Oceania MTB Champs: Craig Pattle eyes home win

Rotorua's Craig Pattle hopes inside knowledge and a relaxed build-up will give him the edge in tomorrow's Super D at the UCI Oceania Mountain Bike Championships.

The experienced Pattle will line up in the endurance downhill event in Whakarewarewa forest and although there is no official Oceania title up for grabs, he expects competition to be tough.

Rotorua's Craig Pattle is gearing up for the Super D at this weekend's UCI Oceania Mountain Bike Championships. Photo / Ben Fraser

The 27-year-old spent seven of the last nine years as an elite downhill rider, attending five world championships. He said while he missed the travel and racing overseas he was happy to be back in Rotorua getting the chance to ride with his mates. He said knowing the forest so well would be an advantage.

"When I found out the race was there I went out and rode the course. Local knowledge helps a lot. You know how fast you can take corners and know what's coming up."

Pattle said his preparation for the event had been relatively laid back.

"I haven't really done any serious training, I've just been riding heaps for fun. That's probably the best way," he said. "I keep thinking I must train for the next event."

The course is expected to take riders about 10 minutes - an "endurance" event when compared to normal downhill runs of two to five minutes. Pattle said he was surprised by how short the course was.

"It will still be quite a hard course though."

Super D is a relatively new discipline in mountainbiking and Pattle said with no specific technical requirements, it was an event anyone could do.

"You can just use an everyday bike [unlike cross country and downhill]."

Pattle returned to competitive mountainbiking last year after a stint in BMX, where he made the BikeNZ High Performance programme.

"I got sick of the injuries in BMX. I was off for one-and-a-half years with a broken arm, I had a few concussions so thought 'I am over this'."

Pattle's goal tomorrow is to win.

"I don't go into a race just to participate ... "

He said he would face a lot of competition, particularly from former national downhill champion John Kirkaldie (Taupo).

"He's the godfather of downhill racing in New Zealand, he's a machine at the moment."

Pattle said he was determined to not be beaten by riding buddy Aaron Perry.

"I taught him everything he knows, he's not allowed to beat the master."

Pattle is also looking forward to his other role this weekend, as on-course commentator for the cross-country and downhill events. After that it's three weekends in a row of Super D events, including the Summit Super D Enduro race in Queenstown where competitors go up the gondola and down the bike run as many times as possible in six hours.

After that, he said, he could be on the lookout for a new downhill bike.

"I am hoping to get into downhill again over the winter. But I will still do Super D."

Up to 500 riders are expected to compete in four events at this weekend's championships, which run from tomorrow to Sunday in the forest. Entry is free for spectators.

For more information see www.oceaniasrotorua2012.co.nz

Email: sport@dailypost.co.nz