Its nearly Christmas again, far out it only seems like a few months ago. Hopefully your 2018 has been pretty awesome and you're looking forward to a great 2019 onwards.
Thanks for the fun times on the forums this year. We've tried to include more of the member ideas this year and make it feel a little more welcoming than times gone by so as always, chuck us any ideas you have on cool content.
For me, I've had some pretty cool times this year. I've always spent a lot of my spare time giving back to the sport I love and have seen this year that sometimes it isn't worth the big effort on your body and your bank balance only to have some greedy fuckers not appreciate what you do and try to reap the rewards for themselves. With that in mind, I've stepped back a lot from a few big things and made myself a promise earlier in the year to just ride bikes with mates and make sweet trails. I like to do the odd race here and there but am so sick of the shitty attitude many people have involved in organising races. Make no mistake, you come across some amazing people in that line of volunteering but you tend to remember the jerks who want the glory of 15 likes on Fakebook who don't put the work in. You know what I say? Fuck those jerks, ride because you want to guys and girls and enjoy your time hanging with pals.
One big goal I've kicked this year is managing stress and in light of what I just said, its all about making time to be better to yourself. I'm happy to say I'm in a good head space and have some exciting stuff coming up that I'm looking forward to.
My highs so far for 2019:
-Staged a great national downhill round at Coffs Downhill with a cool vibe. I had an international commissaire who has "been there and done that" for most world cups. He reckons the trail presentation me and my crew put together was the best he's ever seen in the world, pretty chuffed!
-I built my Intense Tracer in early March after selling my custom Norco Sight to a good mate. I was so stoked that bike landed in the hands of a such a great guy and I still get to maintain it!
-I jumped out of a plane in March on an amazingly clear sunny day and landed on the beach. I got to steer the parachute for a while and loved the whole thing, such a hoot.
-Wifey and I had a great adventure to the Whitsundays in May. It was nice to switch off for a week and do some island hiking. We travel overseas a bit but want to see a bit more of Australia in between big trips.
-My Labrador is turning thirteen in January and her back legs and hips are starting to give her a little trouble. We have lots of steps outside our home that she has some trouble with so I made a heap of awesome ramps around the steps for her to get around. It's turned her into a pup again and she totally loves being able to move so freely around the yard without hassle, pretty proud of that little bugger.
-I got a GoPro drone mid year and have had some cool times mucking around with that. Some of the varying views it offers are amazing!
-I got in a bit of trouble from Wifey for dropping some funds on anaother bike; a long time desire to get another all mountain Norco hardtail had me hooked when I decided to buy a Norco Torrent. I've just finished putting my final touches to it and will Post my Ride soon.
-I've had some really cool experiences dealing with several companies bringing some reviews to you good folks and have had some time on some rad bikes. I am so grateful for that chance and intend to bring you more saucy stuff.
-I won a few tickets to the Supercar race on the Gold Coast in October. It came at a time where I didn't have much money but considered it a sign that I should just go. Like the other 92 races I go to a year, it was ace but I witnessed a crazy storm that cancelled the racing on Sunday arvo. Waiting for the official call at the track, I was shading a couple of police officers from the rain who said the motor racing crowd are easily the most approachable and easy to manage, have been for years. Take that doubters.
-Coffs Harbour hosts the World Rally Championship each year and this time around I had four people join me who had never seen it. I took them to all the cool places and they absolutely loved it. It was cool to see them experience it and feel good for it .
-I've played basketball since I was a kid and although there's been a few setbacks here and there, I still feel pretty competitive nearing forty. The group of guys I play with had a fun season but were on the backfoot coming towards the finals but we managed to put a few good games together and won our Grand Final against some really agro layers. It was nice to get my seventh domestic trophy in that league and inspire a young local lad to chase his dream of maybe one day making the pro leagues.
-As I said earlier, I've put effort into being a better mate and being nicer to be around. I've ridden a bike almost every day and have a cool trip planned with some pals just before Christmas at Greenvalleys then my yearly trip to Queenstown in February. The guys doing that trip have never ridden there so I'm kind of their tour guide for all the good stuff, really excited!
Merry Christmas folks, I hope you get a few days off and get some cool time with people dear to you. All the best for 2019.
Thanks for the fun times on the forums this year. We've tried to include more of the member ideas this year and make it feel a little more welcoming than times gone by so as always, chuck us any ideas you have on cool content.
For me, I've had some pretty cool times this year. I've always spent a lot of my spare time giving back to the sport I love and have seen this year that sometimes it isn't worth the big effort on your body and your bank balance only to have some greedy fuckers not appreciate what you do and try to reap the rewards for themselves. With that in mind, I've stepped back a lot from a few big things and made myself a promise earlier in the year to just ride bikes with mates and make sweet trails. I like to do the odd race here and there but am so sick of the shitty attitude many people have involved in organising races. Make no mistake, you come across some amazing people in that line of volunteering but you tend to remember the jerks who want the glory of 15 likes on Fakebook who don't put the work in. You know what I say? Fuck those jerks, ride because you want to guys and girls and enjoy your time hanging with pals.
One big goal I've kicked this year is managing stress and in light of what I just said, its all about making time to be better to yourself. I'm happy to say I'm in a good head space and have some exciting stuff coming up that I'm looking forward to.
My highs so far for 2019:
-Staged a great national downhill round at Coffs Downhill with a cool vibe. I had an international commissaire who has "been there and done that" for most world cups. He reckons the trail presentation me and my crew put together was the best he's ever seen in the world, pretty chuffed!
-I built my Intense Tracer in early March after selling my custom Norco Sight to a good mate. I was so stoked that bike landed in the hands of a such a great guy and I still get to maintain it!
-I jumped out of a plane in March on an amazingly clear sunny day and landed on the beach. I got to steer the parachute for a while and loved the whole thing, such a hoot.
-Wifey and I had a great adventure to the Whitsundays in May. It was nice to switch off for a week and do some island hiking. We travel overseas a bit but want to see a bit more of Australia in between big trips.
-My Labrador is turning thirteen in January and her back legs and hips are starting to give her a little trouble. We have lots of steps outside our home that she has some trouble with so I made a heap of awesome ramps around the steps for her to get around. It's turned her into a pup again and she totally loves being able to move so freely around the yard without hassle, pretty proud of that little bugger.
-I got a GoPro drone mid year and have had some cool times mucking around with that. Some of the varying views it offers are amazing!
-I got in a bit of trouble from Wifey for dropping some funds on anaother bike; a long time desire to get another all mountain Norco hardtail had me hooked when I decided to buy a Norco Torrent. I've just finished putting my final touches to it and will Post my Ride soon.
-I've had some really cool experiences dealing with several companies bringing some reviews to you good folks and have had some time on some rad bikes. I am so grateful for that chance and intend to bring you more saucy stuff.
-I won a few tickets to the Supercar race on the Gold Coast in October. It came at a time where I didn't have much money but considered it a sign that I should just go. Like the other 92 races I go to a year, it was ace but I witnessed a crazy storm that cancelled the racing on Sunday arvo. Waiting for the official call at the track, I was shading a couple of police officers from the rain who said the motor racing crowd are easily the most approachable and easy to manage, have been for years. Take that doubters.
-Coffs Harbour hosts the World Rally Championship each year and this time around I had four people join me who had never seen it. I took them to all the cool places and they absolutely loved it. It was cool to see them experience it and feel good for it .
-I've played basketball since I was a kid and although there's been a few setbacks here and there, I still feel pretty competitive nearing forty. The group of guys I play with had a fun season but were on the backfoot coming towards the finals but we managed to put a few good games together and won our Grand Final against some really agro layers. It was nice to get my seventh domestic trophy in that league and inspire a young local lad to chase his dream of maybe one day making the pro leagues.
-As I said earlier, I've put effort into being a better mate and being nicer to be around. I've ridden a bike almost every day and have a cool trip planned with some pals just before Christmas at Greenvalleys then my yearly trip to Queenstown in February. The guys doing that trip have never ridden there so I'm kind of their tour guide for all the good stuff, really excited!
Merry Christmas folks, I hope you get a few days off and get some cool time with people dear to you. All the best for 2019.
