Wow, hard to believe there has been 6 world cups already this season. Actually given the fact I've flown a good 65,000 miles already this year and still 2 Europe trips to go, I guess 6 world cups should be ticked off the list by now!

After Mt St Anne, I drove down with the Canadian crew to Lake Placid-NY. That place is awesome, the Olympics feeling is everywhere there. We found some sweet single-track too just in behind our hotel. After the overnight in Lake Placid, we made our way to Windham Tuesday evening and settled in nicely to the Thomson Hotel, which is sort of old school but pretty cool.

We got out for some good laps Wednesday, there was a bunch of climbing followed by a pretty rocky, high speed technical in sections dh. An easy recovery ride Thursday then a couple pre-race laps Friday led to race Saturday. Man it was hot out Friday and Saturday. I didn't feel that great Friday training, not too sure why but the legs just felt a bit tired, I was hoping it was just the heat. Went out for a little spin Saturday morning with my buddy Kris Sneddon, and I actually felt rested and pretty good. Did a good warm-up and had the trusty ice vest as well in an attempt to stay cool.

The race itself was hard, really hard. World Cup racing is always hard no matter what or where, but the heat combined with the amount of climbing zapped the legs pretty good. I had a decent start and I should of been able to make the front group but with not feeling 100% and in those conditions I had to gauge my efforts big time. I was picking guys off slowly and I knew when Todd Wells motored by half way through the race that his wheel was the one to get on the podium but I think I would of totally cracked had I try to go with him. In the end I finished 7th, 1:22 off the winner and 50 seconds to top-3 which is a positive for sure. It was also my 3rd top-10 in a row and now sit 13th overall in the World Cup standings with 1 race to go. Pretty awesome Burry won it for Specialized with Todd making the podium in his "stomping grounds.". I was hoping for that top-3 but now I am only hungrier for the next one.

I'm now at home in Victoria and celebrating Canada Day with my buddies and girl. After 3 hard, important and very successful races as well as an Olympic berth, I am taking a little break on the best coast. Might do a little camping this coming week and refresh the mind and body and then get ready for possibly the most important 5 weeks of my pro racing career to date.

Big thanks Specialized, CanMtbcycling, Oakley Canada, 7systemsdomore, Planet Foods, Troy @ pro city cycles and all my awesome friends and family for making the last 3 weeks full of highs.

Thanks for your support,

Max Plax.

*Bike setup:

-Specialized Sworks Epic 29r, front fork at 95 psi in +, 105 psi in -, rear shock at 150 psi.

-Front Sworks Fast Track 2.0 @ 24 psi, Rear Sworks Fast Track 2.0 @ 27 psi.