Desert (dust) Storm 08

[jimmy 2006]

Now that i can see from clearing all the dust out of my eyes and after coughing up a couple of kilo's of mud i thought i should put up an after event post.

firstly, WHAT A RIDE! the bush sections were A++, pity about all the gravel road sections which seem to get longer each year.

but where were the hills? technical sections? logs ect. nothing really to slow you down and make you think "shit will i get through this??" just lots of long fast straights.

would have liked some mud like previous years.......

what did you guys think about it???


having said all that, it ran so smoothly this year. the catering from what i heard was top notch and the effort to put on entertainment was alright too. highlight has to be Chris Birch jumping into the river (and his crash )

anyone got any photos or vids?

[Danger]

I'm sure you had a good ride but from your description I'm glad I didn't make the trip. I thought it would be fast and dusty and gravel roads are boring.

[dmoney]

Wasnt that bad the wind kept the dust down to a minimum i thought.
Could of been worse i guess but was very well run etc

[quallman1234]

Wasn't bad, the track markings were a bit pis poor in place's.

I did about 50km off the West trail and somehow ended up half way on the 35km Middle trail. Got completely lost and stuff.

There were some technical tight forest parts but nothing to brag about or worry about just open he up and your be sweet.

The berms were great and like all other 'epic events' it was run very well!

[F5 Dave]

I thought it was a great event. IMHO the best storm yet (maybe my 4th or 5th).

OK it is not a hard ride, it is more open & flowing than many trail rides, but that is it's charm, it is a different type of ride to whet we are used to at least in the lower north. The average bloke does a heap more k than normal rides so it has to be a bit more flowing. Particularly liked the middle track, maybe as appeared new to me.

Loved the tight bush sections, track stayed in ok condition & the berms were nice.

Glad I went & will be back again.

[theblacksmith]

The middle track I liked as well.Was a bit dusty - same for everyone though.Will definately ride there again.

[theblacksmith]

I noticed the organisers were taking photos on the other side of the river crossing - anyone know if these are on view or not?

Another thing I noticed were fire extinguishers that had fallen on to the track here and there. Cracked me up when I saw a container of 2-stroke oil on the track though.

[F5 Dave]

What I like is that if you keep away from others you can ride almost alone despite there being 1100 people. This helps avoid the dust if you aren't following anyone. When I did it was dreadful.

[oldguy]

I noticed the organisers were taking photos on the other side of the river crossing - anyone know if these are on view or not?

Another thing I noticed were fire extinguishers that had fallen on to the track here and there. Cracked me up when I saw a container of 2-stroke oil on the track though.

I took some pics at a river crossing, on the 60k loop check the link.
http://www.flickr.com/gp/16493212@N07/9Dze5v

I had abit of trouble on the west track, there was a little bridge which had a big hole in front of it, well I tried to pop me front wheel over it but it drop in, so I gave it a bit of gas to try and get it out but the back wheel just dug a big hole, in the end A&R lifted my front wheel up on to the bridge I had to pull the rear wheel out of the hole it made, felt sorry for all those who were waiting to get across, they now had to holes to try and negotiate to get on to the bridge.

[Baldyman]

Great event and some good trails (the part that I saw anyway) I broke a bone in my leg in two places about 45k's into the 63k loop on Saturday. Finished the loop and did about 20k's more before I had to call it quits (Around 85k's in total). Shit. Oh well, now for about 4-6 weeks in a leg brace (Moonboot) and no riding. But I WILL be there again next year.

[CRF119]

Its is still the best run event i have been to and it is more organised every year!

Ive been 3-4 times now and its getting to easy. Im not saying i can ride my bike tapped 5th around the whole track but i want to sit at the bottom of a hill and think this is going to be dam hard. There was none of that on this ride. The expert sections should make even the top riders worry.

The part that is nolonger included in the ride is alot of the desert section that we did many years ago wich is nolonger avalible to ride on as far as i know. (That is what keeps me going back but since it is not there i may not be there nxt time)

I still loved the berm sections there are also alot of good long woop sections through the trees thats u can tap most bikes out along and just be for ever jumping.

It has become more of a family thing over the past 5 years wich is good in ways but i saw a kid on a 80 going around a expert section so thats how easy it has become.

All and all it was a expensive but fun weekend

[tnarg]

I had fun down there this year, third year down and will be going back for sure. Loved the berms, hated the dust and got over the gravel but still fun and awesome scenery. Nothing wrong with having the Redbull girls down there either.

[T-Thunder13]

i loved it. those were the kind of tracks i dream of. ill be back for sure. very well organised. but the burn out comp???............god that was dreadful.
fucken wicked weekend

[dammad1]

It was all good, the expert sections didn't seem any harder than anywhere else which was a shame. All it needed was a bit of rain to keep the dust down and it would have been awesome. Will be there next year for sure.

Shaun (Baldyman) those are some weak ass bones youv'e got, maybe you should try drinking more milk?

[Treventino]

I don't think they made the trail any harder because if the rain had come, which at times was possible the trail would have ended up the same as previous years. Harder would be nice though. Overall good fun though.