Jill Kintner

4x practice was delayed for about an hour. All 3 courses, DH, 4x, and XC overlap a bit, so we had to wait for all the riders to clear the DH track.

Riding was fun, I felt really good, turned into a session on the bottom half of the track at the end. Most people left when the sprinkles came and transport couldn't make it up the hill, but I came to get my money's worth:) Hiking and biking. The first turn is a disaster for a race. We come in from a really steep start, on the brakes hard through gravel, to a one line flat turn step down. Most of the top is one line, but it is what it is. I hit most all the obstacles second lap down. Some of the lips have a funny kick on em, so just being ready to get bucked is the only defense. Sketchy part is that the surfaces change so much. There is gravel, clay, rocky dirt, bog asphalt, flat cement road, then more loose ground up asphalt that crumbles away, rain could be scary.

The effort put into constructing a world cup 4x is crazy. Things never really happen as planned with dirt, labor, or where the track lies on the hill. The organizers decide were to start, and don't have any idea about 4x. Long first straights and a few berms would be nice, can't do it right when the space isn't there. Flag to flag and rock gardens funnel the racing into single file. Easier said than done to build. Either way, I will be having fun riding my bike and happy to be here!!! Ready for the snap. braap.

Other things: Vanessa Quin is back racing for MS Intense, all healed up, so that is cool. We missed her.

XC bandits and their support vehicles have filled up the pits nicely with the gravity side, makes the sport look healthy. The spread along the river is all the way down and back into the woods. People are camping, hanging out, gives the World Cups more ambiance. Although, I can't believe a certain xc bandit who had his World Champion title stripped for using drugs has a support vehicle all stickered up for himself, and is racing. Wellsy said people spit on him, bit harsh, but understandable, nobody likes a cheater, grr.

Sven Martin is here taking photos. Couldn't believe it was him, didn't expect it. His photos are usually really good, so I'll try to get some for you guys. Think he came here for the World Cup and that German free ride event next week that got cancelled from flooding.

Lopes and his lovely wife Paula arrived today. Flying Brian:) was in Israel filming for some free ride video, so I was happy to see he made it out of there safe. Not a place in the world I would ever visit, was worried.

Don't know much else, I was doing little turns in the pits most of the day, wasn't about to go walk the DH track again to watch, even though I wanted to. Here are some little video clips I took from inspection. They are crappy, but whatever, better than nothing I guess. I dedicate the vid to little Rhysy man:) ( might take a minute to load)

swissdh.mov