KurtPickard154.com

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!