DOWNHILL TEAM SEASON REPORT

It’s been a mixed season for the team this year. Tom lays out his triumphs and tragedies in detail below but here’s a quick recap of how things have fared for myself and newest team member, Kate Curd.

I think I’d sum up my own season as disastrous! After a top 20 run at the first National of 07 I then, whilst preparing for the opening World Cup downhill race in Spain, broke my ankle for the fifth time whilst dirt jumping the trails at home. This was a pretty major injury with it being a hugely displaced spiral fracture of the fibula which needed surgery to fix. The swelling was so bad that nearly three weeks passed before I was put under the knife. A plate and 5 titanium screws where fitted by the same brilliant surgeon who fixed the left leg last year.

Having to sit out the season and watch frustrated from the sidelines I got back on a bike about a month ago. The intention was to compete in the last round of the National Championship in mid October. However, just as I was getting back to speed I had a huge accident. I hit the deck as only a 16 stone rider can and completely separated my left shoulder. In comparison to the earlier injury it was pretty small but was enough to keep me off bikes until the season has well and truly passed.

Yet, every cloud has a silver lining. During my enforced layoff I was asked to judge an MBUK Rider Academy where young Kate Curd caught my eye with her raw talent and fearlessness. Because of this I signed her up to Team Giant then and there. Previously, Kate’s really only ridden dirt jumps on a hard tail but it didn’t take her long to get used to the Glory DH and all its suspension. In her first ever downhill race, the Rheola National Championships in Wales, Kate took the win making her Junior Woman’s National Champion. Two weeks later she finished second overall to Rachael Atherton at the National Points Series race. This momentum ensured that she was being invited to ride for the UK at this years World Championships in Fort William. Despite a tricky run, she found a crashed competitor laid across the track midway down which cost her a huge amount of time, Kate pushed on to take the Silver Medal! This is a huge accomplishment for anyone, let alone someone who’d never ridden a full suspension bike, until 6 weeks prior to the event. A fantastic way for her to end her 07 campaign, look out for this girl in 08, she’s going to go far.

Rob Warner



2007 started with a trip over to Granada Spain, to train without being held back by the weather. I entered an early season Maxxis cup race putting myself up against the best in Europe, came 14th, room for improvement but heading in the right direction.

Then, two weeks before the first National, I found myself at the bottom of a descent writhing around in agony after completely snapping my finger. Due to my finger being in two pieces underneath the skin, I had to spend 5 weeks with my finger in traction meaning 5 weeks off the bike with no chance of making the first two races of the season.

My first race back was the first round of the World Cup in Vigo. Although I’d been training hard for this race since January, 5 weeks off the bike before the event was not ideal preparation. However, I was riding really well, and more importantly I was still super pumped to get a good result. In the final I came ninth, my first ever World Cup top ten. I was totally stoked.

Next race was the National at Ae Forest in Scotland. I rode really well to finish seventh, and, considering two of the riders ahead of me were international stars Minnaar and Leikonnen, my aim a National top five placing was achieved in a roundabout way!.

Following on from the National was the second round of the World Cup at Champery in Switzerland. All I can say is; what a course! It was the steepest and most challenging track I’ve ever ridden. However, my worst nightmare happened here. On the second day of practice I was high-sided off my bike and crashed down a bank. My arm went through the catch netting that was strewn across the track resulting in a dislocated elbow. While the large dose of Morphine and Valium helped the physical pain, the realization that this would affect my chances at the World Champs in Fort William was gutting. The injury also meant that I would miss five races, three of which were World Cups.

My first race back was the National Champs, I came 12th, which I would normally be disappointed with, but after what had happened I felt wasn’t such a bad result. The next few races were much the same. I found getting my arm fixed wasn’t the main problem but the psychological barriers which had previously not existed. However, during this time I took part in some cool races including the Mega Avalanche. Scared doesn’t begin to describe how I felt at the top of the mountain staring at the glacier I was just about to ride down with 750 other riders breathing down my neck all ready to do the same thing, but what a race!

After the Mega Avalanche things started to come back together. I raced most weekends, two more Nationals and some regional races. Had a second place finish at the Scottish Champs. Due to my arm injury preventing me from taking part in the World Champs, my whole focus was on the last round of the World Cup in Maribor, Slovenia. The Maribor track was a great track for me. It suited my style of riding and I enjoyed every run. I rode well too, even qualifying 26th without a chain. The final went well and I finished up 22nd, only one second off 13th place. Although not quite hitting my target of a top 20 finish, I consoled myself with the fact that, without the injuries, the extra second would have been achievable.

The most fun I’ve had this year was at the Edinburgh Street Night Race. A 45 second track, lined with thousands of Scottish Saturday night revelers made for one of the best races I’ve ever taken part in. It can only be positive for the sport to take mountain biking to the masses like that and I want to be a part of it.

I’m looking forward now to properly resting my arm and not constantly being on the move to get to races, but that doesn’t mean my desire is any less. After a season where nothing quite clicked into place, I’m hoping for an injury free, successful 2008 with some podium finishes. Fingers crossed!

Tom Braithwaite