Just been training in So Cal and getting ready for Europe! The next race is at Leogang to warm up before the #2 World Cup in val di sole, training has been going good and just getting super excited to start racing again! not to much going on but getting a little bit to close to a few rattle snakes on the side of some tracks and messing around with gofer snakes but just enjoying the really good hot weather before Europe!

TB

Sea Otter is back! After a two years I have made it back and the weather is putting on a good show. It is good seeing every one again and all the new cool products. The DH track is same old pedal, and dusty but still fun. The pump track is a bit different this year and the slalom looks pretty sick with deep berms!

Racing for Slalom and pump track tomorrow, will be good and fun then on to DH on Sunday!

Yeww TB

First World Cup has arrived and passed so quickly! After doing all the nationals it came up so quick, two days after the last national round I was on a plane to South Africa. meet up with Sean and Jacy and greeted them with an icy cold Monster! We arrived a week earlier to just get used to the time zone change, so there was a local race on the World Cup Track so it was good to get some good practice in and even race on Sunday.

The next couple of days went pretty fast, Sam arrived Sunday and we just set up our Race bikes and went for a nice xc in the South African bush! We walked the track on Monday so that our legs would recover. First day of practice was on Thursday I felt pretty good knowing the track already and just tried to have fun, Friday the sun was still out and the track was getting faster and faster. My practice runs felt fast and in Qualifying I managed to place 5th giving myself a lot of confidence for the final on Sunday!

Saturday I just decided to chill and not do any super fast runs to get ready for Sundays race. Sunday morning and it had been raining a little bit over night making the track like an ice skating rink, My practice runs in the morning were pretty average and I was trying to just forget about them and move onto the race.

My run started of really good and I pinned all of my lines really well, coming into the pedaling section I was feeling strong and gave it everything I had. I could just stand up for the last part of the track but pushed on through to get a solid 8th place finish! and 7th overall.

Off to sea otter next and will get them back at Val Di Sole!

TB

National Round #4 Awaba, Newcastle, Off to the leach infested DH track but what a good track it is! It was my first time here and the track was super long and fast with good corners and a few jumps to whip off. The weather wasn't being to nice for the last round and decided to piss down all Thursday and for practice on Friday, I ended up running out of roll-offs half way down one of my practice runs and just finished the run with no goggles.

Saturday the rain stopped but made the track super soft and slow rolling, I was still really trying to remember the track and where all the corners were on my seeding run but still some how seeded first and was feeling pretty confident for Sunday race day.

Practice was good in the morning and I was keen to get the run over and done with to focus on the first world cup. The start of my run was super pinned and I felt really really good and smooth, The rock garden was sick to go though with heaps of spectators yelling and I was on for a really fast run when a quick laps in concentration saw me smashing into a tree and watching that Win fall away. I got back up super quick and tried to focus back into a rhythm but I smashed my balls so hard, there was no rhythm except for the squeal out of my mouth!

I still managed 2nd just 2seconds behind Sam and took the Overall Series 1st!

now I'm just looking forward to the first world cup in South Africa! bring it on! yeww

TB

My first Elite men's Downhill race was at Thredbo for the first National round, It was sick to have Sam there and just smashing out runs on the chairlift! Thanks to Sram Aus they helped Sam and myself out with support and hospitality! Practice all week went well just finding new lines and messing around, Qualifying was on the Saturday with the track conditions being dry Jared Graves posted the fastest time and I was in second 2 seconds back.

Over night the rain was on and off making the track slippery in the mornings practice on Sunday. Finals Sam was 4th to last and went down taking the hot seat with a few seconds to spare. My race runs was very solid and smooth hitting all my lines and pedaling out every tight corner as hard as I could, As the track was around the 5.30 minute mark you tend to feel all your muscles working over time at the bottom. I sprinted to the line and found myself in the hot seat with only graves to come down. Graves came across the line in 3rd and giving me the win!

Couldn't of asked for a better weekend and looking forward to keeping the flow going on to the second round at Mt Buller!

TB

Indonesia was a very interesting race that's for sure! This year the track was a lot steeper and flowed pretty good, but still the dirt was like ice! It was super fun riding in the dry and having good weather! Race day it was a different storey though, There was so much rain and the track turned into the most slipperiest track I have ever set me eyes on let a lone raced on! My run started of really fast and smooth hitting all my lines and I was feeling good for the long pedal at the bottom! The famous concrete drop where 99% of the spectators were standing I guess you could say I just decided to crash super hard! haha My back wheel slipped out and I went head first into a bolder!

Here's some footage!  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHN51cv5TZ4

After the crash I just cruised it on down and saw that Sam had won by a few seconds and it was sick to see him on top!

Back home for a while now just got a few National races with Sam and some training!

TB

Off Season, Not much going on at home the last month just riding Moto and slowly getting back into training! all my bikes have rocked up ready to ride and a new paint job on my helmet from Troy Lee Designs is looking sick!

Off to Indonesia for a Specialized DH race this weekend! should be heaps of fun like last year and have lots of spectators!

TB

Things have been pretty hectic at home with a few photo shoots and state champs last weekend. I didn't ride a bike since worlds which was about a month and a couple of weeks and decided to race State champs for fun. After racing Worlds that was my very last race in Elite men and now I have moved up into the big boy class for the rest of my career. Went out on Saturday to do a little bit of practice and see if I could get down fast, Now I had a wild surprise when I couldn't hold speed any where and not jump any of the jumps. I didn't know what was going on and was trying pretty hard to go fast....

Sunday race day I just went out there to have fun and try to jump all the jumps, After a couple of tries I finally got all my lines and all the jumps dialed in. Qualifying I smashed out a solid run and placed second only .4 back when I was hoping to place first, but now I have to step it up to another level and find some more time. Race run was super fast and I pedaled every where on the track to take my 3rd Elite men State championship in a row by 5 seconds.

TB

Bright Lights in Las Vegas for Interbike. The sun is not really shining to much yet but it is still pretty hot, Being my first time to Interbike it is wild how big the place is and all the people walking around. It was really cool to walk around and meet all my Sponsors and say thanks for the last two seasons and also to give some fans a massive poster! that Troy Lee Designs made really quick!

I have been going out and riding Moto for the last week and it was a bit scary riding a factory 250 on my first ever time on a big bike. After a couple of laps around the track I got used to it a little bit and was starting to hit some of the jumps. A week later and all of the jumps seem small and easy now and a have got shifting gears pretty much down as well. Big thanks to Troy Lee for lending me the bike and I am pretty keen to buy a moto when I get home!

Flying home soon and will see all my mates and have a little party before the training starts again!


TB

What a wild ride, The whole season has just been so much fun and seems to have gone pretty quickly. Though out the Season I have been progressing and getting faster finishing off the series with a 4th place at Val Di Sole. So now it is on to the World Champs in Champery Switzerland, Practice started early on Tuesday and the track was super fast already with so much practice the whole week it was super hard for me to take it easy. Second day of practice the track was getting faster again and I just could not hold myself back and pinned my last run of the day, I smashed the top section really good and was coming hot to the last jumps at the bottom. Maybe a little to fast and ended up going over the bars onto my face at super high speeds, but some how managed to walk away with only some scratches and a sore wrist.

Thursday practice I just chilled out and did two slow runs and just tried to recover from the crash. Friday was seeding and I just had a smooth run placing 3rd witch meant that I would be going off 3rd to last and take most of the pressure off of myself. Saturday I decided to step it up again and get some speed back, It rained a little bit Friday night so it made the track a bit slippery but I still had two really pinned runs.

Race day! As it had rained all Saturday night and still raining in the morning I knew it was going to be a wild World Champs. My two practice runs in the morning were quite wild and all over the place but I was still confident and just having fun riding down the track. Race run, Well I could not ask for much more really! Every think went to plan and I road it like it was dry, I came across the line in 1st place 12 seconds up and with only two riders left I was on for a podium finish! Next rider came across the line muddy and off the pace. Last rider to come down was 22 seconds down on the first split and then just a couple of minutes later I was crowned the 2011 Jr World Champ!

It was just such an amazing year and I will be running a big number 8 on my back next year!

Off to Ias Vegas in a couple of days for interbike, should be fun and new!

Cya

In Morzine for a few days, just relaxing in the sun and getting a little bit of riding in. Went for an xc ride with Jacy and Sean up some pretty big mountains and found some sick trails. Been setting up my Demo 8 for Champery the last few days now and I'm feeling really good! Off to Champery now for the 2011 World Champs and hopefully it will be hot and sunny. It will be good to have Sam back and to ride with him on the best track.

World Cup Finals! The last round in Val Di Sole, Italy was set to be a wild one. Walking the track and seeing how fast and rough it was made me a little bit scared and excited at the same time! Thursdays practice was pretty hard for me as I just could not get into a rhythm but then had a pretty good run at the end of the day. Friday Qualifying, I smashed out two decent practices runs and felt confident with how my lines were, My run was smooth and fast with a couple of tiny mistakes and came across the line in forth holding on to it and Qualifying forth for the second time this year! Saturday was just a practice day and I had a hard time trying to set up my bike for all the massive holes that appeared after Qualifying so just did two runs.

Sunday Race Day, The weather has been super hot all week which has made the track a nice layer of dust and exposed roots everywhere. In the morning I just punched out two solid runs before the race and was ready to race! I tried to eat a nice sandwich from Sean but I was to nervous especially Qualifying forth and just chilled in the hotel to get out of all the heat.

Race Run, Some how I shook most of my nerves off and was feeling pretty relaxed at the top, I knew that the track was going to be super, super rough and I just made sure that I got all my lines dialled in smooth at the top and then let it go fast and loose at the bottom which seemed to be fast and I came across the line in second securing my first ever podium finish! I ended up forth on the day taking the Junior's Overall and more importantly Finishing 8th overall in Elite. I could not be more happy and to have my mum and dad over to see this is just amazing!

Off to Morzine now for a week then to Worlds In Champery!

TB

A week off in Innsbruck, Austria. Time to relax and un-wind before the last little stretch with World Cup finals and World Champs just around the corner. It was good to just ride with other people and not be at a World Cup. The track was super wild all 10mins of it just steep and and tight with roots all the way down! The race turned out to be a team thing where all the times were combined, Brendan, myself and our two other team mates just had fun and didn't push it because you could hurt yourself quite easily on this track but still ended up 5th overall.

We are now off to Val Di Sole for the World Cup Finals and I am determined to do well and end a good season even better!

TB

La Bresse track was was pretty short and had some fun technical sections. I had a hard time getting into a rhythm last week and didn't really get a good qualifier in and then just made a lot of mistakes in my race run but I am still running a pretty good overall number with 14 and coming into the next world cup in Val Di Sole I am very motivated to do well there and get back up in that top ten!

The team is now in Innsbruck, Austria for a bike festival now and a 14minute DH race which is super gnarly.

Heading back to the USA, Have a couple of Burritos and some sunshine then off to the next world cup La Bresse!

It will be good to ride a new track and get my speed back up on the technical sections after hitting jumps everyday in Whistler. It was good riding with my mates from back home and almost felt like I was back home for a little bit.

TB

Been Chillen in Whistler! Had my 18th birthday with all the crew from back home, We traveled to Pemberton for some hour long downhill runs and amazing dirt! Then just riding the park here in Whistler getting my whips and scrubs down on A-Line.

Crankworx didn't have the nicest weather this year but it was still fun to race with no pressure, In the Dual Slalom I got kicked out again by Mick Hannah two years in a row now. Canadian DH practice was fun and you didn't have to pedal much. Going up on the lift for my race run there was sooo many people on this one rock underneath the chairlift, The roar of them all when I went pass made me dissy and got wild in the next section of the track. I have a really good run and placed 3rd to finally get my first ever novelty big check!

A-Line race Brendan and I decided to go down together whipping it out for the crowd which was super sick and heaps more fun the burning your lungs to pieces!

Just staying in Whistler for a extra week to be on the bike and do a little bit of training before I head off to Europe for 5 weeks straight.

TB

Crankworx didn't have the nicest weather this year but it was still fun to race with no pressure, In the Dual Slalom I got kicked out again by Mick Hannah two years in a row now. Canadian DH practice was fun and you didn't have to pedal much. Going up on the lift for my race run there was sooo many people on this one rock underneath the chairlift, The roar of them all when I went pass made me dissy and got wild in the next section of the track. I have a really good run and placed 3rd to finally get my first ever novelty big check!

A-Line race Brendan and I decided to go down together whipping it out for the crowd which was super sick and heaps more fun the burning your lungs to pieces!

Just staying in Whistler for a extra week to be on the bike and do a little bit of training before I head off to Europe for 5 weeks straight.

TB

New York Baby! The 5th World cup in Windham, NY straight after Mont Sainte Anne was pretty hard to back up physically and mentally with the rough track and doing so well. Being in the USA I thought it wouldn't rain and there would be sunshine for once at a World Cup but no. Thursday practice was a little bit wet after the nights rainfall but also dried pretty quickly. Qualifying on Friday went super well making it inside the top 5 and getting 4th was just unreal. Practice on Saturday was fun and found a couple of sneaky lines and smashed out 3 solid runs.

Sunday Race Day, I was feeling good and went up for my first practice run and just put together the best run. It felt faster than my qualifier and then I just decided to chill and rest up for the race. Now the nerves were kicking in leaving the gate 4th to last, My run started good then missed a line which put me off my flow a little bit and then just smashed the bottom as best as I could to make up time. Finished 8th on the day and moved up to 11th in the series nearly cracking that top ten! The crowd were amazing and it was good to have another race in the USA!

Off to Whistler now for Crankworx and my 18th Birthday

With the sun out, it is race day here in Mont Sainte Anne. The holes were getting bigger and bigger every second and some how it still hasn't rained, Morning practice I just decided to do one practice run and to rest my arms and legs for the race run. The clouds were starting to set in and looked like there might be a chance on rain when I was warming up. My run was super solid and I came across the line in first one second up with 11 more riders to go. A couple of riders came down and still I had the fastest time, Which put me right up there and to be my first top 10 ever at a world cup all most getting on the podium with a 6th place! Could not ask for any thing more, Just a good run and a good result, I'm up into 13th overall and hope to crack that top 10 soon enough.

Next stop Windham, USA

Here in Mont Sainte Anne MSA Qualifying has already been and dame was it muddy. I had a pretty smooth run but didn't hit all my lines perfect and qualified 12th, 1 second out of the top ten. Practice Saturday it has been dry and the track is super fast now, scary in some places. Race day tomorrow going to be a wild wet or dry I'm feeling good!

IXS cup at Leogang, Austria was held the week later after the World Cup. Brendan and myself stayed there just to ride the track and get lots of practice in for World Champs next year, With a few xc rides and Go carts the middle of the week went really fast and it was already race weekend.

Friday practice I didn't ride as it was super muddy and didn't want to be tired come Sunday, Saturday the rain did not let up, With the holes getting bigger and the ruts making the track look like a Motocross race the only reason was the 400+ riders smashing down. The rain and fog was so bad that seeding had to be cancelled and everyone was pretty happy about that.

Sunday Seeding run in the morning I just cruised and saved me legs for the final race run. Although in doing that I was 10 seconds back from the leader and had a lot of time to make up. Race run went pretty good and tried to keep it smooth and hold speed, pedaling felt really strong and decided to take it easy where I crashed in the World cup coming across the line in first with a few riders to go.

Brendan had a crash in his run putting him off the podium, It came down to the last rider as I was still sitting in the hot-seat. Right down to the wire 0.150 of a second separated me for the win and my first overseas Elite men 1st place. It feels so good to have a good run and have all my training pay off!

Now back to So Cal for a week and then onto World cup #4 MSA, With very good memories form that place getting Jr World Champ(2010) I am keen to get a good result there.

TB

Practice was pretty good just staying out of massive holes and trying to hold speed down the track. This time I kept my head a bit cooler than Fort William so I wasn't that nervous at the top, Warming up on the trainer Sam went off and had a good run putting him into the hot seat. Qualifying in the top 20 is hard in a way but also is so sick as there are so many people on the track cheering for you.

My run was really good from the top, I got a bit wild in the first corner so just kept it smooth from there on. After the pedal I was feeling still really strong so decided to have a crack and let it get loose.... But the next right hand corner my front wheel slipped out and crashed. So I went into panic mode and got back on and just managed to get down still crossing the line in 7th, Finishing 15th and moving up to 16th overall in the points. Now some really good tracks are coming up and have a race this weekend on the same track in Leogang. Try to redeem myself!

TB

Just finished Qualifying here in Leogang, Had a solid run and crossed the line in 10th which was kinda surprising as all my practice runs did not feel fast at all. Fridays Practice is wasn't too bad just getting some lines in and trying to get up to speed at the end. Saturday's first two runs broke my confidence but then the third was a lot better so I just wanted to hit a solid run. With riders still Qualifying I am sitting in 11th right now and hopefully stay there!

Race day tomorrow, Stay cool and have another smooth run!

Cya

Qualifying went really well, I didn't know what to expect with my time but just had a good smooth run which placed me 8th. I was a bit blown away and was a little bit nervous starting my race run in the top ten but it was so sick to be starting that late and to have so many people on the side of the mountain cheering. My race run started out good just one little mistake at the top which might of actually been faster, I was just trying to be smooth like my qualifying run and couldn't quite keep it together having a little crash lower in the woods.

Finished in 30th place but I have learned a lot from this race and I am now just inside the top 20 to be a protected rider in qualifying for Leogang!

TB

Made it Fort William and walked the track, There are few new changes this year but should be good when it dry's up a bit. It is really good to come back to a track that I have been to before, As it will make it so much easier to remember the track and get up to speed quicker! A little bit of the pedal has been changed at the bottom so should make it a bit easier.

TB

In So Cal riding my new Stumpjumper down some sick cross country trails and getting some photo's taken for Troy Lee Designs on my super pimped out P3. The weather has bee pretty good over here not to hot and little bit of rain, dropped into Monster energy to meet everyone again and get some cool new product and also Troy Lee Designs to see Troy Lee and Ben + the crew and got thrown a mountain of Gear, Shirts and Knee braces!

On the weekend there was a local DH race just down at Fontana and I thought it would be a good fun race to do, The track was pretty much like my tracks at home just super dusty and short with a bit of a sprint in it. Practice went good Saturday just trying to remember the track and finds lines. Sunday it was a two run format where both of your race run times were combined. My first run felt smooth holding down 2nd then in my next race run I felt a lot quicker but the time didn't agree and I was 2 seconds slower dropping my overall time down too 3rd. It was a good event and happy I got a race under my belt.

Off to Colorado Tomorrow to do some testing with Sram and have some fun for a week then back into business with the second World Cup at Fort William.

TB

Back to the USA for some good weather and a lot of juicy burritos. Flying out to So Cal today to get some time in on my beautiful Demo 8 hand around by the pool and see a few sponsors. There might be a race or two before the next world cup and ill keep you posted. Next world cup is at Fort William, Finally a track that I already know and have raced so it will make it just that much easier to get up to speed with out having to learn the track first. Its been a good couple of weeks at home training and relaxing but now its time for 5 months of racing flat out and I can not wait!

TB

Smashing out Downhill runs on my Demo 8, After swinging back an icy cold Monster I decided to go out with a friend and smash out a few quick runs at my local track down the road. Whilst my dad was driving we managed to get around 10 runs in in 2 hours by shuttling in my Truck. Pushing the limits and trying new lines whilst the short burst of rain came down were super fun and I was really feeling good on the bike. Not long already before I head over to the US and get amongst some burritos and go to some sponsors headquarters, Can not wait and to get the 2nd World cup under way at Fort William!

TB

2011 Season kicked off with the Frist World cup in South Africa, Practice was going well and I learnt the track super fast! Qualifying I followed Sam Hill to see how my speed was going and keeping up with him gave me confidence for the Qualifier, My runs was pined and pedaled till my lungs blew up and my legs gave way. Sliding into 24th I knew it was going to be close for me to finish in the top 20 for the finals. Bredog suffered a crash in his Qualifying run and blew his knee up stopping him from racing on Sunday in the finals, I hope he recovers and comes back for the 2nd World cup. Saturday Sam and I did A couple of practice runs and I felt pretty fast up the top section where the Technical bit of the track was.

Come race day everyone knew what they had to do in the middle of the track and that is just sprint there heart out for about a minute! My race run was near perfect smashing out the top section and my top split was 9th, Leaving every last little piece of me in the middle sprint came to the second split and was still managing a top 20 in 16th. Down towards the bottom my legs started to become like jelly and lost a little bit of time. Over all I finished up in 23rd 11 seconds of the win and most of all the massive amount of confidence going into the next World cup! Fastest Junior with the leaders jersey and 27th overall in elite! Hoping to make into the top 20 after the next World cup!

TB

In South Africa and the weather was not in the best shape when we all arrived. Raining and cold, but now it has warmed up and starting to look good! Just been swinging back Monsters and riding around on a new Specialized Langster which is pimped out! Today we punched out a few runs on our new Demo's with me moving up to a small and it felt sick! Just a little bit more room and just the best feeling DH bike built up by Jacy! Can not wait to be practicing just got to walk the track tomorrow and practice starts Thursday.

TB

Getting super excited about the first world cup coming up in South Africa! Leaving on Saturday and meeting Sam Hill along the way and then seeing the team in South Africa. Good to get fresh bikes and be riding on a world cup track again, although it might have a bit of pedal. But I am positive that I can last a full race pace run! My back is getting better and better every day, just resting it and should be 100% by the second World Cup!

See you all in South Africa!
TB

Slowly getting back into training, It has been hard not being able to smash myself training wise, But I really need to rest my back to get full recovery. I had an X-Ray done just to make sure there were no fractures and all was good! Just trying to keep fit at this stage for the First World cup, Not long now till the season starts again and I am hoping that everything that I learned in my first year I can put towards this year and try to get some really good results! I couldn't be any more confident In the team and the massive support they give. It will be good to see Sam Hill in the rainbows and just riding in general with both Sam and Brendan Fairclough!

TB

My back is still sore, But I have been resting it all last week so it will be good for South Africa. Just going to do light work this week to reduce aggregating it and try to train a little. Its getting super close now and I am very very excited to head overseas! I have been riding a lot of Downhilling last week and feeling pretty good! Just trying to find my limit or ways to hold more speed down any track. I still haven't really grown much but hoping for for a spurt soon!

Oceania Championships and National Series wrapped up for 2011 and what a good thing they were! The last round of the National Series was moved and held at Shepparton and combined with the Oceania Champs. I was leading the points heading into the last round and had a pretty comfortable lead over 2nd, I also have yet to win an Oceania championship and was really liking the track.

Saturday practice was going smooth just a little bit windy in till I had a big crash into a rock garden scratching and winding my self pretty good. No broken bones and the medic that came over to see if I was alright was actually a super hot girl! Made me feel a bit better... Seeding I just got down smooth into second place.

Race day, In the morning my back had locked up and I wasn't feeling very flash. I knew that I was just going to have to push through it and try to block the pain whilst riding. Just punched two slow practice runs and tried to rest up as much as I could. Race Run was pretty faultless with one in particular spectator screaming at me and made me get wild but it felt super fast then just smashed the bottom turns and pedaled for the finish coming across the line in first with one rider to go. It came down to .10 of a second and I just came out on top, Wrapping up the Nat Series winning 4 from 4 races and being crowned the Oceania Champion!

My off season has gone really well and now it is just going to be a long 3 week wait till the first World Cup!

TB

 Road Trip to the last National Round of the Australian series, Driving about 9 hours with Will Rischbieth in his pimped out van. I'm really excited about this race as I am very hungry to do well after National Champs. My Specialized Demo 8 is running sick at the moment and keen to Slay the track this weekend, I have been downhilling a lot lately so I am super familiar with it when I head over to the first world cup in South Africa. My Training has been pretty solid the last couple of weeks and can not wait to see the team again after last time at World Champs!

TB 

Summer has finished and the rain starts... The day summer finished it just decided to rain hard for a whole day. But this meant that the tracks were going to be hero dirt a couple of days later, and yes they were! Will Rischbieth and I set out with my mum as the driver to smash out some sick DH runs, the track was perfect so much grip. Moto ruts were forming and our speed was getting faster and faster by every run. Its good to see Will riding again after his back injury and he is still super quick.

I have been riding Flat pedals for a week or two now just to get used to them and they are feeling sick! So much fun just blowing feet and getting wild, so this year you might just see me at a few races with flat pedals.

TB

 Back into some hard training, with a couple of small injuries fixed I am ready for some hard work! My first session back in the gym was hectic smashed myself and got my max heart rate! 195 Just going to push it all the way until South Africa by going to the bmx track and fitness in the gym so I can give myself the best change on a more pedal track. I'm pretty excited to get back in the race circuit and see everyone again, plus to be riding some sick tracks! Can not wait to see what my new Specialized Demo 8 is going to look like and to be riding a bigger size bike should make me able to hit some wild lines!

TB

Qualifying didn't really go to plan as I had a little crash costing me some time. Ending up in 3rd with a crash I was happy and just wanted to get ready for race day. The Whole day things didn't really seem to be falling into place and it not at every race that happens. I felt better in practice on race day and thought my time was going to be up there. With the race being in my home city it didn't really feeling like a proper National event but with that said my run was pretty good except for a few feet blowing off and took over the hot-seat with two more riders to come down. With the next rider came down it was way to close to call and only just managed to beat him by less than half a second. Now with one rider to go I was happy to be on the podium but still would love to get that top step, But not this time... Connor came down with a blistering time to take the win with about a 2 and a half second lead!

I'm still happy with second and now just focusing on the last National round to hopefully take out the overall! After that its over to USA and to get all of my new pimped out Specialized bikes and to start the World Cups.

TB 

2011 Specialized Australian MTB Champs are held in my home city of Adelaide, I know this track very well and have done pretty good on it in the past. We are a few practice days in now and I'm feeling good, although I did hurt my ankle pretty bad but I have that all strapped up and ready to go. Riding with Mitch Delfs, Josh Button, Mick Hannah and Jared Graves all the big names are here. Its really cool to see Specialized had become the major sponsor for this event and have a massive tent set up with all of there Test the Best Demo bikes.

The track is pretty blown out and super dusty with the temperature around 35 degrees Celsius, so it is very hot here and should make for some good racing. Qualifying run today, Pretty excited to see what times are getting laid down and how a race run feels like. Also I will be wearing my worlds jersey which is always exciting to wear!

Chillen at home thinking about the World Cup Season, As it gets closer and closer I'm am getting super keen to get overseas and start racing again. Just being away and seeing everyone again at the first World Cup in South Africa.

Coming up next is National Champs at my home city, so I am very familiar with the track and it makes it easy to rest being in my own bed. Sam might be coming over as well which will be good to ride with him again before we both head overseas. I'm feeling pretty strong on the bike and know that I have to just be pinned on the day.

Lately I have been riding XC and Dirt jumps a fair bit and have just suffered a hard crash hitting my knee and pelvis pretty bad. I have spent today just relaxing and walking around in the ocean trying to free it up and make sure it heals properly. So just going to take it easy before next week so I come into National Champs 100% fit and ready.

Rain turns into Snow... Waking up Sunday morning to no rain and little patches of blue sky I was super happy and ready to ride! Hit a few practice runs and it was so cold I couldn't ever hold on at the bottom. Waiting for my seeding run and out of no where it starts to Snow for a couple of minutes, so crazy it was the first time I had ever seen snow fall from the sky. Everyone was hating it, that it was too cold and raining and snowing but I was loving it!

Seeding run went pretty well just had a solid run and stayed on my bike taking first by 3 seconds, I knew that there was more in me for the final. Made lunch back at the lodge and got super warm before we had to go back out. All week I have been fighting a stomach virus and it hasn't been pretty. so was good to be indoors and warm. Watching the Elite men do their seeding run was good and hearing Bryn's time was 20 seconds faster than mine I really wanted to pull back that time in the final.

Race run went pretty much to plan sprinting the whole run and finishing one second in front and taking the win, also smashing 12 seconds off my seeding time. I have a pretty big lead heading into the last round and have a fair bit of confidence, but the National Champs are coming up soon and I really want to take it out. It is in my hometown and I like the track, Just hard training from now on!

TB

 As the Rain comes down in summer.... Practice has been canceled the whole day because we have been hit the the bottom end of the Cyclone Yasi at 3rd National round. 100km/h winds today Chairlift is closed and Mt Buller is like a ghost town. Hopefully it will stop raining and the weather clears up by tomorrow. Fridays Practice was raining the whole time but I smashed out 6-7 runs.

Last Wednesday a local Victorian club held a small Dual Slalom race under lights with about 40 entries. It was a really good event and I hope they bring the dual slalom racing back. Racing in the dark was very different and hard to judge the jumps and berms but was still very fun.

Race Day tomorrow, as the track is very hard pact and has rocks and logs everywhere I am staying on my Specialized Butchers so i have maximum grip on the sketchy parts.

TB

Hanging out in Melbourne, Just had a state round up at Mt Buller. Practice was going pretty average on Saturday but turned that around on Sunday, I was feeling smoother and a lot faster. Qualifying I placed 2nd behind Rhys Atkinson, I knew that I had a couple of seconds up my sleeve for the final. In my race run, the top I had pinned and felt super fast the just before you pop out of the woods I hit a rock pretty hard and got a flat tyre right up the top of the track. So then I decided to wait for Rhys and yell at him but he had crashed where I got my flat and still ended up 3rd. Just cruising down getting side ways and spectators still cheering me on I finished the race.

So I have had my bad race for a while and now to smash up the National Round this weekend at the same track Mt Buller!

Can not wait

TB

Packing for the 3rd National Round, and its taking forever! The last week i have just been resting and hanging out with the crew, Last Sunday I crashed big and hurt my shoulder pretty bad so I have just been resting it so its 100% for this next race. I'm feeling really strong on the XC bike and now I just have to keep up with my speed on the DH bike.

Australia Day has just been, Punching out a solid 7 DH runs in the morning then and BBQ down at the beach with a massive crew. Sipping on a few Monsters It was one of the most relaxing days for a while. Now getting back into it and racing a local club race then the weekend after is the National round on the same track. Hopefully I can keep the leaders Jersey!

TB

Second round of the Aussie Nationals. Driving through some deep rivers and some wild raining weather on the way to Mt Baw Baw, I could only imagine about what the conditions were going to be like for friday's first practice session. Friday morning I woke up to lots of wind and lots of rain, Postponing practice a couple of hours. Saturday the sun decided to come out and start to dry the track up just in time for the seeding runs. I took it pretty easy just getting my lines and pinning the tech sections but not pedaling much, I ended up 2nd 4 seconds off of the fastest.

I had been thinking about my run and how to make up 4 and then some seconds to take the win, Saturday I just wasn't focussed and I changed all that for race day. With my new Troy Lee Designs kit that my Amazing mother drove 4 hours there and back to get for me, I felt like a new person and new I could maybe just make up enough time. The run was pretty good leaving it all out there to just finish on top by .25 of a second and taking the overall time again!

Two more rounds left and the National Champs to come, See you there!

The last week has gone so fast, With some good runs on Sunday I was feeling fast and pretty strong. The next National Round has arrived and I'm super excited to see what the track is like! I have not been to Mt Baw Baw before so it will be interesting to see whats going on, I have only heard good things about the track so can not wait to ride it! My training is still trucking along nicely although I have a deep massage the other day and my Carves were like concrete meaning that the pain from the massage was intense. So just trying to get on the top of that now and then I will be producing some more strength in my legs. 

Lately my Back has been playing up and effecting my training a little bit so just trying to make myself rest and not ride all day everyday.

TB

A Quiet Christmas turns into a loud New years. Sitting on the couch and going for a little ride on Christmas day was super relaxing and I think I was in need for a day like that.

New Years I decide to drive 4 hours up the coast to a little town called Robe, There are sick beaches with pretty good waves and good weather. People every where on the beach and in the center of the town drinking and just being wild. All in all it was a good night, and now 2011 has started I can not wait for the season to start up again! With a few weeks of training I am feeling stronger and can finally keep up with the xc crew at home.

TB

Christmas has come early! With a delivery from Specialized containing a new XC Helmet one sick track pump and Some super pimp daddy S-Works MTB Shoes.

The last week I have been riding a lot and training pretty hard now, I have been set in good hands and just need to give it everything I have Next year. The first National round that has just passed gave me all the confidence and I know that I can go faster.

Im still running my world's bike, Specialized Demo and could not be happier how it feels! I have about a month till my next race and cant wait.

Sitting at Sydney airport,   waiting for my flight home that got delayed is not fun! This weekend the First Round of the Australian Series was on in Tasmania, The track is super fun and is almost up to worldcup standard. We had practice from Friday to Sunday morning, then Race time! With a almost faultless run I came across the line in first and had won the first round in U19's. To put the cherry on the cake My time was the fastest of the whole day by two seconds!

It was good to see Specialized have some demo bikes out there, even in the rain. And a massive thanks to SRAM for servicing my bike and putting some special Worldcup forks on my bike!

Thanks TB  

Driving 24 hours and back in 4 days! That's what 6 of us did to go see Josh Button at his 21st birthday party, The first day of driving was not to bad until we had to pull over and sleep on the side of the road in the dirt which turned into mud after it rained on us all night. with 4 hours of sleep under our belt we were ready to go again! another whole day of driving and we made it, Straight to the beach to have a shower in the salt water the bed. Another 5 hours sleeping didn't help to much but it was Josh's party so everyone was energetic. The party was heaps funny and we were throwing down some moves on the dance floor.

With 3 hours sleep that night we had hit the road again after fixing the car. I don't know how we made it half way back that day, just to only find a tiny little shelter with 3 park benches under neath. And yes it was raining all night so sleeping on the park benches was our only option! Tired and over driving we finally rolled into Wills house and made it safely. What a weekend.

On Wednesday Dan Peters and I went to the City Jumps and got some really cool shots of me on my Specialized P3. Now just have to get up at 6ish tomorrow and film some Downhill!

TB

I have gotten myself a Trainer and now im back into Training for next season! Ollie O'Neill (my new trainer) will be getting me up to strength and fitness by April and will give me all the chance to 'back up' the season that has just passed.I have been doing some testes with Ollie and he has made me go to breaking point both times. Im really excited about getting back into the swing of things and for next year, I have a great Trainer, Team and people around me to help and ride with!

TB

15 runs in one day! First time riding Downhill with all of my mates and smashed out a solid 15 runs back to back. That night i was in the hurt box with arm pump and my legs were super weak. Not much going on these days just regular training and Dirt Jumping a lot. 

Not to mention the Hot Sauce bottles getting sent from Sean and Jacy over in LA. Can't beat the taste of their hot sauce. haha

TB

So I just pulled into my driveway, got out of my car walked to the front door when I saw one of my cats. And she had caught a baby mouse, next thing I know she is biting into it like its chewing gum. She had bit it into half - then she eat the bottom half, With just the two front legs and the head chilling there... But no she wanted to eat the whole thing! Crunching into the skull like no other and the eating it all.

Now here in Aus its starting to get warmer as my friends and I have been hitting the beach as much as we can. Its not to far away from the first National round held in Tasmania and im really excited to ride again!

TB

Sitting here on the couch watching the concrete getting pored into my shed for the floor. Soon enough she will dried up and then its party time for all of my bikes! I can not wait for the shed to be finished and ready to work in its going to make life just little bit more easier.

On the weekend there was a local XC race on and I love the track so I thought that I would have a go and see where my fitness is at. Well I know where fitness is at the moment and really there is none... I set out to race for 4 laps and by the 3rd lap my legs blew up, my back was in so much pain and punters were passing me on the downhills. So I finished of my 3rd lap the pulled out. So with that in my mind I believe it is time to start training again and get back into the swing of things.

TB

Summer is coming as the rain clouds disappear and the temperature rises, the board shorts and skim boards get dusted off and ready for a sick summer. As every one else is blogging about summer leaving well Sam Hill and myself are laughing, as we both chase summer around the world every year. I have found a Job for the summer to get some quick cash. It is at a bike shop, so ill be building all kinds of specialized's and getting the learn so much more about the brand! Apart from that im just loving riding with everyone and being home.

The National Series are coming soon which will be fun and give me something to do.

Cya TB

Back home and eating some normal food again, im feeling way better now and glad to back with all my friends. Not to much stuff going on this weekend just putting up the finishing touches on my new shed and then getting ready to concrete the floor. Maybe will go for an xc on my new Stumpjumper with they boys and have a bit of fun. Other than that I have just been riding dirt jumps in the city.

Not much on the books for a couple of weeks which is good so I can just chill for a bit then get back into training for next season.

Thanks TB

In Indonesia and racing mountain bikes. The Asian Pacific Championship held by Specialized was on last week end with Sam and I flying over to compete. From the word go when we got out side of the airport there were people all over us asking if we needed a taxi or money changing. With all that aside I was meet by Arifin (the Boss) and what seemed like 50 camera men, flashes going off every where. the whole time Sam, Steve Marsh and I were in Indonesia we were treated like kings Like super nice hotels with sick swimming pools and basketball courts where history took place with Sam placing last in Around the World and myself getting first, but with all the fun and games we were off to the Asian Pacific.

The track was pretty good it hard a few really sick sections. despite the massive amounts of rain it was a really fun race to do, there wasn't really any pressure and in the end I crashed over the bars near the finish. Sam finished in 2nd behind local rider/ pinner killing the filed by 5 seconds. after the race it was wild how many people wanted autographs and photos.

Then Monday came around, time for Bali!!! Bali was so sweet and there was so much to see and do, there was a lot of haggling being done and soaking up the sun. Then to just make my holiday wayyyy better I got Bali Belly which is like a virus bug thing(not good). but yer that kept me in side my hotel room for a full day and lets just say that I became really good friends with the toilet. haha Back home and felling way better.

Cya TB

In Jakarta/ Indonesia for a race/ holiday. just been site seeing and having fun really, not to much going on just getting stuck in traffic and wild people on scooters cutting everyone off. Went to a shopping mall and had a little press conference then went to the fish spa, where these little fish eat the dead skin off of your feet. It tickles so much at first then you get used to it.

Off to Malung for a race in some rain forest! should be fun.

TB

State Champs was on this weekend. After not riding my downhill bike or any bike for a while I felt a little bit wired. coming into this race I wanted to do well and back up my last years performance of first in elite again. I love the track and do well there. The whole weekend my Specialized felt super smooth and I couldn't believe how many people wanted to see it and ride it around!

Race day I felt that every run I did I was getting faster and faster. My seeding run was pinned and I just backed it off at the bottom. Placing 1st by one second and knew there was more time to shave off. Before my race run I was really calm and just knew what I had to do, have a pinned run but staying on the bike. As I was the last person on the hill the time to beat was 1.55, My run was super sick and had no mistakes coming down with a time of 1.53sec taking 1st place and being the first person to go back to back state champ.

Off to Jakarta on Wednesday for a race that Specialized is putting on, should be sick and cant wait to see the scenery. 

Cya TB 

First race as a World Champ, was one of my local state rounds. The track is defiantly not comparable to overseas but still it is fun. Saturday practice was sick just riding with all my mates and messing about. Sunday it didn't look like it was going to be a very good day, but in the end its was nice and sunny. Qualifying run was good just cruising down and placed 3rd only one second back, I knew that i could take a few seconds of in my race run. Race run was really good no mayor mistakes and came across the line in 1st by a few seconds. Got though one rider then just got edged out by only 0.07 of a second. Im happy with second place at this state race by just a very little bit, but I was just super happy that I won the worlds by just a little bit and didn't place seconded there. 

I can not thank MONSTER ENERGY/ SPECIALIZED enough for what they have done this year and whats going to happen in the future!

TB Jr #1

After 3 days of travelling i finally made it home, it was so sick meeting up with all my friends and going out to dinner with them. I haven't been doing much at all just having fun and staying away from the bike for a week or two. there are some state races coming up, It will be sick to see all the Aussie races again and do my first race as the Jr world Champ.

TB Jr #1

Just one week later from USA to Canada the World cup finals to the World Champs, with my good result at the finals I had all the confidence going in to Worlds. There was a lot of practice starting on Tuesday going all the way up to Sunday. Every day I felt more confident with the track and faster, Thursday was a timed run just to see what time everyone was doing. With an easy run I placed 2nd three seconds back.

Sunday rolled around and I was feeling good, practice was sick and I felt smooth and in control. I did my Normal warm up at the top with Jacy, just having fun and thinking a little about my run. Before I left the bottom to get on the chairlift I heard that Neko took over the hot seat with a really good time. So then I knew what time was going to be close to win.

My run started really good just holding speed and pedaling everywhere I could, half way down I was really getting into the run and was going as fast as I could possibly go. Somehow I held it all together till the bottom and came across the line in 1st securing a podium spot, but only just by 0.06 of a second.

Just one rider left on the hill and his first split was down by 7 seconds, I couldn’t believe my eyes the time ticked away and then I was the 2010 Junior World Champ. So much excitement and relief that had actually did it.

Massive thanks to Monster Energy/Specialized for a great season and can’t wait for next year!

TB Jr #1

I didn’t know what to think about the track after I walked it on Wednesday, it seemed short and you would not be able to carry much speed. But when practice came around on Thursday it was one track that I would remember, It flowed the whole way down not much pedaling and I was have so much fun riding it.

Friday Qualifying, my run was smooth and I just wanted to qualify so badly after a disappointing result at Val Di Sole. I held it together for 49th. Saturday was good just riding with Sam and Brendan, finding some new lines and going faster.

Race Day, in practice I felt really good found some more lines that took off seconds and it showed in my final. I hung it out the whole way and took over the hot seat for the first time. Sitting in there for ages then Sam comes down and takes it off of me. My time held up for a top 20 placing in 18th, my best result at a world cup yet.

Off to World Champs in MSA, should be lots of fun and ill try to take home those stripes.

TB

After Crankworx we flew to Bromont for a rest week, just riding XC bikes, relaxing and getting ready for world cup finals and worlds. Hitting up the water park with Brendan and Mitch Delfs and smashing out some XC’s made for a great week. Now off to World Cup finals in Windham.

Cya there TB

My second year to whistler and I still love the vibe in Whistler, with all the lakes, tracks, weather and people.

Dual slalom was so much fun this year; it was tight and flowed really well. A few rounds in and I was up against Gee Atherton the first run he got me and then the next run I got him, the times would have been super close but Gee took it out. And went on to win which made me feel a bit better. I was then in the small final up against Mick Hannah, the same thing Mick got me in the first and then I got him in the second, but still he just got me and pushed me off of the podium for forth.

Garbanzo Downhill: 9th

Pump track: 5th

Air DH 9th

Canadian Open: 4th just, 0.11 off of 2nd and 0.04 off of 3rd.

It was a good weekend and it was good to relax. Off to bromont now.

Straight from Champery to Val Di Sole, two of the most testing tracks on the circuit. The track was wild, just to see how rough it was already. Practice was good just finding lines and learning every corner. Qualifying day, the morning’s practice was good till my last run where I crashed over the bars real bad and gave myself a dead arm. After the crash I decided to chill and just rest a little before my qualifier.

In my qualifying run I felt good just making sure I would get down safely but still qualify, but I must have been set on cruise control because I placed out of the top 80 meaning that I would not be racing in the final and would also hand over my leaders jersey. Heading into a break now before the next world cup I am hungry to train hard and get those two points back for the overall.

Off to Whistler for Crankworx now for some fun!

TB

Practice was wild; it went from dry and dusty to complete muddy and sloppy making it even harder to ride down. Qualification run was really good just got down really and tried not to crash, but still in the end I did have a small crash which cost me some time but still I came 39th.

Race day it was on and it was still raining hard and it wasn’t going to stop, hailing at some stages. All I had to do was be the fastest junior out there and I would have to leader’s jersey back. Finishing across the line in 4th, after 41 riders already down the mountain and then placing 32nd my best result of the season. I was stoked.

Off to Val Di Sole now and still no Sam but he is resting and doing what’s right for himself. Hope he gets better.

Made it to Champery for the 4th World Cup, the track walk was wild, blowing my knees and ankles up just trying to get down. The steepness is amazing and there is no pedaling what so ever, the track will suit me really well and I can’t wait till practice tomorrow. The scenery around the village is so sick, massive mountains everywhere.

Can’t wait for practice. TB

Overseas again for the second half of the World cup Series, with super sick tracks, Crankworx and also World Champs to finish off with I am ever so excited! Monster Energy/ Specialized have been really good to me and I couldn’t have any better two riders to help me progress this much. Although Sam has been injured I have learned so much from him.

Champery is next on the gender and from what I have heard… well I just can’t wait! My three weeks off At home were good just to be home for a while and made me want to come back hungry.

Cya in Champery

TB

It’s been good coming home for while just to think about the season and I think most of it has set in, I have learnt a lot and can’t wait to put it to use. With two big tracks coming up, I can’t wait to get back overseas. On the weekend there was a state Downhill race in my hometown (Fox Creek) I was there just having fun with no pressure and riding with the crew. Race day I qualified 3rd not too far off 1st, so I knew if I just though down some more pedals I would challenge for the lead. I had a perfect run and went into the lead by over five seconds, my time held for 1st by .20 of a second. It was a good race and has now boosted my confidence for the world cups.

TB

Just chillen at home resting and doing a bit of training, trying not to think too much about the world cups coming up but it’s so hard with them both being super sick tracks with no pedaling.

Crankworx is coming up soon as well and a lot of Adelaide crew is going to be there to ride!

I have less than two weeks until I go back overseas again but I half want to be over there just for the burritos and sunny So Cal.

I have a little state race on this weekend, just going to have fun with it and then see what result I pull out.

TB

What a wild race, Mud, Tree Roots, Dirty gear and Lots of FUN! Another race without Sam but the whole team had the heads up high. Before Leogang we had a relaxing week is Saalbach enjoying some sun until it rained. I felt ready and Leogang had a good vibe about it, just like a small town and just a nice place.

Friday was the least muddy day which helped everyone practiced the new track. I felt good and just got my line sorted on day one, trying to follow brendog was a different story. Friday Avro brought the never ending rain, just the same as what happened in Maribor.

Saturday was qualifying and it was still raining, but I was determined to keep focus in the mud and try to go fast. I had a good run in qualifying and got my best result 62nd.

Sunday- still raining and it was the worst all week. I knew that in the final I just had to pin it and not be scared of the roots but somehow I still road in my comfort zone placing 50th, which is still very good but I knew that the was more in me. Well it’s better to be safe and not hurt, maybe if I pushed myself I could have crashed really badly and be out for some of the season to come.

Learning every step of the way and can’t wait till the next world cups to come!!!

Cya in at round 4

TB

Training camp at Saalbach, Austria has been quite fun with some hard XC rides and some downhilling on my stump jumper (not recommended) but its all fun and smashed out a massive XC today. Climbed around 3550 foot high with so hot weather but then got to descend like crazy with the boys. I had so much fun and the terrain was amazing, not crashes just some sheep that wouldn’t get out of the way and Brendan nearly ran a couple over.

Now just a few more days here, than world cup #3 in Leogang about 30minutes away.

Cya TB

My second world cup has already arrived, after walking it I was blown away. The track looked super fast, rocky, windy and a lot of pedaling.

Friday practice was a bit scary as the track was crazy fast and rocky, a few suspension changes and I was on my way. Getting to the end of practice I was in top 80 so I could do a timed run. I had a good top split but then stopped to check out this one section near the bottom, as I was looking for lines Sam comes flying through amazingly quick blowing me away but he didn’t get out of the section as he was hoping for, Sam got bucked off over the bars with a 2 meter drop to hard packed dirt on his shoulder. I wish I didn’t see it at all!

Saturday well Sam was really sore and could not practice but I tried a few more runs out then qualified. I felt that I held back too much to try and save energy for the bottom when I should have just pinned it from the gate. But still I qualified in 71st.

Race day after qualifying I felt good and relieved so I put no pressure on myself for the final. My run was good but just had no legs at the bottom, I ended up 57th witch isn’t too bad considering the track.

Hope Sam gets better and recovers fast.

Now a week break in Saalbach should be fun and just mellow.

TB

Giant Slalom was really fun lots of turns and a few jumps made it one of my favorite tracks to ride. I qualified 7th with an all right run and then in my first run out of two I placed 3rd. I knew that I would still have to step it up to stay on that podium, so in my second run it was all or nothing pretty much I managed to come down in 2nd with Mitch’s first run still better than mine. Brendan then came down second to last taking the hot seat, it was all up to Mitch but he crashed out knocking himself out. Witch left me in 3rd.

Downhill brought a track that was like one of my Australian tracks at home and I thought maybe I would do well, but there was a lot of pedaling involved and it was going to really hard for me. Practice was going well and I qualified in 14th place with a bad run. Knowing that I could step it up and go fast so did other people and with a fast and smooth run I placed 11th just outside the top ten witch I was going for. But I guess that’s racing and should just learn from it.

Now off to Fort William World cup #2

Cya…

Finally arrived at US Open, First time to the US open and seems to be going well – minus the trouble finding the hotel but were here and I’m excited to race slalom and DH. Practice tomorrow for both, see how it goes…

TB

Friday Practice- Wow my first world cup it has come so quickly, A year ago I could only dream about this moment. It had rained all Thursday night making the track super muddy, the mud made it a lot harder to learn the track but as the day went on the track started to dry out. I was learning the track more and more, also with lots of sun and more than 200 riders practicing the track was drying out fast. Trying to follow Sam and Brendan down the track was pretty much impossible. With five runs I called it a day and went back to the hotel to rest.

Saturday Practice- Waking up to torrential rain is always good and bad, good as you know you’re going to be riding in the mud and bad because you know that you’re going to be super muddy. Knowing than Qualifying was later in the day I decided to only do two runs to try and conserve as much energy as I could.

Qualifying-As I was rider #237 to leave the gate for my qualifying run, Sam and Brendan went to the top Qualified then came back to the pits before I had even started to get ready. It was good seeing Sam place first and Brendan right behind him in second. Now my turn, the track was way more blow out compared to my practice but I still managed to qualify 74th with a crash.

Sunday- It was still raining since Friday night about 48 hours of it. Practice was simple just one run and just to get down and see how the track was looking.

Race Run- All I wanted to do was get down and not crash, push it in the sections I knew I could and backed it off in the real muddy sections. With a smooth run and a couple of mistakes I came across the line in 3rd. Brendan With a major mistake in the woods placed 3rd and Sam with a massive crash after the rock garden landing on his head placed 5th.

My first World Cup and I finished 48th overall and the fastest junior.

Next is the US Open cya there

TB

World Cup #1 Maribor, Slovenia is already here…

After an 11 hour plane flight from LAX to Frankfurt we have finally made it, everyone is here and we have got the new RV. The RV looks so sick from the inside and the outside with all of it stickered up in MONSTER ENERGY. I’m excited to ride a new track and maybe even see some snow.

TB

This week has just been all about training and getting time on my Downhill bike. With some XC rides with Jacy and Sean I’m feeling good and now, not even two weeks away is the first world cup I am getting really excited.

Sam arrives on Saturday and then we will do some downhilling Sunday, and then leave to Europe on Monday.

Can’t wait

TB

Last week was crazy… road some xc, some pump track and a lot of Downhill. I’m feeling really good on the bike and just can’t wait till the first world cup.

I have been doing some timed runs at a local trail, near Sean’s house. The track is all sand and really steep, it’s good for technical riders. Somehow I managed to leave a timing pole behind on the trail. So Sean and I had to drive back there at night, walk up to the pole which was a 10 minute walk in the bush. Sean had a knife and a little torch and I only had a big torch, it was really sketchy with all the wild life around there.

Today though we were on a xc ride and I decided to take a short downhill track down to the bottom when Sean just road the xc track. Well I made a bad decision, about half way down I came across the largest Rattle Snake I have ever seen. I scrabbled away from it and then told Sean about it. We went back up there so Sean could see it, the Rattle snake was the biggest Sean has ever seen as well, it was bigger than the width of bicep.

TB

With the Slalom and the Pump Track out the way all that was left was the DH. The track was defiantly not what I was hoping for; I never thought that a downhill track would have so much uphill and pedaling.

My result was a solid top 100 finishing in 84th, but hopefully I can use this race as my worst result in the season 2010.

TB

Friday practice on the Downhill track was very interesting, the amount of pedaling is just crazy.

Saturday Brendon and I just Practiced Dual Slalom in the morn and the Qualified, Around noon we both then went over to the pump track and tried our best to get 1st and 2nd but we both choked. With that out the way all that was left was the Dual.

After Qualifying 28th I just had to be matched up with Aaron Gwin, so my first run down was not too bad I was in front the whole way down till the bottom pedaling section then Gwin just came flying past. Second run we were level then I blew my foot out before the pedaling section. It was all over.

Downhill tomorrow, should be fun.

TB

After a 14 hour plane flight I had arrived in LA, Sean and I then drove to Sean’s house in So Cal.

I have only been here for one day but have already road a pump track with Sean, Chris Kovarak and Clair Buchar. It’s been so much fun already and there’s just way more to come!!!

Off to Sea Otter tomorrow. Yew…

TB

Just been training before I go overseas, Riding my DH and Hard tail a lot. I have been doing timed runs with the free lap with Will Rish. I feel good on the bike and now I can’t wait till I am overseas chillen at Sean’s.

Cya Overseas TB

It was my first time to NZ (New Zealand) and it just had to start off bad didn't it! When my Mum and I arrived into NZ my bike had been lost so after trying to find it for at least over one hour we had to move on other wise we would miss our flight. I arrived to Dunedin on Wednesday night, with no bike. Thursday I walked the track, I couldn't believe how good the track looked loam dirt, off camber rock gardens, everything. Finally my bike rocks up Thurs night, the night before Practice.

Friday Practice was so much fun just riding the track and finding the fast lines.

Saturday there was no seeding just practice. I was loving the track so much I did around 12 runs, defiantly way to many.

Sunday, seeding and race day. Seeding went well just flowing the track and not pedaling to much. after seeding 3rd I had some confidence. Race run went good just making sure I wasn't going to crash or blow out corners. I finished in 3rd, which was good but I was a little bit disappointed with myself because I didn't push myself to the limits with coasted me a better position.

I had now made this a learning race and from now on I will be putting myself on that limit every race and cant wait to head over seas to Sean's to hang out and train with Sam and Brendon, and also race some World Cups!!!

Thanks TB 

The week before the last National round, the selected Aussie Junior team stayed at the AIS for some training. It was a big week of more and more learning; It was fun hanging out and training with the Australian Junior team and having some icy cold recovery baths.

On the Friday the team rocked up to the track and everyone was looking at us, it was funny in a way. The team registered and then we did our new routine warm up before getting on the transport. After the warm up pretty much every elite rider asked what we were doing. (Secret)

Friday went well and I was feeling good on the track, but I knew I could step the pace up.

Saturday’s practice I did what I wanted and stepped the pace up before seeding. Seeding went very well, I had the best cruzing run of my life just flowed and linked everything up perfectly.

Sunday morning practice I followed my old team mate Josh Button down the hill and pushed myself to keep up with him. This defiantly helped me to push myself to the limits.

Race run went really well pinned the top half then nearly crashed big time but somehow stayed up. Then just pedalled my arse off through the bottom of the track where Josh Buttons Dad was standing yelling at me to pedal. Without him I would have sat down. Thanks Richard

A big thanks to MONSTER ENERGY/SPECIALIZED and Dylan, Trent and Phil from SRAM for a great national season and I can’t wait for the world cups from here on in.

The rains have finally come to Adelaide, for once I thought downhill in Adelaide would be muddy. Well after two days of rain the tracks still weren’t wet, the dirt is so hard that the rain just washed off.

Now I am off to Canberra to the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) for a week with the other junior riders for some testing and preparation for the Worlds, then the last National round at Stromlo.

Specialized Tyre Testing this week with Frank and Carol, They both came all the way from USA to do some Specialized Tyre testing with Sam Hill and I at Sam’s house. Frank and Carol decided to change locations and have it done at my house in Adelaide.

I found that the Testing helped me understand more about tyres and I had fun as well. Knowing that Carol was making my lunch every day got me even more excited.

Over all the test went well and I feel it gives me more confidence before I go overseas, to race the world cups.

TB

Best lunch ever, Packed with Rye bread, Avocado, cheese, salami, cucumber, tomato, lettuce and a dash of mayonnaise. Well after my crash at Thredbo all I could do was make my lunch.

With my finger all smashed up I just had to hit the indoor trainer for the week, no dirt riding. Tried to go for an XC ride but couldn’t hold on. Just icing and watching the Olympics, good mix.

National Round #3 at Thredbo, I love this track and have done pretty well on it over the years. Thursday practice was so good the dirt was exceptional as it had rained the night before. The track was very long with high speed sections, after practice I decided to make myself go into the cold mountain river for 10 minutes for recovery; I’ve never been so cold in my life.

Friday, the start to never ending rain... Practice was fun, ruts were forming and braking bumps were getting bigger and bigger. After practice though, cleaning my gear was a nightmare.

Saturday was seeding and it was still raining, just before I went up on the chair lift the rain stopped. I had a killer seeding run coming in with a 1st place, 13 seconds ahead of 2nd.

Sunday, the rain was back and stayed. In practice I felt good keeping out of the holes and just holding speed. I was about 30 seconds into my race run when before I knew it I was lying face first in the mud. Somehow my front wheel slipped on a rock, in the lip of a jump then I was flying through the air and landed into another jump. Winded and a smashed up finger I pushed on to try and make up time, Then I tried to jump ever a massive hole and cause my gloves were so muddy from my first crash, my hands slipped off of my handle bars then I crashed hard again. After my second crash I knew that my time wasn’t going to contest with the others. My thoughts were just to go as fast as I could I had nothing to lose, placing 20th.

It was fun racing in the mud and I’m not disappointed one bit.

TB

Beautiful Kangaroo Island is just a short ferry ride from lower South Australia. I decided to take a brake and have a little holiday with some of my mates. Will Rischbieth has a shack over on Kangaroo Island which can hold over 12 people, its right next to the Rischbieth’s family beach and a sick little fishing boat.

It was my first time to K.I. and I don’t think I will forget it. Had so much fun fishing, going to beaches and hanging out with the boys watching the sun set...

TB

No rest, After the Nationals at Eagle Park I had two days to recover before my mum and I had an 8 hour road trip ahead of us. The second round of the National Series located at Shepparton, near Melbourne.

We arrived Wednesday night to the small town, the next day there were runs at the track. I checked the track out with my friend Josh Button and found some good lines. The track had no berms just all flat corners, I had the Specialized Butcher on front and back. Those tyres surprised me with how much grip they had. Friday was a scorching 40 degrees plus day which made riding so hard. For most of the day I was found lying in the pool.

Saturday morning practice I was feeling good with the track, but my first run down the hill I got caught off guard with the wind and ended up rag dolling over heaps of sharp rocks. After the crash I decided to call it quits and just wait till the afternoon practice. Well, I was so shaken from the crash it was like I was scared, which did not help me in the slightest for my seeding run. My run flowed well finishing with a time of 2:07 putting me in 4th.

Race Day, the wind had dropped the track felt fast and I wasn’t too scared any more. I had some help from Josh Button in my practice to get me up to speed. Then I knew I would have to pull something out for the final. With practice finished and there was 4 hours till race run I decided to bail to the pool to cool down.

Race Run- From top to bottom I had a rhythm going and on the steep shoot I let it all hang out! Pretty much scared myself... I finished my run 10 seconds faster than my seeding time with a 1:57. I knew my time would be up there for the win with only 3 more riders to go. The last rider came down finishing 2nd with a 2:00.

I’m really happy with the weekend and how much fun I had.

Cya TB

2010 National Champs, Eagle Mountain Bike Park. After the disappointment in Tassie with getting a flat tyre I was hungrier for the win. Practice started on Wednesday and I was feeling confident already as this is my home track. After winning the Elite Men State Champs a few months ago I knew had had it in me to place first.

Thursday practice was good stepping it up another level. Friday came and Sam Hill arrived to practice. It was good riding with him for the first time on the new Specialized!! Following a faster rider like Sam helps so much; I tend to step it up even more.

Saturday was seeding and I thought I would try and throw down a smooth run, I ended up seeding first by 2 seconds which gave me confidence for the final.

Race day, Practice was good fun as it had rained in the morning making the track tacky. New holes started appearing in berms and I managed to ride into one of them, making my front wheel nearly come to a stop, then both of my feet blew out of my clip pedals, then my chest smashed into my head stem.

My chest was hurting, I could only just breathe, my legs felt like jelly and I was in the start gate for my final run.(Good Times)

Out of the gate I couldn’t help myself but to go wild and I went off of the track but held on, I got my stuff back together in the mid section then smashed the bottom section going off of the track again! Finally holding it together again I came across the line in first place by 1 second, crowned the National Junior Champion!!

Can’t believe it...

TB

The start of 2010! The weeks leading up to the new year I have been training full time getting ready for the National Champs.

My Christmas was pretty chilled just hanging out with the family and lovely God parents!

'New Years'... What can I say? Plan for New Years was a Dual Slalom race up on a friends property, The race was meant to start around 4ish but people were having too much fun and were already getting drunk! This would have given me an advantage but we decided to just have an expression session. The day went really well and now we had to party for the last time in 2009.

Wow, that night was out of control. Watching people get drunk, smoke machines and the dance floor going off, and I couldn't help myself but to rally around in a smashed up van! Good times!!

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

TB

First race with Monster Energy/ Specialized! The First National Round for 2009/2010 was in Hobart/Australia. I had my new bike, new gear and I was now racing in u19s. We arrived in on wednesday and had practice on thursday. Practice on thursday went pretty well considering that I had to push up sections. Friday was official practice and my runs were getting faster and faster. Saturday, I had my seeding run in the afternoon, the run went really well just keeping it smooth until the end of the track when i caught the rider in front of me. After 2 seconds he managed to pull off of the track and let me pass. I came across the line with a 3:19 in 1st place, 2nd did a 3:20.

Sunday I pinned my practice runs and was feeling really good for race run. The start of my race run was going so good, no mistakes or dabs just fully pinned! About half way through my run I went off of a drop nearly sideways and landed straight on top of a rock. My back tyre slowly started going down and then my run was pretty much over. I still tried to pin it as much as I could to get some points for the overall but came down with a time of 3:37. 1st place got a time of 3:20, so if I could of held it together i might of finished 1st.

My result for this weekend was not exspected and I was a little bit angry with my self. But now this just makes me more hungryer for the win at the National Champs!!

TB

Single Speed and Dirt jump bike in the same week! Early on in the week arrived a Single Speed for my training (warm up/warm down). On monday the local crew came out to Will Rishbieths back yard where lies a pump track. All of the guys had a great time smashing turns, and finding new lines. End of the week came around and there is a nother bike box, its like christmas. This time the bike was a hard tail dirt jumper, i have been hanging out for a DJ bike! Cant wait to ride it. Sunday there was a practice day at eagle on the hill, which is the National Champs track. Mitch Delfs and Will Rishbieth came along to join in. The day went well with the Demo loving the new sections on the track.

TB 

This week there wasn't much going on just the usual training. On Monday I went dirt jumping with the crew about 15-20 of us hitting the city jumps till dark, its always so much more fun with lots of people and every one steps it up and does larger jumps. Then on Tuesday we had the massive crew again but for a XC ride. Every Tuesday there is a XC ride through the hills for about 3 hours and evry time I put myself in the Hurt Box.

On the Weekend I took out the Demo for a ride down the most Technical track in SA called (Brown Sally). Its a new track that Brad McDonald built. The bike is riding so well and smooth, it loves the steepness and backs it in every where.

Also there is two new bikes on there way and I cant wait to get them. Every bike a have received from Specialized has been like a dream, so I can only imagine what these are going to be like. 

TB

Tuesday the 10th was the same as any Tuesday, untill my Mum and I got home in the afternoon and found a card saying that I had a package waiting for me...

That morning Sean had asked me if I had received a package, so I thought that maybe it was going to be big. I arrived at the airport and asked for the package expecting a little box, but a bike box came out and then I looked at my mum and grinned.

That night I built up my bike, The Specialized pretty much put its self together with Jacy's sick as packing.

On the weekend was the first ride on the new beast!! It rode like a dream, so smooth, light and has a really stiff back end with no flex.

I also received a TLD helmet with a sick Monster paint job by ap designs it looks great.

Now I cant wait to race on the Specialized and push it to the next level again.

TB

On the weekend Craig Yates, my Mum(Chris) and myself set out on a 9 hour road trip. With the tempreture at 35 dergrees the air con was cranking the whole time! We were heading to one of the National rounds practice days, Shepparton which is just outside of Melbourne. The trip seemed to take forever but why a packet of sour skittles lasted for the whole trip with all three of us eating out of the packet, I will never know. Arriving in Shepparton the night before the practice day,we all had a schnitzel at the local pub then crashed for the night.

The next morning we got up super early and headed out to the track, as the night before we had tried to find the track and got so lost, we didnt know if we would ever find the track but just in front of us was a downhiller, we followed him all the way to the track. When we were looking at the hill where the track was on it was hard to think that they could produce a National Downhill track. The track was gravity fed to our surprise, there were off camber sections and steep dusty shutes. I think when I come back in January for the National Round the track will be challenging and fast. Cant wait!

cya TB

It started out on Saturday when I caught a plane over to Western Australia (WA), I was invited by my new team mate Sam Hill. Sam had invited me one week earlier to go to his now well know 'SAMAPOLOOZA' party, the party had everything from guys drifting cars and crashing them, to a massive shed with a sick DJ playing some very loud music! (Not to mention a bouncy castle).

We drove back to Perth Hills the next day, where Sam’s actual house is. Sam and I spent the week riding dirt jumps and pinning runs at Sam’s local Downhill trails.

knowing that the Saturday coming my Monster Energy/ Specialized deal was going to be announced. I couldn’t help myself but to be a little bit excited. Saturday morning came around pretty quick and we headed for Nannup which is three hours away, The trip down was quicker than I thought, the CD player was cranking and we only had one stop along the way!

We got there at two O’clock which gave us two hours to practice; my first run was behind Mitch Delfs and Will Rishbieth. the track was crazy, really dusty with two lines down the whole track and not to mention that it was gravity fed. I seemed to like the track more and more every run that I did. Pracy ended on Saturday with me having a big crash over the bars straight on to my head and shoulder.

I woke up on Sunday to a blue sky, but with strong winds which made the first jump a bit harder. My practice runs were pretty pinned and thought I knew the track enough so I called it off and waited for my race runs. My first of two race runs was good stayed on the bike but just felt slow and I fell into a few deep ruts which slowed me down. Next race run I had it way more pinned and thought I was on a good time until my front wheel slid out on me, and down I went breaking my hanger. And lucky for me I didn’t have a spare hanger available. So Sam’s brother Osberg lent his bike to me for the top 30 fastest run which was for money.

The bike I borrowed was Sam Hills old world cup Specialized; I hopped on it and road around before my run. Then the time came, race run for money! the first jump felt like a breeze on the Specialized and so did the rest of the track, the bike was smooth light easy to pedal and handled the turns very well.

All in all I ended up 5th and got $100, really stoked.

Having raced a Specialized that was way too big for me, down a technical track and doing so well I can’t wait till I get my new ride.

Thanks TB