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The ATBAUK revives Downhill racing in deepest Wales It's been a while since there has been a downhill event in the UK. The last one was in 2005 up in bonnie Scotland. With a lack of big mountains, ski resorts and differing tastes amongst Britain's mountainboarders, downhill comps aren't the easiest things to organise, but the ATBAUK came close last year. However, through a mixture of confusion over who owned the land, who managed it and some protected moss, the event didn't happen. This year however things were different. Roger Swanell and Joe Gatley decided to take an 'arrange-it-and-they-will-come' attitude. They went out and found a track ('Dave' a couple of miles or so forest road in Wales), spoke to the Forestry Commission, spoke to the ATBAuk and sorted out the permissions and insurance the event needed. They figured out a way timing things without trailing cables everywhere, set the date and Robert's your father's brother. Come the last weekend in July there was nothing left to do apart from turn up and see if they would be met in the car park by a load of boarders eager to charge down a forest track in deepest Wales. This is what the most important people thought about Dave the track for ATBAuk Downhill comp for 2011: What was good? "Cool track, lots of peeps, good uplifts, good amount of runs" "There were a lot of riders who I haven't met at freeride meets; so evidently the word went out pretty wide" "Good choice of track (for all abilities)" "Timings worked perfectly" "Well organised and no-one was stood around scratching their heads not knowing what to do" "Choice of hill great" "Nice friendly vibes from all!" "Keeping the event simple and light hearted" "Excellent track for all levels" "A fantastic track and ace turnout with many people coming 2/3/4+ hours to be there" "Was a wicked event, my first time competing and I got 1st place in the Novice category, so pleased with that!" What could have been better? "But ultimately any uplift is better than none and I got a total of 6 runs in - which was enough" "Viewing for public and ourselves" "Earlier start time" "Smoke grenades" Would you go again? "Absolutely yes" "Yes - and it would probably be the only reason for me to join the ATBA as well. It is offering freeriders/DH'ers a reason to join that currently doesn't exist (barring ATB shop discounts)" "I would definitely do a downhill comp in the future" Any other comments? "More of this sort of thing, please!" And what they said on Facebook Jessica Gatley Mark Childs Milly Gatley Jason Langdell Ed Richardson Brennig Hughes
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