HOUFFALIZE, BEL
Dh guys are bummed they didn't come to this race, there is a Belgium Downhill Race sponsored by Red Bull - 10,000 euros worth prize money. Bryn is on it! He might possibly be the fastest mechanic here:) Saw Polcster riding his hardtail down it, why not, just a couple places where his ankles might feel it, but for that kind of money run what you brung...
HOUFFALIZE, BELGIUM
We are at the second round of the World Cup for 4x in Belgium!! It is nice and green here, probably from all the rain that is falling down as I type 
. Bryn has come with me to this event as Logistics manager/ mechanic :) He rented a little motor home (for almost the same price as a regular van), which we delicately named "The battle truck" after he sideswiped an Audi on the Autobahn, minor scratches on the truck, no biggie. But I think it looks more like Elvis from the side:) 
. 4x track looks like it was built for ants. Jumps are so small, no rythm, but there is high speed right from the start, and some difficult turns. 
SANTA CRUZ, CA
Spent a couple days in Santa Cruz riding and teaching at the Sugoi Dirt series camp. These skills camps are run very smooth... basic fundamentals in the morning, trail rides in small groups in the evenings. Lots of personal attention to technique, set up, etc. They are for ladies only, all levels, in different locations . This particular camp, the season opener, sold out in two days!!!. I may do another one in Whistler if the timing works out, Check em out dirtseries.com
HELLA NOR CAL
Been riding some pretty sweet places up here in Northern California....Saw Weir for a little XC and pump session, Azul up at Camelbak, Clay in San Fran, Pruitt in Santa Cruz. The only thing that would make this road trip adventure better is an organized logistics manager:)
Our UK friend/Owner of Charge Bikes- Nick Larsen, had a pretty flashy ride at the Sea Otter. Check out the color scheme of this Tango XO build of a Duster Titanium cross country bike. Rad tires...
MONTEREY, CA
The downhill final finished up on a scorcher of a day. Super dry hot conditions again for 2 min+ of pure all out suffering. This track is not a hard one, most people ride a 6" bike or whatever, full dh bike is overkill, so a bike for pedaling your brains out and absorbing a bit the chatter is the go...
MONTEREY, CA
Sea otter slalom had similar flow to past years, they modified the bottom by a turn and two table tops. Seems like every year I have been here has had different conditions, whether it be downpours, high gust winds, perfectly tacky, or like this year- blown out, super dry, sketchy, holes, crumbled away berms and loose. Morning of qualifying was dry, but at least you could maintain momentum through the turns and hook in. The race was not quite that way, track took a serious beating. A little water and a shovel wouldve done wonders, but this is montain biking!
MONTEREY, CA
Had some serious traveling this week. I won't bore you with the details but went from Durban south Africa -joburg- stopped in Dakar to refuel- Washington DC with a 3 hr delay- lax. Hopped in the car drove to Fresno to pick up the sprinter- back to orange county for the wrap of the van then to Monterey. That's where we are now, with the sweetest sportsmobile sprinter van pit set up:)
The wrap job was done by this company called buswraps.com in Orange, ca. Use my name for a referral:) They were pro and did the whole van in a day
PIETERMARITZBURG, RSA
Must be nice to have everyone come to your home town, sleep in your own bed, and then win the first round of the world cup. Backing up his title from last year, Double "N" double "A" does it again...Minnaar is king in South Africa on this day....
PIETERMARITZBURG, RSA
Still a little upset, will write something more later. Felt fast, was ready and just got a crappy start in the semi finals with nowhere to pass, ended up getting hit from both sides and spun backwards in a turn. Onto the next one, guess I can't be too upset, this is my first race back from a new ligament and on the the scene once again. Will have another day. Anneke won.
For the men, Jared Graves did well, saw him out power Prokop off the start by a half a bike length in the first 4 pedals. Never seen that before, but Prokop is coming off a hand or wrist? surgery and will be back up to his normal champ self soon:)
Just wanted to say thanks to all my new sponsors for the support, RED Bull, Oakley, Crankbrothers, Intense, Kenda, SRAM, KORE, Powercordz, The, Camelbak, ODI, e.13, Park Tool ,Freelap, No Fear, Cane Creek, esoles, and CTI.
Also want to say a big thank you to Chris Powell, he recently retired from racing and is between degrees right now, so I recruited him as mechanical support for this event. One of the most fun trips I have had, minus one small mistake. Everything else was great.
Pietermaritzburg, RSA
Our Internet is taking the weekend off apparently. Luckily iphone always comes through. Anyway, we all finally pieced this track together for a laptime, and Jared graves and I came out ahead of our respective fields....
WOMEN 4x Quali
1. Jill
2. Anneke
3. Fionne
MEN 4x Quali
1. Jared
2. Prokop
3. Fishbacher
Just saw these results on Steve Blick's Twitter from Oakley. Not sure how final they are, but here you go.
DH MEN
Mick Hannah 3:48
Greg Minnarr +2
Chris Kovarik +5
Steve Peat +6
Gee??
Sam??
????????
PIETERMARITZBURG, RSA
Last couple of days have been spent exploring the town, getting over jetlag, riding with the locals 
, etc , but TODAY was the first Day of World Cup practice for 4x and DH....
JILL KINTNER PRIVATEER PROGRAM 2009
I've been getting a lot of questions about what is going on for 2009 with sponsorship stuff, so I guess it is time to fill you in... After completing 2008 with an Olympic Bronze medal in BMX, and a successful Re-construction of the ACL ligament in my right knee, 2009 is dedicated to a full return to World Cup mountain biking under a new program.
I have assembled a privateer gig for myself to be able to race mainly 4x and slalom, with Bryn as a satellite member racing a select schedule of Downhill, so that we can continue racing at an elite level while representing sponsors and products of our choice. With any new business or campaign, the initial start up takes a ton of work, especially in this economy, but the benefits and personal fulfillment have been worth the adversity. I am super proud of the overall look and feel of what I created with this package, and can't wait to unveil the bikes (tomorrow), final helmet, sprinter design , and new website :).
I am grateful for long lasting relationships within the industry, continued support, as well as
this opportunity to work and grow with several new companies!! A fresh start is the best thing sometimes,, Intense bikes ride like a dream, and I am confident in my preparation...
Game on....
SOUTH AFRICA
After about 30 hours of travel all up, we arrived in the city of Durban and decided to drive another 3hrs north with the Sram guys to go on safari at the Rhino River lodge:) 5k dirt road into the place, in the dark, we blinded a bunch of impalas in our headlights:) The chalets were log cabins under thatch roofs, but out in the middle of absolute nowhere- Zululand. 50,000 acres of gaming reserve full of the"Big 5", which include Elephants, Rhino, Buffalo, lions, and leopards. Still had cell reception somehow though, guess Africa is wired too....
World cup #1 - Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. About to get on a 15hr flight. Check out some pre race pics at Dirtmag.co.uk
CHULA VISTA, CA
Well my 6 month rehab stint is over here at the Olympic Training Center and it is time to flee the nest!!! Can't even begin to tell you about how much this experience has meant to me, met some outstanding people. Now I'm trading my tiny 10x12 dorm room for a 9x21 Sweet RV sprinter van. Figure as long as I have bikes and ambition to go places, this is the most perfect set up for me. Never small life adjustments...:) Home base will be Seattle, but realistically wherever we park and decide to ride:) so pumped!!!
Thanks to all the OTC staff, Bamel, Usa Cycling, roommates, friends, and everyone else for this Oppourtunity. Sad to leave, but happy to be healthy and ready for new challenges.