World's Craziest Downhill Mountain Bike Race
Three serving family members tackle the "Saab Solomon Mega Avalanche" in Alpe d'Huez, France, descending 2600m over 33km from a start at 3300m.
CSSC member, W02 QMSI Chips Rafferty TA, serving with 15 HQ Brigade Training Team and working at JSMTC Ripon with his sons, Cpl Joe Rafferty, a PTI at RAF Bulmer and Officer Cadet, Alex Rafferty from DITUS Loughborough University, returned recently after successful completion of the world's craziest downhill mountain bike race.
Downhill mountain bike racing on ice with 400 other riders is surely insane. However, over 2000 competitors enter the Mega Avalanche held in the French Alps every year.
The formidable mountain bike race requires riders to descend a total of 2600m from Pic Blanc at 3300m to Alemont at 720m, negotiating some of the toughest black ski runs in the areas still covered in glacial snow and ice at the top.
The Mega Avalanche is not just one race, but a seven day mountain bike event with qualifying races, freeriding and fun & games, attracting over 20 nationalities, a third of which are British, some of them members of the forces.
Anyone can enter as long as the rider wears full face helmet elbow and knee protectors and long fingered gloves. Body armour is highly recommended as falls on the black runs at speeds of up to 50km an hour are inevitable.
Joe came a creditable 67th overall and the sixth British competitor! Surrounded by sponsored riders and professionals throughout the final, it was an encouraging first downhill mountain bike race for the former GB Junior triathlete.
His brother Alex, a qualified skier and mountaineer, came 194th after crashing out twice in the same race. Father Chip qualified for the secondary race on the same course and came 181st, the 4th vet out of 500 competitors.
Having completed the race with only a few bumps and scratches, it was safe to have a bit of Freeriding and fun on the many trials and Freeride Parks on the mountain, including the famous Chalet Blanc roof drop-off (demonstrated by Chip in the photo) and the many other spectacular drop-offs and descents.
Chip and his two sons develop their skills worldwide as tutors and coaches for the Association of British Cycling Coaches ABCC Coaches and Leaders Awards, which are user friendly courses, training and qualifying soldiers to coach and lead cycling and mountain bike activities safely and under insurance.
Over 300 service personnel have been qualified and the Army Physical Training Corps (APTC) have, for the last two years, used it for their Continued Personal Development (CPD).
Information on the Mega Avalanche race and Mountain Bike Coaching and Leader Awards can be accessed from http://1simplesolution.co.uk/
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