) and Tony Onetime ripped in Friday's qualifying placing 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 13th!

While Rob and John Parkin from Orpheus Productions filled the shoes of non-racing McKnight..............

I had a great start and was sitting in about 6th until someone crashed in front of me flippng me over the side of the safety netting and removing my saddle from my bike. Great! that only meant 30 mins more riding time without being able to sit down and rest.

Back on the bike my mech had been bent into the rear wheel which I had to stop and repair. Several mins later I was riding again but skipping gears and a bent rear wheel finally gave out about 1/2km left in the qualifier tearing itself to pieces and with it the rear wheel. It locked, I had to carry the bloody bike the rest of the race and as I crosssd the line I thought that was it - I hadnt qualified.

Pissed off I felt rather sorry for myself the rest of the day until later that evening I got the result and I HAD qualified! Just, on row L, M being the last.

Saturday 6:00, weather - chucking it down with temps of about 5C. For more than 2 hours we waited at the middle chairlift station in the lashing rain and wind waiting to hear if the race was canceled or not. Many people were experiencing some form of hypothermia and aborted while the rest of us fools stuck it out. Then the lift opened and the race was back on.

Unfortunately the famous glacier start would not be due to snow and freezing temps up top so the Mega started on the qualifier before splitting off at lower altitudes back onto the proper Mega track.

So the remaining 350 odd riders lined up with frozen toes and feet for an unforgetable hour of carnage.

Tony and Jim suffered bad starts and lost lots of places while Mike and Paul shot off with the front runners. Paul got hung up at the first glacier while Mike had a great race finishing 13th.

Paul came in at 33rd just in front of Brendan Fairclough while Jim was 35th. Onetime finished 98th and I a sheit 217th after my pedal kept on coming undone and getting lost in the undergrowth.

Saturday night was er I think, a brilliant one seeing as the only evidence that I have of it in my memory is the 13 hour hangover the next day....

All in all an amazing weekend and definately something to be experience. I had to rush out between customers so was there from Wed to Sat. In reality this is not enough time. A full week is required if you want to practise the full Mega and qualifying courses.

The qualifier is actually the more important race, you do well in this then you are set for the Mega which means you get a chance of a cleaner start and better result. All I can say is when registration opens in Jan 09 - get in there for a week you will not forget.

Mega Avalanche 2008 results page

Added 15th July 2008

SBDH at the Mega-Avalanche, Alpe d'Huez

Come see the SBsDH girls, Isabel and Marilyn at the Mega...

Mike and some of the regular Switch-backs and Switch-backsDH guides will be there riding too but who's interested in that?!

Make sure you pop by and see us at the Mega Avalanche.

Click the link for more details on the Mega Avalanche.

Added 9th July 2008

Switchbacks DH regulars take World Championship titles

Congratulations to Josh Bryceland who was out with us in March 2008, for taking the Junior DH title in Italy and to Gee Atherton with the win in the Seniors.

Gee has proved to be SwitchbacksDHs most insane customer ever by first doing a road gap with a 10metre vertical drop on his hartail and pisspot. Then after finding this too easy, he decided to put in a back-flip on the same said gap. The first resulted in a 30 foot to faceplant stoppy and the second I had to take him to the emergency ward after the same result!?.

His victory is marred only by the fact that he beat another SwitchbacksDH regular Steve Peat (here in March '07 and again in March '08). We were so gunning for you man!

Added 28th June 2008

Stock 17th in Czech Republic

A very long and physically demanding track at Spindleruv saw Jim finish 17th this past weekend.

Added 15th June 2008

Stock 20th at Wireiehorn

SwitchbackDH pro Jim Stock finshed 20th at the Swiss DH National Cup inWireihorn. After a 1500km long rode trip and €500 over 3 days from Southern Spain direct to the race - with Jim doing all the driving, he is seeing a strong start to the year, this adding to his 16th place in Portugal earlier in May. Well done mate.

Added 2nd June 2008

McKnight signs for Howies

Yes the tree-hugging James got one step closer to full-on vegetarian mecca by signing a clothing deal with UK based independent and forward looking Howies.

Added 29th May 2008

Get well soon!

McKnight had a nasty accident mangalating his right hand. Whilst on the Uber Daddy he went over the bars and punched a rock forcing the 5th metacarple through the palm of his hand. 3 hours of surgery and several weeks later....

Added 5th May 2008

 

SwitchbacksDH signs rapidisimo Jim Stock for 2008

Jim will be sporting SwitchbacksDH kit along with fellow teammate James McKnight. Check them out this summer in Let Gets where they will be riding the French and Swiss DH Cup series.

Added 22nd April 2008

 

SwitchbacksDH and the 2008 MegaAvalanche.

Come by and say hello to us all this coming July 10 - 13th. Mike, James and Jim will be there racing.

Added 12th March 2008

 

MBUK Holiday review and SBDH trip article

Check out the new March 2008 MBUK for an article about holidays with Switchbacks and SwitchbacksDH. Find out why the MBUK guys like to ride with us and return again and again.... February 2008 MBUK SwitchbacksDH review and trip report

Added 20th February 2008

 

Current Weather Conditions

It's 18°C here, the trails are bone dry and the beers are cold. What are you waiting for?

Added 30th January 2008

 

DH Timing System

SwitchbacksDH recently purchased some Freelap timing systems for our Malaga location to allow riders to not only ride great trails but also to see how they are progressing.

Those coming out for pre-season training can now put down some timed runs.

Added 26th January 2008

 

James McKnight signs for another year racing for SwitchbacksDH.

Follow his trail of stunning victories and broken hearts/bones here or under the pseudonym Europikey on myspace.comAdded 24th January 2008

 

SwitchbacksDH sponsor the Swedish 2008 4x & DH Cup

SwitchbacksDH is a proud sponsor of the Swedish 2008 4x and DH Cup series.

For our Swedish speaking visitors we have the press release :
(2008 Swedish 4X and DH Cup Series details)

Those non-Swedish speakers can admire the pictures of last year's action.

Added 21th January 2008

2008 DH holiday season is underway

SwitchbacksDH are already open for business and have many DH oriented guests arriving each week in 2008.

A growing number of guests are opting for the freedom of riding our dry Spanish trails. Enticed by van and lift assist riding, you spend your day descending and pushing your riding skills to the limit..

Added 7th January 2008

 

Team MBUK/Santa Cruz visit SwitchbacksDH

The MBUK and Santa Cruz teams visited Spain and stayed with SwitchbacksDH.

Read about the MBUK/Santa Cruz filming and photo sessions with SwitchbacksDH.

Will Longden, Marc Beaumont and Neil 'The Don' Donoghue, Gee Atherton, Steve Peat and Chris Smith all came over to ride our trails and feature in photoshoots for upcoming magazines.
...Added 14th May 2007