Oceania Championships Helmet Cam Run

by Peter Karas
Mar 18, 2011 at 0:31

The Oceania Championships are currently underway in Shepparton, Victoria, jump on board with Go Pro rider Ricky Boyer for a run down the track.

The track has received a few changes since the last National race here in 2010, most noticeably removing the rock chute half way down the track and replacing it with a series of off camber switchbacks. In addition, a series of large doubles have been added near the bottom of the track. This race doubles as the Oceania Championships as well as the final round of the Australian National Series so a few riders from New Zealand have made the trip across, most noticeably Cam Cole on his Lapierre.
Today was the first day of practice and many riders were coming to terms with some of the changes on the track. The head cam footage below shows the track is quite open and a strong wind would definitely affect times as well as the ability to jump some of the larger jumps. Tomorrows practice will see riders get up to speed, stay tuned.


Go Pro rider Ricky Boyer takes us on a run at Shepparton:
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Cam Cole coming over a drop that has caught a few riders out. Photo: Peter Karas
Cam Cole coming over a drop that has caught a few riders out. Photo: Peter Karas
The track at Shepparton features a lot of flat turns, Marcus Fairbanks leaning it over. Photo: Peter Karas
The track at Shepparton features a lot of flat turns, Marcus Fairbanks leaning it over. Photo: Peter Karas
The doubles at the bottom of the track require commitment. Photo: Peter Karas
The doubles at the bottom of the track require commitment. Photo: Peter Karas
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54 Comments

  • + 16
flag z-man (Mar 18, 2011 at 21:48)
 I'm not gonna lie, that track looks boring, not too many places with critical choices in lines.
Too easy to go fast!
  • + 6
flag downhilldj127 (Mar 19, 2011 at 23:33)
 Yeah but I bet that shit is still fun to mob down
  • + 4
flag adove  (Mar 20, 2011 at 1:53)
 Course = YAWN! A couple bouncy jumps at the end for the friends and family that come watch....
  • + 1
flag Excalibur-DH (Mar 20, 2011 at 3:38)
 Exactly, it's the worst...
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  • + 6
flag jazzawil (Mar 18, 2011 at 17:24)
 When is Barjarg near the vic ski fields gona get the attention it deserves?!?! sick of seeing aussie tracks being portrayed as open dust bowls during major competitions, slromlo/shep/eagle hill etc!
  • + 6
flag Excalibur-DH (Mar 18, 2011 at 18:04)
 Man, having a nationals round/oceania's at Barjarg would be the best thing ever. We have some many good tracks here in Aus, but all these guys come from overseas to race on a tiny little blown out hill, not a mountain, when we have so many better tracks to offer. I know Barjarg is private property and it'd be a heap of work for the owners, but there are still plenty or other places, like Buller or whatever...
  • + 6
flag aussiedhpinner (Mar 18, 2011 at 18:13)
 I couldn't agree more. Barjarg is prob the best technical race track in the country and would easily challenge the best riders in the world. For those who have ridden the track at Shepparton, most will agree it is not a national nor international level track. I actually feel really bad for the overseas riders who made the trip over to ride this. In Australia it seems to be the "Glen Jacobs design-a-track national series". Whatever he makes gets the go ahead regardless how shit it is. Sure he can build but all his tracks are built the same. Check out vids of Shep,Stromlo and Eagle park to see what i mean.
  • + 2
flag jazzawil (Mar 18, 2011 at 18:15)
 yeah sam and his parents, property owners, probably wouldn't be overly keen on the idea these days but it would be pretty awesome there
  • + 2
flag Excalibur-DH (Mar 18, 2011 at 18:39)
 That's the thing, why not run Buller or Mt. Beauty? They're both public tracks (well to an extent), and they'd both benefit from all the income the riders would bring over the weekend. Plus, everyone would get to see/ride some pretty sweet tracks and the riders could actually be challenged in skill and not just stamina.
  • + 1
flag Larkey1 (Mar 20, 2011 at 3:31)
 Thredbo. 3
  • + 1
flag Excalibur-DH (Mar 20, 2011 at 3:38)
 True that
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag krazyjey (Mar 18, 2011 at 17:15)
 ....les 2 alpes looks more entertaining .
i will ride this track , but for a Oceania Championships that does look like XC.
respect to the builders and people , but that doesn t required more than 5 inch to smoke it, beside the 2 drops where we can hear the fork bottoming out.
good on lapierre to ride, the bike look fine here...who designed the course ?
  • + 11
flag jackgolfgti (Mar 19, 2011 at 0:41)
 les deux alps is in france and this track is in australia so why compare the 2 is beyond any 1 at a guess, track looks awesome like there version of the nps track at carlton bank in the uk

5 inch of travel is that cos your mrs says 5 inch is enough
  • + 3
flag doug13 (Mar 19, 2011 at 7:42)
 Haha. Pretty gnarly for a field.
  • + 1
flag vassilis (Mar 19, 2011 at 7:56)
 ^ You can clear pretty much any trail on a dirt jumper if you have skill. This track still looks sick though
  • + 1
flag nhp890 (Mar 22, 2011 at 5:31)
 yeah, it's just way faster and safer on a dh bike
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  • + 4
flag Dexta (Mar 18, 2011 at 19:38)
 In a country as big as Aus and that's the best track they can come up with for Oceanias? Snore!
  • + 4
flag tom-cuthbert (Mar 19, 2011 at 2:24)
 Pretty much! Compared to last year in Dunners this is TAME.

They need to bring it here to Christchurch! Give them a bit of Living Springs to shake 'em up Wink

40ft drops and 60 degree down off camber corners FTW.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag tama1977 (Mar 18, 2011 at 17:29)
 Bof bof la piste looks very plat dans a lots of sections, there are no arbres sauf at ze end of the piste, go enzed! go kiwi!
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag thegringo (Mar 18, 2011 at 17:44)
 I love good quality helmet cam footage like this,and that course looked sik.Fast as fcuk on the bottom part.Beautiful vid.FAVED.
Justin Leov at Mont St Anne is the best helmet cam footage i've ever seen.But it's always good to see more quality footage.

Gringo. Camera Beer
  • + 1
flag biname (Mar 18, 2011 at 21:50)
 Pretty gnarly for such an open trail. Looks like loads of fun!
  • + 3
flag t1000 (Mar 19, 2011 at 11:05)
 Interesting to see how opinion can diverge about tracks! To me this track look anything but fun!
For each one his own thing i guess!
  • + 1
flag bikeaddict123 (Mar 20, 2011 at 13:26)
 this is the best headcam footage i;ve seen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTqh0ju5Z2o
  • + 1
flag thegringo (Mar 20, 2011 at 14:42)
 bikeaddict123,you have totally converted me,and you did so within the first 2 minutes of the run,that is indeed my new number 1 and best helmet cam footage i've ever seen.Absolutley amazing,the speed Lopes was getting on them flat out bits was scary,and that last tech wooded section was entered and dealt with at insane speed.Thank you m8.

Gringo. 2 cents Beer
  • + 1
flag bikeaddict123 (Mar 20, 2011 at 16:41)
 haha no worries bud, he's so rapid!
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  • + 1
flag scwr (Mar 31, 2011 at 16:18)
 chill beneli....ok maybe not "the best" but i just enjoyed being taken down that long, flowy fast track via the helmet cam. its "almost" interactive. thats all i meant.
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  • + 2
flag Marc-Antoine-mtb (Mar 18, 2011 at 16:36)
 maby it's because I haven't ride sins summer but it looks like a sick trak!!!
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  • + 3
flag Daire (Mar 18, 2011 at 17:07)
 Looks like a boring track tbh
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  • + 3
flag pErusmAngoFruiDe (Mar 19, 2011 at 5:46)
 rear brake
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  • + 1
flag oneadi (Mar 19, 2011 at 5:34)
 to be fair it it is a very small hill and i think they have done well to put a track in!!
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  • + 2
flag goonrider (Mar 19, 2011 at 3:55)
 jumps at the bottom look very sick! rest pretty average..
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  • + 2
flag em-j (Mar 20, 2011 at 1:14)
 i gotta agree, that track is poo. why not thredbo?
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  • + 2
flag LCobb (Mar 18, 2011 at 17:58)
 bit dull i thought, ill be expecting Cole to do well here
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  • + 2
flag anonimatomloki (Mar 19, 2011 at 14:58)
 the beggining of the track is slowww but the end really sick me out...
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  • + 3
flag joaonuno (Mar 18, 2011 at 16:38)
 the track looks sick Wink
  • + 2
flag chajcu (Mar 19, 2011 at 2:31)
 no it doesn't.... at all. I' m suprised anyone would consider such track as sick.
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  • + 1
flag Plasticpylo (Mar 19, 2011 at 3:14)
 That is one boring DH trail!
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  • + 1
flag Forrest66 (Mar 19, 2011 at 16:28)
 good qu but to open of a trail just pin it
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  • + 1
flag cookey (Mar 18, 2011 at 23:18)
 i love lapierre. finally i see one other then myn
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  • + 1
flag syntema (Mar 20, 2011 at 11:10)
 was expecting better for the track, that does look like a fast field.
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  • + 1
flag thatdude01 (Mar 18, 2011 at 17:06)
 3awsome run and great riding
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  • + 1
flag deanw (Mar 18, 2011 at 17:18)
 Looks like a smokin fast course.
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  • + 1
flag kodakmike (Mar 20, 2011 at 19:53)
 I kind of like that course.
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  • + 2
flag DownhillDomination (Mar 19, 2011 at 21:45)
 Worst track ever.
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  • + 1
flag huddersfieldfreerider (Mar 18, 2011 at 16:52)
 1:15 - 1:20 looks ganrly but he took it well
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  • + 1
flag velociraptor-clintthrust (Mar 18, 2011 at 21:44)
 cam coles shock looks tiny
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  • + 1
flag miff (Mar 18, 2011 at 22:22)
 Looks pretty lame to be honest.
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  • + 1
flag connor-rix (Mar 18, 2011 at 16:38)
 wow theres alot of turns
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  • + 1
flag BOBSAGETJr (Mar 18, 2011 at 18:10)
 The last pic is sweet
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  • + 1
flag freddiehunter (Mar 19, 2011 at 11:33)
 incredible
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  • + 0
flag conradogt3 (Mar 18, 2011 at 17:16)
 sick track !!!
[Reply]
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