Headcams & Headbangers

It was the weekend of 29th & 30th May 2010, the sun was shining (with a bit of rain forecast), Ironsides Court Farm was looking great, and the BX track running fast. Must have been Round 2 of the ATBA-UK International Series 2010.

Headcams and headbangers

There has been a lot of talk about the track in the run up to this comp. Some riders tentative about riding it, some flatly refusing. Most agreeing it’s the fastest most challenging BoarderX track in the country. Sounds like the right place to be having an International Series competition. And as we all know, mountainboarders are the type to talk a lot, but when it comes to strapping in and going for it regardless, nobody does it better than we do!

So, lets take a ride down this track and find out what all the fuss is about. If this was a TV news report this would be where our intrepid reporter holds up the mic and with a nervous wobble in his voice and his board, and sets off down the track describing it as he goes, with headcam on. But we’re mountainboarders. We don’t do nervous and we don’t do wobbles (well, some of us, anyway).

We’re at the top, strapped in and getting that excited butterflies-in-the-tummy feeling. Pull out the really nice metal start gates with proper handles to pull from no less, and into the three rollers to get up some speed before taking the wide right hand berm. We know that speed is our friend on this track and being half-hearted just isn’t going to cut it. Out of the berm the track straightens out and we accelerate down the drop into the old track. We can see the monster roller ahead of us and we know that getting our line right through the chicane is all-important before hitting that roller.

With out a millisecond to think we’re over the roller and into the second berm, a hard heelside if you’re regular, and one to have or be had. Riders were trying all kinds of lines to get round this berm, including JC airing off the roller, turning in mid-air and landing on the inside line in a slide, and the high overtaking/avoiding-fallen-riders line taken by Joel Treliving, Harris ‘Jumpjet’ Corr, and Simon Neck, but for many riders it was about going all out and getting into the corner first.

Those who had it smooth flowed out and into a sweet little step-up that gave you a turbo-boost into Berm 3. If it had a film named after it, it would be The Commitments, ‘cos that’s what it takes to get round it. It’s one to learn into and trust in physics, fate, god, or whatever.

Out of the berm and we’re immediately over the table and into the little bowl giving us the chance to control some speed (or tweak out a grab if you’re Jake Goggin) and get set up for the next berm, another but easier left turn. This takes us into the last big wide berm and right into the home straight. We’re going for it again and come out the bottom at warp speed with two rollers and a finish line ahead of us.

That was good. I enjoyed that. And I’m not much of a BoarderX rider. Anyway, enough of the track, what happened in the racing?

With the ATBA-UK’s new four-man race qualifying system running smoothly from the Meba marquee at the top of the track, riders launched themselves out the shiny new metal start gates and vied for the highest qualification ranking in their category. The rain showers Raph ordered to slow the track and give it more grip came conveniently between each stage of qualifying races and so didn’t really disrupt anything. Riders and spectators alike enjoyed the racing with some of the highlights including Lisa and Sam going up against the Masters (Watch out Seniors, you might be next!), and seeing some of the younger Junior riders manning-up to take on the track and some of the older riders.

A quick lunch break and the riders were ready to go into knockouts.

In the Juniors we had Ryan Bunting way out in front in every race and taking First place in the finals. Well done Ryan, see you in the Pro’s next year. Sam Frost came in for a well deserved Second, and Third place went to Team Ironsides Ben Wanklyn who spent the entire day showing even seasoned Pro’s how the track should be ridden.

The Ladies category was a three horse race from start to finish with PUATB’s Lisa Mclernon taking First, Sam Frith from ATBShop in Second and Haredown’s new girl Sophie in third.

Confident Woodie Wright was so sure he was going to be first he had his headcam pointing backwards, and didn’t disappoint. Rich Sykes from Team SurfingDirt.com took a noSno in the face, but proved he can take a hiding and keep on riding by coming second in the Masters. And Mat Lunt, solid as always, came in Third. Special mention to Team BAD’s Lee Campbell who limped away from racing with the biggest bruised backside

In the Seniors, homeboy Jake Goggin showed that knowing the track and having loose trucks (not to mention being a good rider) is going to put you in First place. Harris, back after taking time out to get taller took Second, and Sonnie had Third place.

The Pro Final kicked off and so soon as the riders were into the first berm they were fighting for the right line into the monster roller. Stu Lugger caught wheels and front-flipped down the drop only to smash his rear trucks off his board on landing. With the other three riders hammering towards the finish line Stu got up and carried on down the track on two wheels. That’s determination, and left Joel Treliving to take Third place, Ben Tweedie had Second, and Matt Brind came in First place.

With racing out the way the evening freestylin’ started with Matt ‘The Machine’ Brind hurting his leg kicking Jamie Johnstone’s board and throwing some doubt over whether he’d be riding in the Freestyle Comp on Sunday. The Kirkman family were also on the slopestyle including the welcome return of Jos Kirkman who entertained us with stories of cutting up dead bodies.

As night fell on Herefordshire the Ska band got the crowd moshing, and Woodie got a trip to the Hospital to get his eyebrow glued back on after a head-banging head-butt from Josh.

Sunday morning freestyle and the photographers were out in force to document the occasion. Theo Acworth, Paul Crilley, Paddy Goddard and Mark Peck all snapping away to get the awesome shots we all love looking at afterwards...

The Juniors Freestyles had their five runs and saw Angus Sutton finally putting down the spins we’ve been expecting for a long time, but not quite going big enough to beat Sam Frost and Andy Brind who took joint Third place. Joe Leonard’s backflips got him in Second, and Oscar Travis from Hales Superbole took First with some really nice fives.

In the Ladies Freestyle Lisa Mclernon, who is just winning everthing at the moment, was First, Second was Ironsides Lorna Boughen, and Third another Ironsider Jess Childs. Fouth and Fifth were Rachel La Roche and Sophie Houlding, and it was good to see some new riders out there.

Josh Grafham went for backflips in the Masters freestyle, and nearly got ‘em, just a bit more height needed, which put him in Third. Raph took Second and Woodie First, again.

Seniors Freestylers were playing it tactically with John Stamp from Pd getting Third, Ben Rye also from Pd getting Second, and First going to Steve Evans from Hales Superbole.

And finally… the Pro final. Matt Brind and Gary Crowhurst battled it out for first place and both managed to score the same number of points giving them joint first and put them on the podium holding up the giant Pd cheque together. Ben Tweedie took Third with some big rodeos.

Team Challenge places after Round 2 are Trampa in First place with 949 points, Second is Ironsides with 932, and in Third is Pd 834.

All the results on the ATBA-UK website.

See the complete set of Theo's photos on Project doc here. He also tried filming it at the same time and that vid is here!

Mark Peck's photos will appear in a remolition guest exhibition soon.

Meantime, see Crillpix.com here for more big air freestyling shots...

Report by Roger Swannell

Thanks to all