Sorry for the delay. This year has started with a bang and well, it still is! School has been killing me, being matric is hard work!All the people saying matric is easy...I'm still waiting for that part!

My training has been going really well! When you're training starts getting tougher than your normal base ride-you know you're on the edge of a new season lying ahead!

On the weekend of the 29th January I took on some WP juniors in what was my season opener, the first WP XCO provincial, held on the Slammer, in Durbanville. On race day it was extremely hot, and starting at around 12 midday is not one of the most fun things to do, especially when the thermometer reaches 42degrees...

Straight off the gun, the group made a split, with me lying 3rd. I struggled that day to keep concentration and made simple mistakes throughout the race and managed to end up 3rd junior on the day. Definitely one of my hottest races thus far.




Another 2 scorching hot weeks went by and it was finally time to show whose up there and whose not. It was the first national of the 2012 season. In this 2 weeks I have spent a fair amount of time on the new Slammer race track and felt confident. Track got dialled in, bike was feeling good and most importantly I was feeling good!

Saturday morning finally arrived, I was looking so much forward to it, not only for the race but because it was my 18th birthday as well! I felt that I owed myself a present, which I can only give myself by having a good performance!

At the track everyone seemed focused and ready and straight it was into game face mode! After a good warm-up they called us out for the start. I got seeded 5th, which meant first row, and then I knew I'll have a good start!

Right from the gun I had a perfect start and managed to get me in the top3, up the first climb I saw myself falling back to 5th position and stayed there. After a while I found some legs and starting racing my own race. I ended up 4th. Well done to team mate Kyle Dorkin on his 2nd place. Things looking good on the Ellsworth team!

Looking back at the day I realised some changes that has to be made and it will be made before the next XCO racing in KZN takes place!

Rocky patch on race day.

Got to give some credit to the Ellsworth team for all the help and support and the BMC guys for their support! Looking forward to meet up with everyone in KZN in a few weeks time!

After all the racing of the weekend I had to finish the weekend off with a bang being my birthday and all! I have been speaking about it for years and finally I got the chance to do it. SKYDIVING!

Sunday morning got woken up with excitement once again, had a good recovery ride and directly thereafter off to Melkbosstrand it was. I was so excited to get in that plane and just jump! First up was a couple and by watching them, just made me more excited. Finally they called me and in the plane I found myself starting to rattle! It was cold, extremely cold at 9000ft in the air! and then the instructor told me, it's time. So we got buckled up and out the door we fell! Falling for 30seconds doesn't feel like 30seconds, more like 10... and after hitting 5000ft the parachute opened up for a easy fall back to earth, admiring the scenery!

Definitely worth the 6minutes of falling all together! Everyone should do this at least once in their lifetime!

Be safe out there!
Richardt