NEW ZEALAND HILL CLIMB CHAMPIONSHIPS

Result : NEWZEALAND CHAMPION !!! (2nd overall)

After 3 months with out a race, I was not expecting too much of myself. The course was just 4km long, but 350m high. It was a rough 4WD track all the way, and as if the steep gradient was not enough, we also had a howling head wind as well!

Although it was the New Zealand Champs, they did allow foreign riders to enter, and with the Oceania Games on Sunday, we did have a few Aussies come for the challenge.

Sid Taberley was the best of those riders, and half way up the hill, he showed that he was still holding some good off season form. I could not respond, and finally rode in for 2nd, and the NZ title. Tim Wilding (in the photo, just ahead of me) from Taupo rode really well, and after riding together most of the way, I only managed to pass him in the final 20m!

ROTORUA !!!

What better a place to start the 2004 season than Rotorua, New Zealand!
Rotorua has for a long time been one of my favorite riding places, and I am looking forward to showing it to the rest of the MTB community in 2006 when it will host the world champs!
I am once again staying with the fabulous Dave, Shreeve and Simone Donaldson. Both my dad and brother are here also, so it’s been a nice week.
Yesterday we went to the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park, and as you can see in these photos, it’s very beautiful.
On Friday evening we will compete in the New Zealand Hill Climb champs, and Sunday afternoon is the Oceania XC Champs.
I’ll post news as soon as I can!

Bye
Kashi

Happy New Year !
My trip to NZ is well underway now. I spent 4 days in Wanaka, and am now in Dunedin. Its great to see the family again and catch up with old school friends.
Santa was very nice to me this year, bringing me three lovely new Bianchi's!