24 Nationals report!

What a brilliant weekend!

I can sum up the 24 solo champs in 2 words...

SUPPORT CREW !

We had the best team on the hill. Dylan (Ladytoast) was my support director and he did a flawless job. Including non-stop tech/nutrition & emotional support ....as well as some sponsorship. At one stage the only thing I owned was my helmet everything else belonged to Dylan, go the Yeti! Thanks mate! There's no way I would have made it without you on the team.

We were so lucky to have so many nobs supporting us. Transition was absolutely manic and I reckon it was just as tough if not tougher than competing. Thanks to John's dad we had a spot trackside as soon as you entered transition. We definitely had the smallest area / to rider ratio but we were having more fun than than any other team out there. (eg. Johns naked lube session)

Christine your a legend!

I only did 2 double laps because I didn't want to miss out on all your good vibes at transition + your nutella sandwiches were my secret weapon! I felt very nurtured, which is exactly what you need in a race like this.

Jay (JDB), I don't think sat down for the entire 24 hours... every time I came through transition he was the first person to grab my bike and ask how I was going. Thanks for the extra ay-up batteries mate!

Gav, it was so cool to see your amazing support of V. I don't think there was a second that you didn't know exactly where she was or what she needed and what a team team finish for you both!

.... if you were tired at all it never showed, you and Dylan were all over the bike mechanicals I really appreciate the fact that we got the same support as V at every stop!

Peter was our front line support man who would be on the track or in the forest yelling encouragement when you really needed it. It really helped moral when your saturated & cold at 1am.

Also thanks to John for sharing all your race wisdom, I went into the race with all the mental notes to handle any situation. Seeing you smashing hard during the night was inspiring!

Actually it was during a chat about your 24 races we had a while back on a social in the mountains that started my interest in entering the race. I don't think I'd do another 24 unless team Evan's were there.

With all this support all that was left to do was to keep pedaling!!!

Some memorable moments....

Seeing Dylan way out in the forest after getting lost on an attempted video shoot.
John's lube chair after a naked mid-race vaseline top-up. I think the chair was a write off.
Smashing the sweetest single track through the forest covered in fairy lights.
Racing a 6 foot roo at 7am. Those big ones are can really freak you out.
Watching Dylan & Gav access my broken gasket on the front forks and tell me to get on the Yeti, woohoo
Seeing Gav & V working passionately together towards the same goal.
Trying to keep up with Damien on his SS for the dawn lap. Not a chance.
Peter's son Henry (12 yo?) there as support crew for his dad. What a champ!
Having a palatial bedding setup on Friday night only to find the rain had snuck in during the race on Saturday night. Sunday nights sleep was a little soggy.
Catching Jason English on Sunday morning at 10am and hanging on his tail for a lap chatting and praying a major bonking wasn't coming my way.
Having no idea where I was placed and Dylan telling me I was in third!! That was the best motivation. 4th place didn't have a chance.

Thanks everyone for an incredible weekend!

Critty.