Fort William SDA round 5...

After I got back home from Worlds I decided to race the final SDA rnd at Fort William. I was pretty tired from the season of racing and just wanted to have some fun and see everyone again.

I had alot of fun in practice and the track was pretty rough. It was good just doing some crusing runs and some big whips. On my first race run I just cruised down and didnt really pedal. I ended up 1st place in Junior. So I decided on my 2nd run just too step it up a little. I ended up going at about 75-80% as I didnt want to go as hard as could. It was only a fun race for me and I wasnt in contention for the series. I ended up winning by nearly 5 seconds so I was pretty happy overall. So it was good to see everyone and do a race with no pressure or an series position to chase.


Cheers

Lew

Website update....

Hey everyone,

Just want to say that my website has been updated with some new pictures and some info on the front page.

Check it out!!

Lew

End of season report...

So 2010 season has come and end. I learned so much this year and have some things too work on for 2011. My season started of really slowly and I thought I was prepared for the World Cups but Ill admit I really wasn't. I went a bit to hard in my quali's at the first few world cups and just ended up over cooking it and crashing. This really stressed me out so I had a good hard think about how to get this sorted. So after a few good results back home and getting my head in the right place I went to Val Di Sole WC#4. With the help of Stevie Smith and the other guys I finally put in my career best result so far. I got 16th. This was the best feeling ever. I just relaxed and had fun and just rode myself in my final and it felt comformtable.

After this It was Crankworx in Whistler BC Canada. This week in Whistler was very good. I walked away from this event with a 2nd place in the Canadian Open DH race behind Gee Atherton, Justin Leov was 3rd. It was great to be 2nd and infront of Justin as he is a rider I really look up to and learn from just watching him and was cool to see the rest of the team happy for me. It was a great week there training and riding every day with the guys and good preparation for the final WC in Windham USA.

Next up was Windham WC finals. This was a new track so was going to be interesting. I qualified 16th so got some good points for that. In the finals I ended up in 14th which I was super happy about. I had a good run and really felt I had found the mental state of mind for me and its working.

World championships was a huge race for me this year. Alot went in to this race preperation wise. I liked the track and felt fast on it and I knew I could win. I just needed to have a really good run and no mistakes. In finals I ended up getting to the first turn and hit my pedal on a rock when leaning in to the turn and bent my pedal. I tried to help but it was that bad it was twisting my ankle so All i could do was cruise and try and carry speed. This was such an upset during my run and I couldnt beleive it. I thought my chance of a medal was over but I still tried the best I could. I crossed the line in 3rd place. So I got a medal and everyone was happy for me. In the end It's not what I prepared for and wanted. I guess that's racing for you when stuff like that happens.

I was very dissapointed after that but I knew how well I would have done if it didnt happen. But iam over that now and looking forward to Worlds in Champery next year.
So this year was a good year and I would like to thank everyone at Evil bikes and MS racing. Thanks to Filip, Brook, Steve, and Luke for helping me this year and of course all of my Family and friends`. I learned alot and was such an Experiance. I am back home now and going to rest for a bit, then gradually get back in to the training and preperation for 2011 season. I have set my goals higher for 2011 so I will work towards these.


Thanks

Lew

Val Di Sole WC#4...

The 4th World cup was held in Val Di Sol/ Italy. This is by far the gnarliest race course on the WC circuit. Straight from the start you have the longest, steepest,rockiest shoot with huge compressions and roots. Then the middle section is super fast with some nice loose turns and the last section is just so fast and crazy rough. I was loving the course and practice was going really good. Riding with my team mates helped alot throughout the weekend and them giving me advise was sweet.

I had a pretty smooth and steady Qualifiying and finished up in 28th place. I was really happy to qualify in a good position. I felt good in the lead up to the finals and was hoping to do a top 25, But when I was at the start I was the most nervous Ive ever been. I pretty much felt Ill and sick. I sprinted as hard as I could out of the start and just tried to relax on my run and not get carried away. I crossed the line super stoked with my run. I was so happy to make it down without doing naay major mistakes. It was such a loose run I had and was out of control in some sections. I didnt know my result till the result sheets where out and I ended up 16th overall 8 seconds or so behind the winner Marc Beamont. I was so happy to be fastest junior and to nearly get a top 15. It was such a confidence boost especially going in to World Champs in Canada and WC finals. I feel I have found the pace and got my head straight.

I really look forward to the WC finals and Worlds but I cant wait to do some shredding in whistler with my team mates and have a bit of a break.

Ciao

Lew
C

Champery World cup round 4 2010

Champery world cup track was amazing... In the dry. I had so much fun on the first day practice and was loving the track. I just had a good flow and speed the whole way down. It rained for Quali day and the track was good for the first runs but it got so rough and slick it was tough to stay on course. I crashed 4 times in my quali and had to stop to take my gloves of and pull a tear off. I lost about 30 seconds or something around that. I was gutted. I came in 86th place. It was not what I was looking for. Anyway I need to put that race behind me and look forward to Val di sole next weekend. I am hoping its going to be a better result.

Lewis

2010 UK National Championships- Ae Forest

After a succesfull weekend at the Scottish championships winning junior and fastest time of the day I carried alot of confidence in to the next race which was the UK National Championships at Ae Forest. I arrived there late Saturday morning and got in 5 practice runs. The track was damp and a bit muddy but I liked it and was getting on with it well. Sunday was Seeding and finals. On seeding my run was fairly good and I didnt make any mistakes and was 1st place by over 10 seconds. I ended up having the 5th fastest overall time after seeding only a few seconds behind Gee Atherton who seeded 1st in Elite.

In the finals I was pretty nervous but once my run got going I was focused on getting a good run in. My run was average. I made mistakes in a few places and just didnt find the flow that I found in my seeding. The track was slightly thicker mud aswell so it was slower. I ended up winning junior by 4 seconds but going 2 seconds slower than my seeding time. Overall this put me in the top 10 overall fastest time. I was really happy with how I rode overall the whole weekend and happy to be in the top 10.

Next race is Champery WorldCup 4 this weekend. I have been chilling the first day with the CRC/Intense guys at their Chalet and It's great. Its track walk today and first day practice tomorrow.

More news later

Lew

Lead up to UK National Championships...

After a successful weekend at the Scottish champs at Dunkeld I am now at home doing some road riding and core work and chilling out before the biggest domestic race in the UK. The UK National Championships is an important race for all. If you win it you get to wear the jersey and be crowned the National champion. In 2009 I was youth National champion and Its a great feeling.

I feel great coming in to it and I know what I have to do.
More info soon.


Lew