Dawn 2 Dusk

This photo was actually taken the week before the D2D but it's so cool!
Photo by: Liam Bethell, WCRC Riverhead.  

The Dawn 2 Dusk has been an event I have always been keen to do, so this year Liam, Sophiemarie and I entered and we set off down to Rotorua to race. Team Bethell in the 3 person category. The Dawn to Dusk works like the Moon Ride or Day Night Thriller but it is a downhill version. After completing some compulsory  trails which included Hot X Bun, Billy T, Corners, jump track and National DH you are free to ride whatever track you want in a team relay format, to try to get the most runs in 11 hours. 

The race village early in the morning.

It was an early start, with light on helmet, I was heading up on the shuttle for our first run before 7am. I tried to make my way down jump track, but then I managed to loose my chain over the chain guide and ended up riding Coursers alone in the dark... Not such a good start. As the sky became lighter my runs became better, and I set off on my cross country to complete our Hot X Bun run with Chalotte Rayer, who was racing solo on a hard tail xc bike, legend! After getting slightly lost we found our way to the top of Hot X Bun and dropped in for a solid run. Far out, you have to love Rotorua, it was so sick! The rain seemed to hold off, at least for me and Liam... It decided to rain every time Sophiemarie went out, ha-ha :) 

Sweet as base camp that mum set up for us :-)

The jump track was defiantly the team favourite, but when it came down to the last laps the National DH track proved to be the fastest to fit in two night runs before cut off.I came in with a few minutes to spear before the day ended . Our team completed a total of 20 runs in under 11 hours which was the most runs for the 3 man, team category. It was really cool to compete in a more relaxed downhill event where you do not have to focus solely on one track. It was so much fun racing with my brother and sister in a team, we can't wait till next year! Huge thanks to Mum for feeding us and keeping us warm.