Back to reality though, writing can be tough at times, especially for one who feels more comfortable with a camera or even a set of grips in his hands. Needing a different ‘hook’ or theme to my 2009 report in Dirt that was more of a historical and socio–cultural commentary on South Africa at the time, I chatted to a few friends, riders and industry types about what they thought and without fail one topic kept rearing its head…the track. From well before the race and in the months leading up to the event until the track walk, it was clear that complaining about how much pedaling there was or how long a ‘flat’ section the track had was becoming the trendy topic in interviews, forums and everything else. I even fell into the trap as it became the easy comedic thing to do. Some even went so far as so say that it was not World Cup worthy and had no place on the calendar. This issue simply can’t be ignored.

Lets start with some of the changes made. Only a brave man would take an already long track, that some complain is too pedally, and make it another 25 seconds longer, but it was this ballsy decision by track builder Nigel Hicks, Geologist by trade, that made all the difference come race day. Most of the change was a welcome addition and new routing to the top section. What this gave riders was some cool flat–out flowy turns with a few gaps and rocky sections that offered riders various lines. Nigel is a downhiller and he wanted to increase the overall fun factor of the track and take some of the focus away from the pedaling. Job well done. After joining the old track, a few simple changes and routings helped keep the speed and flow up into the pedal section, which now looked completely different as this area of paper plantation forest had been freshly harvested. Simply put, there was no hiding here, it was staring you in the face and bare out in the open for everyone else to see and study your strengths or weaknesses. It had a fitting post apocalyptic feel to it and as the sun beat down hotter and hotter each day over the week so the surface baked into a fast rolling hardpack. It was littered with bumps, rooty undulations and some rhythm jump sections that were meant to help, pump track style, but for the most part they just became small goals for riders to attain and benchmark their pedaling against. The gully above here seemed even smoother and faster and as a result the subsequent tables were lengthened to over 20 metres that some still over–jumped, coasting! Two new big hip jumps of 15 and 12 metres were sculpted out of the 4X course and pushed riders for that final effort before the finish line. Something the fans, hecklers, photographers and TV alike all appreciate. Finally there was a notable improvement in the shuttle route and methodology as well as marshalling and medics. No more open furniture removal truck on a freeway. A shorter direct route using air–conditioned minivans with trailers bumping out local Kwaaito Hip Hop tunes or R&B was a welcome upgrade for the riders who were here last time around.

Now lets get back to the topic of this not being a worthy World Cup track. Some of the arguments:

Well time wise, both Fort William and Mont St Anne take almost 30 seconds longer, I for one would rather see this ‘long’ track of PMB than a truncated two minute dash with no pedaling or variety of terrain to separate the riders. It was a sin when Mt St Anne was shortened, and while Canberra’s super close times made it exciting there was just not enough racing in my opinion.

Was there a lot? Yes. The most on any track on the 2011schedule? That’s debatable. While this track certainly demands the biggest physical effort in the fitness power and endurance departments for a DH race, is that altogether a bad thing? These are the sport’s greatest professionals. Some highly paid. They have had seven months to prepare for this race. Most of the complaining came from those less prepared and out of the top twenty. Formula 1 and Super–X all have markedly different tracks each round and major adjustments and modifications are made with set–up and equipment choice accordingly. The final podium showed no surprises, all regulars, with Sam Hill only half a second off. This is not NASCAR, I welcome the variety and as great a track as Schladming is even seven rounds there would get boring for race fans.