It was a final night showdown that couldn't have been scripted any better.
The final round of the inaugural Waiariki Secondary Schools Mountain Bike Challenge was held in the Whakarewarewa forest last Wednesday.
With just 10 points separating Whakatane's Trident High School in first place from Western Heights High School, everything was on the line for the mass start cross country race of two 20-minute laps weaving around the Yellow Brick Road, Old Chevy and Be Rude Not To tracks just off the 8 Mile Gate Road entrance.
With the overall prize of the GoPro camera on offer for the winning team, the pace of the start was frenetic as riders tried to establish early dominance and consolidate positions.
A notable absentee from the final race was Trident's number one rider Brad Jones and Western Heights took full advantage with Nathan Johnston crossing the line in first, followed by teammate Connor McCrae. Rotorua Lakes High School rider Josh Lee rounded out the top three places.
The 2-1 finish was enough to secure the overall title for a very happy Western Heights High School number one team.
Our academy would like to take the opportunity to thank those schools who participated and made the event a success, particularly Trident who brought two teams across from Whakatane to Rotorua for all five races.
In addition we would like to acknowledge Mark 'Cabin' Leishman and Rotorua in Gear for support and expertise, Avanti Plus Rotorua and Cycle Zone Rotorua for assisting with prizes, Ian Piebenga and Reporoa Permapine for support with the Waiariki MTB Track and last but by no means least our bike squad sponsor Red Stag Timber Ltd.
The academy's focus is now back on extreme kayaking with the Adidas Sickline Extreme Kayak Championships starting in Tirol, Otztal Valley, in Austria this weekend. Dubbed the world championships for extreme kayaking, Waiariki has had a dominant influence on this competition in recent years.
2010 and 2011 defending champion Sam Sutton is lining up for a three-peat, London Olympian and last year's runner-up Mike Dawson will be looking to go one better. Waiariki-supported paddler Will Martin will be having his first crack at extreme kayaking's heavyweight title.
Paddlers race the clock and each other in a multiple-format competition on an "easier" piece of white water, all aiming to make the top 10.
The final run is a one-off time trial commencing with a dramatic ramp launch five metres down to a much more challenging section of the Wellerbruckenstrecke River. If the appropriate lines over the course aren't followed, the consequences can be serious.
We wish all our paddlers all the very best. Follow their progress and a true spectator sport at http://www.adidas-sickline.com/.