KurtPickard154.com

The past two weeks have been.... interesting. I hardly get sick and haven't been to the Doctor in years? Well... I have been so blocked up and with the ABA grands coming up shortly I have had no choice but to push through training living on energy from a can. I'm Starting to be able to breath through my nose now and feeling some strength on the bike again... finally. The past two weeks have been busy. Tauranga Bmx track has finally been demolished so a lot of work is going on at our new location. I have spent a lot of time there in the past few weeks since coming back from Chula Vista and its making great progress. We are close to finishing the 3rd and 4th straights and the corner tar sealing starts on Monday (MEGA BERMS). Last Thursday night it was great to see the gate going and the somewhat of a turn out in helpers. It has been such a long journey and by all means we are far from finished but with our first race meeting coming up in just over a months time I'm sure the track itself will be ride able in the next few weeks. With no actual track to ride at the moment a group of us have been over to Rotorua club night on Wednesdays and lovin it!

Lots going on in the next few weeks before I fly out. Two days of testing at Millennium on Wednesday & Thursday, Friday at home then back up to Papakura for Dash for Cash to get some more full laps in. Also got a new bike to build before I head away so ill post some pics, always a new colour scheme going on

Below are some photos of the new track (thanks Cody Stevens), Also a little Ilabb edit with a cool shot from Chula. Also here is the link to my new Facebook Athlete page all about the BMX... go "like" it...http/www.facebook.com/pages/Kurt-Pickard/304003786276332?sk=wall

First Corner ^

View from gate ^

Playing in my lego loader ^

Gisborne put on the North island titles this year. It has been a few years since I have been able to compete at the North Islands due to always getting over some kind of broken bone.

This year has been a big year, I spent more time overseas than at home so a great opportunity to head down the coast to catch up with everyone and get some more full laps done before Grands. The drive down to gizzy was horrible and wont be doing that again for some time. The track was super smooth but....I couldn't find a backside to any jump, it had a speed limit that's for sure.

UCI on Saturday was pretty chill. 3 motto's and a final with 11 riders in elite men. Won my first two motto's and shut the third motto down after the 2nd corner to save some juice for the final. Took the win in the final.

Super class on Sunday had just over 20 riders with the JNR and Elite together. 3 motto's and 3 finals all with a 20min break was for sure testing on the fitness and my ongoing cramp drama. I took 3 wins in my motto's so I got the good lane choices for the finals. I won the first final. In the second final I took too wider line going into the first turn and paid for it. Nick Fox soon found the inside line and came under, I had no room to get around him and sat behind him for 2nd. In the last final my legs were empty, I got the hole shot and relaxed around the lap, once again Foxy took his opportunity to come inside me on the last turn and pushed me to a photo finish, which I ended up with the win and the overall.

Was a great weekend racing and the weather was pretty good. It was great to sit down and watch all the finals and see who are the next up and coming shredders. Few names come to mind Maynard Peel KILLER!!, Rico always a talent and Monique smith looked good on home track. Big thanks to Hamish Mackie and his parents for giving me a place to stay!!

Photo Album posted also.

It has been an awesome past 2-3 weeks, Sun, training, best tracks, the riders and shopping... I already miss California.

 My build up was perfect and I felt in the best form of the season. This is the first year in two years that I have been able to complete a season injury free. So this year my goals were set around learning race routines and gaining valuable experience. All in all I was like a big sponge, I absorbed everything at all the races. I focused on learning as much as possible from watching the other riders. The big results didn't come my way but I know with hard work over the summer and heading back over in November for the ABA grands in Oklahoma, next year might just fall into place for me.

 Anyway, Chula SX...

We had a small team, Sarah Walker, Marc Willers, Trent Woodcock, Kurt James, Myself and Matt Cameron also come over. Marc had a crash in practice which put him out with a shoulder injury. With over 150 guys and a track that hasn't changed in 4 years Time trials were going to be close. Unfortunately it was only Sarah and I who made it through and qualified for racing. I ended up 30th in TT and was happy with a clean comfortable lap.

 Show time.

Drawing Joris W1 in my mottos I knew I had to be switched on... with my tray of GO FAST I was full of rocket fuel... I actually felt ready to race and excited for the days racing, so mentally it was the first time I had ever felt excited and not anxious.

 My first motto I got off to a shaky start, I hit joris about 6times down the first straight and we both couldn't jump the triple into the first turn. I slotted into third and went to make a move into 2nd in the 2nd corner. It seemed Raymond also was thinking the same and dropped down to pass for first. We hit and I washed out. Burnt a hole through my shoe and sock to my foot and got a killer graze under my elbow pad?? weird. 7th place

My second motto I was full of adrenaline and super angry from the first motto. I came from lane 6 and got the hole shot. I lead till the last straight when Joris decided to push me to the line. 2nd place

The third motto went the same as the 2nd motto with a mega over clear out of the first turn. I lead till the last straight and finished 2nd.

Quarter final.

Feeling good from my last two mottos I had 4th lane choice and went for lane 6. I did what i wanted to do and got a good start. I had a bike length lead going into the 2nd jump. I over cleared it, not by a lot and landed in a Manuel and lost my lead and couldn't move across enough on Nic Long coming from lane 1. I still tried to move across on him in mid air on the triple but we just hit and he went up the inside... then Joris came under who then decided he had enough of me and tried to put me onto the third straight. I almost had to pull out and pump the 2nd straight. I went as high as the moon and carried no speed.

Therefore ending the Supercross season and day with a 5th in the quarter final. Three races in a row....forth time lucky?

(Videos of races can been seen at bmx-videos.com. I was heat number 7. and quater number 4)

I'm getting closer and closer every race and learning so much. This years race experience has been so valuable. Thanks To the team staff, Ryan Hollows, John Cowell and the big man Ken Cools. Also a big thanks to Team Crupi for being so accommodating while we were there.

Next up for me are the North Island titles in Gisbourne then the ABA grands in November.

--Shred

KP

I have been super busy lately with training and traveling I haven't found the time to regularly update my website, slack!

Currently I am in California preparing for the last SX World Cup in Chula Vista this weekend. I have been over here for almost two weeks visiting sponsors and getting some training done in the good weather. I visited Crupi HQ and spent the day out there hanging out and building the next race bike which differently looks pretty cool. So big thanks to Greg for spending the day with me.

Also headed down to Oakley HQ with the NZ team and got a tour around the museum and offices but because our group was too big we didn't get to go out the back and see the 2100 employees making and assembling the glasses. Sarah and I did manage to head back down yesterday and got the tour out the back where the magic happens. I felt like I was in a full science lab. It was awesome to watch the steps to building a pair of glasses and actually how complicated it is, especially the lenses. Oakley make 1million units each month and are currently have a lot of items on back order. They have 2100 staff and the factory runs 24/7. MEGA!

Here is a link to the latest video, We filmed this when i got home from London before I flew to the states. filming and editing by Cody Stevens. More to come. check it out, its got over 20,000 views so he did a good job.

http://vimeo.com/28918946

The past 6 weeks has been insane. 4 different countries, 4 different SX tracks, World Champs, Olympic test event and a lot of training and traveling.

I am currently writing a update on the past  6 weeks. Right now, a quick update about Skull Candy. They have jumped onboard my jorney and are supporting me with their products. so big thanks to Skull Candy. so check out their website and support them. Or check out there facebook page.

Been absolutely super busy lately.

I signed contracts with bike NZ, Crupi and Progate so I'm ready to go for this season/next season.

My crash in Holland left me with a cartilage tear off the back of my hip and am limited to the gym stuff i can do but feel 100% on the bike. There is a small amount of scar tissue forming where the tear is so hopfully that keeps going and i dont need key hole to reattach the cartilage.

We set sails for Europe tomorrow and I'm dam excited to head away with the team and get some more racing under my belt. here's the plan:

- 1week in Aigle Switzerland training at the world cycling centre

- 1week in Copenhagen Denmark for the World champs

- 2weeks training in Papendal Holland at the Olympic training centre

- 1week in London for the Olympic test event/World cup

My new 2012 Crupi turned up last week. The frame has greatly improved and is really stiff so I'm loving it.Also Jay at Lay it Flat customs sorted out my FLY F2 helmet with a sick new paint job, the day before i left!! thanks jay. check out his facebook page.

not alot has been going on lately.

Putting my full energy into rehab and training for worlds. We leave in just over 4 weeks, crazy how fast time flys. Check out the latest sticker kit for my Leatt brace that of coarse ILABB designed. also here is a little promo from ogio NZ. If your after some bags check it out.

So, that trip didn't go to plan.

Before we departed to Holland for the 2nd World Cup this season I built up a new Prol XL Crupi and of coarse LAY IT FLAT customs done some sick paint work, shadow chrome. looks wicked in the sun. big thanks to Jay at Lay It Flat.

Coming into Papendal i had had limited track time due to amazing NZ weather so bike confidence wasn't at the highest that's for sure. After some killer long flights we arrived Monday night at our hotel on the Dutch Olympic training centre which was for sure the next level, it was incredible. We settled in during the week with the usual, finding a local track to ride a few times (Afro Bob home track), local gym and a sprint spot. Thursdays practice rolled around real fast and the wind was horrible! I would normally never ride the local track in wind like that let alone the biggest track built to date so was a little scared. The track was pretty big but didn't flow at all. Everything was tall and steep after the first turn. I managed to get everything sorted and was happy to keep it on 2 wheels. I watched the B practice afterward and have seriously never seen so many crashes. Dudes were carrying there bikes off in two pieces and stretchers going back and forward.

Friday practice is the time to start attacking things and think about race lines but it was also super windy. I got warmed up on the third straight and then box jump. I had a couple runs at the second straight and was feeling OK. I went again and come up short on the 2nd pro, second straight. I came down front wheel and went OTB big time. I tried my best to forward roll and not put my wrists out. I ending up ripping my back up and doing something to my hip... weekend over just like that. Quite gutted when i was seeded in the last 10? to go down the hill in TT.

I decided not to get x-rays and watch the guys in time trials.

Trent: had back luck all week, crashing on Thursday, twice on Friday and blowing his feet out coming up short on the corner jump (68th in TT) i was rooming with him and we both had grazes everywhere haha

Franks: looked good in practice. In his TT was going well until had a blow up mid third straight and had to pump. 66th in TT ...gutted!

Fox: unliped out of gate had to roll first straight, that was that but also was looking real good.

Marc: killed it all weekend. Was a much deserved win, really fast right now which is awesome for NZ

Sarah: also killed it and looked like she was racing in NZ, destroyed all weekend.

Once i get healed up i will Begin training for worlds, we leave in 5weeks. Thanks Team NZ for another great trip. next time

The weather coming into the weekend was not looking to flash. However the sun was out all weekend and the track stayed hard. I picked up Oakley sponsorship during the week so was really pumped coming into racing. I went 1,1,6 in my motto's. drew lane 3 in the final and rode a pretty hairy lap to pick up my 5th straight national title and 13th total. Unfortunitly i didnt race on sunday as im still working through this cramping which seems to be a real issue at the moment.

Shania, Ash and I made it a clean sweep again which is awesome.

It was great to see everyone there and the support for my poster and stickers was awesome!! thanks so much for your support and to Phill Williams/Subscreen for the stickers and Jon Sarten and Clinton for making the posters happen.

We head off to Holland for the 2nd World Cup in less than 3 weeks so things are full on right now.

all for now check out the photos in my Gallary

What a week.

We arrived sunday afternoon at our hotel after a total of 36 hours of traveling...BURN. I soon found my bed and crashed, but not Franks he found the pool which was rib deep and put 10 stiches in his head trying a "manu" haha.

During the week we squeezed in a few track sessions at the local casion track and beleive me i took things very slow, there was going to be no broken wrist from riding jet laged and going OTB thing time around. after all this was going to be my first SX if i made it on the start line. We also did the usual sprints and gym workouts, checked out the track as it was getting finished off.

Practice day thursday rolled around and i diffently wasnt feeling sharp yet... i took no risks and was safty boosting everything. The other kiwis however were killing it, Trent looked super fast and franks did the 2nd straight first lap? shredder. Something went wrong the gate so we didnt get any gates which screwed up my plan for practice. We also only got 1hour practice due to the weather instead of 1.5 hours.

Friday, time trail day! In practice i made sure i got the track dialed and did at least one full lap. This was the first World Cup were they bought in the Super Timetrail. So you had 1 lap to make top 64 for racing (no pressure!, 1 lap no crap) The top 16 time trailed again so Super TT as its going to be a gold medal at worlds. All the kiwis except Willers were all in the first 30 down the ramp cause we dont have many UCI points. I will say sitting on the ramp by myself i did have a moment were i was looking at the first jump haha. I threw down a lap that i was happy with. I took the lead and though nothing of it as there was 60% of the feild still to come. I got out of my race gear had my protein shake and went and sat in the stand to watch the top 40. when Ken said i should start warming up i sort of didnt beleive him, it was only when there was 4 left up on the ramp i realised. i ran back to the tent put all my gear on and headed up the ramp... shocking first straight. ended up 13th with the 3rd fastest time to first corner... ill take it.

Race day, saturday. was a super hot day I was getting cramps on friday so saturday morning i did everything possible to hold these things back. I finshed 1st,4th and 2nd in my mottos and was feeling good. Quater final i choose lane 6 and put it all out there as i was thinking it might have been my last lap. I finshed 1st and held my breath the whole lap with cramp in my stomach turtuling me. the semi...i had 2nd lane choice and choose 6 haha. It was working untill i for some unknown reason transfered the wrong way in the air going into the first turn, Herman came inside me and held me up with a brake check which open the door for everyone to bomb me around the lap i just couldnt find room.... pretty stoked for my first SX and really looking forward to Holland.

Big Thanks for the NZ team, honestly wouldnt have made the start line for the next race if the support wasnt there, Ken,Ryan and Gordon!! and trent for attacking my cramps with the roller. haha. bring on Nationals next wekend. see you there!