Is it day four? I’ve lost track. There are another two instalments to come. That would make six, maybe there should be seven? Or perhaps just five?

Anyway check out todays Week Of Wonder down under in New Zealand.
Seb Kemp is the captain at the rudder of the events.
Today the captain and the good ship WoW (Week of Wonder) head for Bobs Peak.

“For the last few years Tim Ceci at Vertigo Bikes has put on a Invitational race on our own local trails up the Bobs Peak/Skyline hill.
We hold it right after the nationals at Coronet Peak and invite 6 of the fastest riders that manage not to get too drunk the night before and pit them against one of his own shop employees.
Usually we use the Vertigo/Original track but this year for a challenge we used the mega steep, rocky,rooty trail WC98>Hobbit. An absolutely classic trail that is hidden from all but the most inquisitive of riders.

$200 up for grabs is more than what any of these riders win at the nationals race so theres usually alot of attention. This year alot of visiting riders, groms and locals came out to watch what J-LO has described as the Southern Hemispheres 1:04.”

Barnes won 2 21.52
Dodzy 2 21.91
J-lO 2 23.29
DH 2 24.42
Ginger 2 27.30
Scoles 2 35.39
Cathro na

from left, Ginger Si (most eccentric man in mountain biking), Joe Barnes (every teenage girls dream), Danny Hart (the intimidator), Tim Ceci (Owner of Vertigo Bikes who hold this race every year. not riding), James Dodds (Dodzy), Justin Leov (J-Lo), Matt Scoles (Scolzy), Ben Cathro (High Tower, Human Giraffe, the long one, lamppost, big man etc etc)

Here we see Justins new ride, the much talked about 88. For reasons unbeknown he is riding the ‘freeride’ model which may of helped with the steep drops on this course. Bonus info, J-Lo is extremely fit this year. Just before the race he did some training hill climbs and beat Pangus’ record for the hill climb up Bobs Peak…by three minutes. freak!!!! (Update from Trek: The only difference between the DH and FR is the color, and how it’s spec’d…..but we spec’d this as a DH, so in this case it’s really just the color. We opted for this color for their home training bikes.)

There was some trouble with Dodzys timing so we gave him another shot. Here is a another sneak shot of the bike that is supposed to have “ten seconds in it” but that day had twenty seconds in it. Thats the Zero ladies and gentlemen.

This section of trail really divided the riders. seven riders and four different lines. It was awesome to watch the fast boys on one of our own trails. Here Scolzy demonstrates that you dont need lycra tight tops to flash your sponsors logo.

Cathro had a hard time of his run after getting struck with the flu. He was looking fast though and as Gary Forrest said it was because he is so damn tall and can see over the brows of the drops before anyone else, maybe.

Hart had a totally different approach to learning the course than the others. He just wanted to have fun and screw revising every last root and rock. Such confidence from one so young.

Joe Barnes thrives on the steep, gnarly stuff. He is so light on his wheels and nimble that he was almost as quiet riding down as he was when Tim handed him the money. Amazing considering “most 224s sound like a tool box been thrown down the stairs” as T-Stain put it.

New Zealand Week of Wonder downhill racing with Justin Leov, Joe Barnes, Ben Cathro and seb kemp