New Zealand Riders Tackle Downhill Course In "Relentless Conditions"

One of the best parts about downhill racing is that variable weather conditions make for interesting races. Some of the most legendary runs have happened in the crazy weather conditions. Course conditions play into the race results in a huge way.

This was no different at the New Zealand National Series in Rotorua this past weekend. See a mashup of the slick muddy race conditions below.

In this video, The Blue Sky Boys captured carnage at practice after downpours saturated the dirt. Though the sky was clear on Race Day, the course was dreadfully muddy. Riders were forced to adapt to the slick conditions.

Perhaps the biggest hazard caused by the rain was the axle deep rut in a compression. Rider after rider got sucked into the deep hole and thrown off the bike. Racers need to monitor how the course is doing so that they can avoid the traps in their race run. Skip practice laps at your peril!

The Blue Sky Boys also posted POVs of the full course and how it fared through the race. Watch Kieran Burton’s POV below.

This stop of the National series brought some stiff competition. In the men's race, speedy youngster Lachie Stevens-McNab beat out World Cup Stars Brook MacDonald and Sam Gale.

Faster than all the Elites however was 17-year-old Tyler Waite, who is about to race his first season of World Cups. Waite, as well as the other two podium riders, were faster than Stevens-McNab. It is important to note however that on a day with such adverse conditions, The course could have looked far different when Tyler went than it did when Lachie went.

In the women’s race, Crankworx Star Lynette Deacon took the win in her category as she was the only racer, repeating her default victory from the first round.

The junior women’s categories featured some fast ladies with Eliana Hullesbosch getting the fastest time on the day for women. The junior women’s categories have some speedy racers, and the future is bright for New Zealand Downhill.

See the full results below.

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