SCHLADMING, Austria (transcendmagazine.com) -- Day 1 of practice is over here in Schladming Planai. Every rider we have spoken to has given us rave reviews of this course. It's flat out, rough as hell and everyone absolutely adores it. Braking bunps are already getting massive and with rains predicted to start overnight and last all weekend, they are only going to get bigger.
Some of the guys are already absolutely pinning it. Hill and Fairclough are training it up again, only this week it's Hill out in front for the first runs, not the usual Fairclough horsepower leading the way. Hill is here to win and he means business, it was full on right out of the gate on run #1.
Steve Smith was looking really fast as well, which is great to see after blowing up his knee in Whistler a few weeks ago. Minnaar is also shredding as is Barel.
Lots of guys are nursing end of year injuries that have been nagging them for awhile and it shows as plenty of legends are limping around the pits looking like they went 10 rounds with Tyson. Everyone has a smile on their face however, 2 days to go and the season is done. Injuries heal, but a Championship is forever.
UPDATE: It's currently 10:30pm and there is some major thunder and lightning starting. The stage is about to be set for an epic end of season. Wind is blowing like mad and stuff is flying everywhere with sheet lightning over the mountain.
Hill blazes a trail through the woods.
Leave a comment