Mtn Games and a touch of partying

-Mike Dawson Giving it hard down the race - photo Anna Bruno

-Sam Sutton making up time on his second run - photo Anna Bruno


-Lou right before total destruction - photo Anna Bruno

- Me in the middle section - Photo Anna Bruno

So after a good few runs down the course it was time to race. My first run down is always my best so decided to attack race day with no warm up run! Off the ramp i was feeling good and had sweet lines through to top of the course. With most of my nerves being about hurting my shoulder again rather than wanting to win I focused on clean lines rather then speed. I wanted to come through the course clean and that would be enoughfor me at the bottom. 60 men rolled off the ramp over the morning and down the course. The decided the cut to the finals would be 23 and after a few minutes the times were up on the board. I had clean lines through the middle and bottom of the course but lost one hand off the paddle on the second to last drop loosing me a few seconds. Other than that i was stoked with my run~

- Me on the lower sweet drops - Photo Anna Bruno

As i made it close to the time sheet I could not see my name at the bottom of the list and slowly skimmed down the pack... 27 no 26 no 25 no 24 - Josh Neilson! i couldnt believe it, I had missed the cut by 4hundredths of a second. While i didnt mind not making the next round earlier to have missed by that little was kinda gutting!
The rest of the day was sweet chilling out watching the second runs and doin a bit of filming. Sam had the fastest lap time for race two but with a slower first run was not able to bring it back. Mike Dawson had consistant lines and took the prize money along with Nikki Kelly on the womens podium! Very proud to be a kiwi on these days on the road!
The rest of the weekend we checked out a few of the other events and hung out by the river.

- The Play hole in the middle of town - photo Ron Fischer i think

I caught up with Thatcher and Joe who i hung out with in Africa and Cali with over the past years and partied hard with them like there was no tomorrow! We had the Retro Under the Sea Ball and the First Descents party over the weekend which were a lot of fun!

- Two of the best guys out! Cheers Boys!

- Vail downtown during Mtn Games

Ron Fischer looked after us this weekend putting us up in his super styley room at 'The Lodge' with nice spa pools, heated swimming pool and right in the middle of town! Cheers Ron, See you in Norway in a few weeks!

- Tyler immitating The Ron Fischer - photo Ron Fischer Proper

- Nikki and Mike on the number 1 podium

So we hung out after Mtn Games for one more night and the next morning got a message from Mike saying he had missed his flight to Italy! We slowly made our way to pick him up and now Rush, Anna, Mike and I are chilling in a hotel in denver. Rush flies to Iceland Tomorrow, Mike to Italy and I have to get up at 3am and drive to Colorado Springs to fly to Italy too. Thanks Bruno for the pick up, drop off service! So for now its airplane food, stop overs and long flights til i touch down in Milan ready for the next Mtn Extreme Outdoor Games starting on thursday! Keep an eye out to hopefully see more kiwi domintaion in Italy and norway the following week!
Peace
Josh


- Bruno and Thatch dressed up for one night of partying

- Me and Bruno getting to know the cops early in the night - Photo Mike Dawson

- Ship captain Rush at the under the sea ball