3D Trail fest Rotorua

This Queen’s Birthday weekend was the date of the 3D Rotorua multisport festival. In its second year, the 3D Multisport festival this year doubled its numbers from last year. This means more competitors than ever before, all the more difficult for a 15 year old JAFAKID when the youngest category was Under 20’s…

A decision had to be made by some JAFAKIDS, as this coincided with the date of the Auckland Grammar School race in Hunua, leaving me to face some of the New Zealand’s best  with a loyal support crew of JAFAKIDS down in Rotovegas for the weekend (thanks guys!)

When lining up, ready to hit the 30km course, I was as I mentioned earlier among esteemed company. Shoulder to shoulder with national champions, New Zealand representatives and even a world champion, with a selection of tough competition on their heels, this was going to be a hard fought race.

Unusual for a MTB race, the competitors were started en masse behind a car for a rolling start. Pure, dirty speed was in order as riders spun and scrambled along the grass verge heading for the aptly named Windy road and Hill road. Many a competitor began to feel the burn as they ground their way up the gravel, knowing that just ahead lay the fast, flowy and fun corners track. Thanks to coaching from JAFAKIDS I found myself gaining on riders through corners (remember to brake before, not during the corner!) coming out the bottom with the 3^rd place rider in Under 20’s in sight. What ensued was a game of chicken; who could bust their gut the longest through the demanding ‘Old Chevy’ track, with yours truly emerging in front after a good line choice (thanks for the epic battle Ryan Hunt!). A wrong turn at a marshal point nearly cost me my, at this point, 20 second lead on 4^th place but a snappy recovery through Chinese menu held me my place. Heading down Dragons Tail is always a welcome sight in a race, with fast single track always in sight. Approaching the end through Exit Trail was accompanied by loud cheering to my JAFAKIDS support crew, although as soon as I was out of their sight around the next corner, I endoed and crashed. Oops. Sprinting down the road to the finish confirmed a proud 3^rd place in Under 20s, and an incredible 6^th overall!

Thanks to all the volunteers who assisted in the running of this event; we couldn’t do it without you. Thank you also to everyone who turned up to race, Mom and Dad for funding these adventures, and to my personal sponsor R&R sport for help with the awesome new bike. It certainly helped. I look forward to next year, and hope to see more JAFAKIDS supporting this event.