My first day as a downhiller

The first Day or my first day as a downhiller

Sunday 21st January

A ‘momentous day for New Zealand biking


I turned up to the opening dressed as a road biker not a downhill and stood patiently in line with the others - how many - well the rumour is that skyline did 1000 rides that day - at a average of 4 rides that’s about 250 riders - all waiting at the bottom. Downhill rides - full face helmets perched on their heads - kids looking excited with their dads, girls and boys in raggedy pants / dusty and proven, armour full body and legs. knees elbows. I did feel slightly out of place in the line with the ‘bikers’ lycra on .... but hey - I did have a bike.

Well even that was causing a few smiles. My Scott Pro Racing hard tail is just that - a Pro cross country racing bike. It has done years and years with me - riding adventure races around the world, cross country events here, the Bannockburn Classic and a million miles doing Southern Traverse checkouts - through some of the roughest mtn biking available, but a downhill bike it isn’t.

I’m not sure if the girl in the line behind me was smiling at the bike or the clothes but I will come back to her later.

Ceremonies time - our Major took the time to remind the Chairman of Skyline of his quote “Skyline Gondolas and bikes will never mix’ . He stood sheepishly by and accepted the dig in good faith although perhaps his body language indicate otherwise. But hey - he does now freely admit that he could be wrong and that this strange group of people before are the vanguard of the future of Queenstown.

Time to load, and the 250 or so bikers stood excitedly in line waiting patiently for their turn. Two at a time only so it took sometime. I hooked up with a couple folks I had only met a little before. One of us,- Damien, full battledress for downhilling, Louise sort of half dressed - baggy clothes - a regular helmet, but knee and arm padding and me dressed - well been there.

At the top no one seemed in a hurry - after all - today was about savouring all the aspects of this brand new thing. Riding uphill in enclosed luxury -disembarking, with the bikes unloaded for you - and a jolly social mix at the top.

The lure of the downhill is to much and in groups of one or two or five roll out of the top heading for the trails. Freshly marked we headed straight for the new freshly made ‘Hammy’s trail’ - 3kms of downhill , twists and turns, banks
Damien had to wait of course - flying ahead, dropping in and and then stopping to make sure his girl ok and away again.

The queue has not got shorter in fact I think it is even longer - but everyone smiling so no drama.

Coffee time - we stop at the top and sit in the sun - just enjoying the scene, before we head out- where to - Vertigo mixed with Hammy’s.

People dropping in all around. As we stop at the half way point - the whoops and hollers, show big smiles on the faces. That girl who laughed at my dress code now talks as we both have huge smiles on the face and are enjoying the same scene.


No battle scars showing anywhere. Everyone seems to be staying on the bike.
On the third run we check out the entrance to Amagaendon - hmm perhaps not says Louise and we head down to do ' Sandwich'. Louise puts the padding to the test on lower Sandwich where a rut grabs her front wheel and she ends up trapped under the bike. The knee pads worked and she is still smiling when she arrives at the bottom.

So a day of downhilling continues - the other two do seven runs, but I have to leave after the first three - more to come but perhaps a new bike for this type of riding - and certainly a change of clothing style. At least when I return it will not be for the mad rush of a powder morning - every day is the same - unlimited riding with like minded people.