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This weekend, I had been down to Bluff - the southern most town in the world. It's a pretty weird feeling being half way across the world, in the future (13hrs ahead of UK) and now as far south as one could go without freezing your bits off !! 

Torrential rain during the week had ruined the track and main bulk of the track was in the open, with jumps and all made of sand. After waiting for a long while in the morning to let the keen beans clear the puddles So after a few runs it had rutted up and begun to look more like a motocross track. It was tough to get the speed to do the jumps ! The top section was rather challenging. It was all in the woods and quite slippery with hidden roots and rocks everywhere, including deep ruts that were forming. I had made the mistake of only bringing dry tyres with me (all I have at this moment in time), which were more like slicks and found myself skating down, as inelegant as I could possibly have been. So after 3 runs I called it a day. 

Come race day, the track had dried up loads and I was able to get some solid runs down. I got the first shuttle to the top and was eager to get cracking. Practice went pretty well, but I was definitely feeling rather nervous for the race. I had only been riding my DH bike for the last 4 weeks and wasn't feeling like I was up to race pace yet.

In Seeding (where you are ranked for the main race) it all went to pot ! Two turns in I had a massive crash - got sent straight over the handlebars and airbourne, to finally land on a fallen tree and slammed my hip into the trunk and rolled down into a ditch - I was in so much pain !! I got myself back up with the assistance of the marshal and carried on with the rest of the run. 

Immediately I got some ice on it and rested up and was borderline ready to call it a day ! But I pulled myself together and got up the hill.

The race run went pretty well, and managed to keep everything smooth and tidy. Came down with a time of 3:29, in 1st place, 13 seconds ahead of 2nd place. 

Also got on NZ national news !! (link here)

Exciting news !

I'm am currently in New Zealand for the next few months riding my bike and competing in the New Zealand National Series. I am going to be writing a blog about my adventure, so I will keep you updated on here.

I am very excited to announce that I will be representing Unior Tools Team for the 2012 season. I am very excited to be on such an amazing set up and really looking forward to working with the guys at Unior Tools and Trek bikes and to all the team sponsors for this year. It's going to be amazing !!

"We are all super excited to finally announce the full line-up for 2012 – next to Harry Heath, Nejc Rutar, Žiga Pandurand Maria Michalogiannaki we now also have Jessica Stone on board!

Jess “the Rolling” Stone is 2010 British National Champion and top rider in the World Cup. 22-year old Jess is now aiming even higher: “With the support of the team I will be able to improve on the results I have gained in previous years. I aim for top 10 in the World Cup, which I think I will be capable to attain. I think that the team is an important platform for me to work from - as a racer, you need that support to push you further, so I am really looking forward to this season and progressing further into the top ranks of this sport.” Jess also has her second national title in her mind and both her and Harry will race a lot on the national events. Check her profile.

Team has big ambitions in the World Cup and the way there is possible thanks to title sponsor Unior Tools and other partners. Five riders will ride on new Trek Session 9.9, the official bike of the team. Other sponsors are SRAM, adidas Eyewear, Mapei, Bontrager, GoBandit, Motorex, SixSixOne, Royal, Sapim, FiveTen, Toper, ODI, Crank Brothers, Edelweiss RS and Fun Bike Park Kranjska Gora."