World Solo Championship Newsletter

WSC Newsletter: #4
WSC
Australia
October, 2010

 In this Issue

- WSC News

- The Desert heat for a second time - 2001

- Vale Willo

- Spotlight racer Matthew Page

- Teams: Canada, USA, UK, New Zealand and others...

- It's more than just the racing
James
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24hrs of Exposure

Cotty in 2008
Stromlo
WSC by the numbers
The field had increased to 189 qualified and registered solo athletes from eleven different countries.
Roots and singletrack
 Classic WSC Quote
Brett Wolfe quote:

"Certainly people see me at a disadvantage which is kind of funny because I don't perceive it that way. I mean it's just one more thing you have to solve, it's just another problem. It's amazing to be out on the course and realize things and be able go further than people think you can - that's always fun. That's what this weekend is all about, it's a chance to go out and race for 24 hours, see what I can accomplish, surprise myself and probably at the same time surprise a few other people. As well as being a personal race it kind of influences the community, which acts as a support group, and it's good to work with them."

Mud leg
 Spotlight Qualifiers
The 2010 Australian Solo 24hr Mountain Bike Championships CORC (ACT) - April 3-4.

ASC 24hr

Go here to learn more

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The Kona Dirty Weekend is the South Australian solo 24hr mountain bike  qualifying event for the 2010 World Solo 24hr Championships.
May 8-9.

Kona Dirt Weekend

Go here to learn more

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The UK's first 24hr mountain bike endurance race for solo riders only, crowning the first ever 24 Hour MTB Champions of the United Kingdom.
May 22-23.

UK 24hrs of Exposure

Go here to learn more

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Nordic24 is the oldest and biggest 24hr mountain bike race in Scandinavia. Nordic24 is being characterized as one of the best races in the World by its participants. The course is 15 km long, in the beautiful forest just north of Copenhagen.
June 19-20.

Nordic24

Go here to learn more

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Switzerland's 24hr mountain bike race.
June 26-27.

Switzerland 124Davos

Go here to learn more



WSC qualifier 2010 logo
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 About Us

twenty4 sports inc. is the largest producer of 24 hour mountain bike events in the world under the brand of 24 Hours of Adrenalin and the World Solo 24 Hour Championships. Dating back to 1994 the 24 Hours of Adrenalin brand has hosted well over one hundred 24 hour events. 
Path through trees
How to qualify for WSC
If you have completed a previous qualifying event or you think you have enough race experience to get an entry spot into the WSC you can contact us by clicking here to get further details.
Greetings!

James 2008 WSC

Welcome to our fourth in a series of newsletters leading to the 12th World Solo 24 Hour MTB Championships (WSC) in Canberra, Australia this October. We hope you enjoyed the first three newsletters.  

Moving forward, but not forgetting...

Since the last newsletter three weeks ago so many positive situations have come forth with the exception of one single crushing loss. The news has left many of us paralyzed with emotions and struggling to find words... even now a week later I find it difficult. The worldwide endurance community is certainly a niche one and for that reason alone we need to work together to further the amazing efforts of those partaking in stage races, 100 milers, and 24 Hour races. Supporting our "tribe" when the going is good and being there when situations go dreadfully wrong.

The endurance MTB community has suffered a great loss with former World Solo 24 Hour MTB Champion - 2008, James "Willo" Williamson passing away during the Cape Epic Mountain bike race in South Africa.

He was a wonderful young man with an infectious bright outlook on life. As I closely followed any information via many forums this week, one thing I'm certain... he was a loved human being who left lasting memories in a community he loved. Mike Cotty of the UK and I spent sometime a few days ago on skype and Mike reminded me of an interview he had done with Willo which you can read - '15:1 with James Williamson' you can read it by clicking here. My final memory of Willo was at a crazy pump track party in Canberra at last years UCI MTB Championships, I'm thankful to have had that opportunity to again see his passion for life up close and personal. My thoughts are certainly with his family, and many friends.  

As we look for the sun to rise and lift our spirits we remember those important in our lives and are reminded to live each day to its fullest.
 
The numbers of athletes heading to the WSC continues to grow, 189 athletes from 11 countries are now officially qualified and registered. We welcome Sebastian Ezcurra, our first athlete representing Buenos Aires, Argentina. Additionally we have three new global qualifiers; 124Davos from Switzerland, Nordic24 from Denmark and 24 Hours of Exposure from the UK. You will find links to each of these qualifiers on the left-hand side of the newsletter. Each of these events are supporting riders efforts in getting to Australia this October.

This coming weekend our friends at CORC will be once again hosting the Australian Solo National Championships and we wish all the riders a safe and fun weekend. CORC is the first group globally to host a "solo only" event, which is a massive financial undertaking and with that said after hearing of a similar venture in the UK I reached out to Rob Lee (2005 WSC age group champion) in the UK who put me in touch with the folks at SIP (Paul & Sara) and Rory at Exposure Lights. Hosting a 24-hour event is challenging but doing so in support of a solo only field needs to be commended. We wish them the very best. I hope you enjoy the film clip below (t24hrs of Exposurehanks Rob, Mark and Rory), to view it just click on the picture of Rob Lee and the 24 Hours of Exposure - UK Solo Championships.

Rory Hitchens of  Exposure Lights UK had this to say about 24hrs of Exposure - "Solo 24hr MTB racing in the UK is producing some world class athletes and now, with the 24hrs of Exposure event, we have the definitive event to crown our first UK Solo champions. Exposure Lights has done more than any lighting brand in the UK to support events and racers since our beginning in 2005 and have played a key role in the development of the sport. We are very excited to bring a Championship event to life and even more thrilled to be awarded event qualification status for the World Championships. 2010 is the year that Solo MTB 24hr racing in the UK truly arrives!"

As mentioned above, the Nordic24 event in Denmark is a new global qualifier and it has a sold out solo category of 100 riders, plus another 1,000 riders on teams. Rico Busk has opened up an additional 10 solo slots for this amazing race for athletes looking to qualify for WSC in Australia. If you are interested contact Rico directly at: [email protected].

In other news, I'm hSportografappy to announce that Sportograf will be the official photographers of the World Solo 24 Hour MTB Championships. Thanks to Tom Janns the managing director of Sportograf who was in South Africa recently at the Cape Epic.

Tom comes highly recommended and we have partnered up with them to be our official photographers at our sold out Canadian 24 Hours of Adrenalin in July as well. I love their tag line... "photography for the love of sport"   www.sportograf.com

As I close out my piece I leave you with the following from this morning: Early this a.m. while reviewing the newsletter draft over a hot cup of java and reading Shaun's article it occurred to me that the picture used at the top of each and every newsletter features Willo front and center. There is nothing that can explain the sudden loss we all feel... and it's unexplainable that we used that photo of Willo. Thanks to John Gibson for such a great shot. Willo will be watching us all... Vale Willo.


Sincerely,
Stuart Dorland
twenty4 sports inc.

WSC History - 2001
The Desert heat for a second time

Returning to Hurkey Creek, California for the 2001 World Solo 24 Hour MTB Championships was a decision based on allowing the event to stay put in one location and grow. With both returning champions (Eatough & Lindquist) and the un-retired Rishi Grewal (1999 Champion) on hand the action was certain to be heated... the following is taken from Katie Lindquist post event release.

by Katie Lindquist

"The Worlds Solo 24 Hours of Adrenalin Championships, held September 22-23 was a heated race featuring the toughest solo mountain bike athletes! Forty-seven endurance racers, including 12 women competed for the prestigious off road, World Champion endurance title, and a cash prize. The race was held in the Southern Californian San Bernardino Mountains at Hurkey Creek Park near Idyllwild. The high desert race saw clear skies with temperatures during the day in excess of 100 degrees, while nighttime dipped into the low 30s.

This year's race proved to be epic with a world class Katiefield of racers including current 24-hour National Champion Tinker Juarez and 1999 World Champion Rishi Grewal challenging last year's winner Chris Eatough of Great Britain. In the women's field, World Cup racer Mary Grigson of Australia, this year's female 24-hour National Champion Cristina Begy and myself, defending World Champion, battled it out for this year's title. Both fields were joined by an international pack of proven endurance athletes, familiar with the "all night long" format.

The course started at an elevation of 4,393 feet. Climbing a technical two-mile ascent, riders gained 600 feet of vertical. The roller coaster course zipped riders along a couple of singletrack miles to the second major climb, summiting riders at 5,057 feet. Reaching the high point, riders began the technical descent requiring complete focus day and night. Low brush, sand and dusty air on the twisty, turny course demanded utmost attention as weary riders rode on. The rodeo-style third section of the course bucked racers along until we thought we were home clear, then, a hike-a-bike section of deep sand and steep vertical; a calf burner as the race wore on. Soon, checkpoint #3 staff could be heard cheering and you knew it was just a couple more sand pits and a twisty trail ahead 'til the end of another lap was reached. In all, the entire course covered 10 miles with about 1,370 feet of climbing.

Shocking to all, heat, pressure and exhaustion took the early leaders out of the men's race. Setting a NORBA pace with lap times of 45 minutes, the three leaders put a huge gap on the rest of the field. After his fourth lap, Juarez sat down in his pit, never to rise again. Grewal followed suit, two laps later. Eatough held strong, pacing Juarez and Grewal lap for lap through their demise. The men's field was wide open for talent to emerge. In the end Eatough, showed the world his endurance talent triumphing the heat, nausea, fatigue and the competition by winning the event with 22 laps. Jim Dover, California, hovered just behind in second, finishing a scant 10 minutes behind Eatough. In third was Marcel Knaus from Switzerland finishing 21 laps. Knaus had a secret weapon in his pit, Andrea Clavadetscher. Andy is the RAAM 2001 Champion. He was out there cheering us all on with his youthful enthusiasm!

The women's race started with a bang! Grigson showed us her world class talent storming the first four laps in less than four hours. Begy chased strongly long into the race. The rest of us settled into a pace right away, conserving energy for the long haul hoping the gazelles would slow. Not so for Grigson, who dominated the race to the end, completing 18 laps in all! Begy and Monique Nelson of Canada, rode strong behind Grigson until midnight, while I held fourth place. By midnight, positions had changed, Nelson faltered, dropping to fourth. Begy, riding strong in the dark held second by almost an hour over my third place position. By morning I had made up time on Begy and moved into second. Riding steadily, the final positions held. As defending champion, I was happy to finish second to Grigson, talent the likes of which I had never had opportunity to race against. Begy finished out the podium in third place proving perseverance pays!

Writers note: The high temperatures, dry air and dust left all finishers exhausted. The open desert offered no relief from the heat as the tallest vegetation was knee high, leaving us overheated, sapped of energy and drinking constantly. This race venue is truly a challenge of who can keep water in and calories down as many suffer ill effects of heat stroke. At the end of the race heat stroke overtook Eatough, Begy, Grigson and myself, making podium appearances shaky at best. I am still recovering from the event today!
Race promoters, say the 2002 World Championship venue and dates will be different. Originally held in Canmore, Alberta, Canada, the event, entering its fourth year, has been at the Idyllwild venue for the past two years.

Thanks to the (promoters) for providing another great event, and for supporting the growth and promotion of endurance mountain bike racing. Specials thanks to Kent Eriksen for his support before, during and after this race. Also, thanks to my sponsors Moots cycles, Marwi/NightPro, GU, E-Caps, Shimano and Syntace."

If you have a good story to tell, please email it to: [email protected]


Stuart

CORC News
Vale Willo

JamesCanberra Off-Road Cyclists would like to recognize James Williamson, who died on 23 March while racing in the Cape Epic in South Africa. James was incredibly generous with his time and expertise and was one of the best ambassadors for the sport of mountain biking in Australia.

James competed in his first 24hr race in 2001 and was back to that same 24hr race most years simply for the love of the sport and the event. He won the 2008 24 Hours of Adrenalin World Solo 24 Hour MTB Championships, the solo category of the 2006 Scott Australian 24 Hour MTB Championships, numerous Sydney 12 Hours and many other shorter races during his too short career.

When passing you on track, James never pressured a rider to let him pass and he was always smiling and loving his mountain bike riding while out there on the trails. He regularly helped junior mountain bikers into the sport and promoted mountain biking through his own spectacular performances and his work in mountain bike journalism, most recently as the editor of Enduro mountain bike magazine.

James was a true champion but as has been pointed out by everyone who knew him he was a far greater person with his love of life, positive spirit and sense of fun demonstrated in his interactions with all of us.

CORC will hand out memorial arm bands at the Australian Solo 24 Hour Championships next weekend to remind everyone how much James meant to so many and we will be making other efforts to ensure his legacy as kind-hearted and champion mountain biker lives on with us all.

Spotlight Racer
Matthew Page
Matt Page

Matt is an upcoming young Elite racer out of the UK making a name for himself on the podium. Matt is throwing a lot of effort towards the UK 24hr Championships and of course WSC in October, keep your eye on this guy.
 
1)   Tell us a little about yourself, Matt.

I am 25 years old and live in a very small village, called Cilycwm (pronounced kill-er-coo-m) in Mid Wales. I live with my Fiance, Nia and our animals (2 cats and a dog). I am a professional cyclist, sponsored by Wiggle.co.uk but also work part-time as a postman. Prior to signing with Wiggle I was working as a Cycle Courier in Cardiff, a job I owe a large part of my endurance fitness to.
 
2)   How many 24hr Solos have you done?

I have entered 6 and won 2 of them.
 
3)   What was it that got you into your first 24hr Solo?

Back in 2004 while competing in a team during Mountain Mayhem 24hr I was amazed as I watched Tinker Juarez do lap after lap. He really inspired me and I was fascinated by solo racing from then on.
 
4)   Why do you do 24hr Solos now?

I enjoy them. Simple. I enjoy challenging myself and love the feeling of accomplishment afterwards.
 
5)   What are your thoughts about the 2010 WSC this year?

At the moment I am just really exited about the opportunity and very thankful to my sponsors Wiggle. I think its going to be really hard to beat the Aussies on home turf, but I will certainly give it my best shot! I have never raced outside of the UK, so traveling to the other side of the World is pretty crazy.
 
6)   How many hours a week do you train?

As with most people it varies through the year, but right now its somewhere around 25hrs.
 
7)   What's the biggest thing you've learned about 24hr racing?

That mental toughness is just as important as physical ability. I have beaten much faster riders simply because they cannot hack the mental side of things. Having said that there was one major races where I gave up myself because I was not mentally strong enough. You learn from your mistakes.
 
8)   What's your favorite food in the pit?

I survive on "proper" energy food. Torq gels for and High5 4:1 drink. I'll also have some jelly babies and chunks of Mars bars. If there is time I'll stop and have some Rice Pudding.
 
9)   What do you think is your strongest advantage in a 24?

My pit crew, they're awesome!

10)  What is your next race?

At the moment I am mixing it up, doing some National XC races and also longer enduros. I have a 6 hour enduro at the start of May and then the UK 24hr Champs at the end of May.

Teams: Canada, USA, UK, New Zealand and others...
Team Canada

Canada hat The opportunity to gather teammates on route to Australia has picked up momentum with larger groups of athletes teaming up from certain countries. Having watched the Australians come together as a nation in Canmore, Canada the last couple of years, Kelly Servinski is going to imitate their model and will be leading a team of Canadians heading to Australia. We want to support these types of efforts so please feel free to contact us ([email protected]) with your countries team efforts. Remember a team can be as few as two and as many as, well you get the idea.

The following is from Canadian "Team Leader" Kelly Servinski:

"Ever slipped on the maple leaf and raced a bike for your country? This fall an epic battle is shaping up down under in Australia - the World Solo 24hr Championships are being held outside of North America for the very first time! With the buzz generated from the recent Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games we wanted to continue with that positive national spirit and momentum - our way of flying the flag and showing the rest of the world our two-wheeled spirit!
 
This is an open call to solo riders who bleed red and white and are considering doing the 24hr Worlds in Australia this fall. The event is shaping up to be the biggest 24hr event in history and we want to show the international racing community that Canadian riders kick butt and are true sportsman. Our goal is to field a well rounded team of riders in all categories who are looking for the adventure of a lifetime and are interested in being part of a team whose goals are to race hard, support each other and have fun. We are finalizing this concept and will announce more details shortly - please contact us with any questions or feedback, we would love to hear from you! Go Canada Go!!!"



Going down under
It's more than just the racing

James and Alex I wasn't going to personally write anything about James in this issue of the newsletter because I felt I didn't know him well enough. I only met him briefly at the 2008 WSC and everything else I knew about him was through comments by others or via the Internet.

I didn't want to write anything about James because I knew that people more qualified to say the right things would do it better than I. So with my mind made up to write this section of the newsletter about how training is going, or maybe the crazy Alberta weather, I went out for a ride on my mountain bike yesterday secure in the fact that I could write up something later that night.

Part way through my ride I dropped into my favorite bike shop which I haven't visited for a few months (because you can't break bike parts in the middle of winter in your basement on a trainer). I figured with spring riding starting it would be a good time to do some catching up with my local shop. As I walked in I was happy to see Alex who is part owner and head mechanic of the shop. Alex and I got on with catching up on the last few months, having a few laughs and generally joking around. At some point in our conversation Alex said "Did you hear the news about James...".

Most of you don't know Alex, he doesn't do 24hr solo's, but that's him running alongside James while handing off a water bottle at the '08 WSC. Alex pitted for James as his mechanic and after the race I heard random people mentioning how great Alex did and how hard he worked for James. Alex and James stayed in touch after the '08 WSC via Facebook and email, increasing their friendship.

As Alex and I leaned against the workshop benches and talked about James it was obvious the recent news had impacted him, Alex had been struck hard by the event. As I left the shop and jumped on my bike to finish my ride I had lots of time to think about the inter-connections within the endurance racing community; friendships formed, stories told, common passions shared and the fact that it's more than just the racing that brings us together.

That's all for now, see you in three weeks...

Shaun



World Solo Championships

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