European championships DH @weeksy08 racing adventure.

[Yorick]

I don't know how much you'd expect it to be. It's a resort, ask noggin how much any accommodation is for her resort and I'll be it's that easily.

In the grand scheme of things the European Championships is an extravagance of course, but it's all part of the big picture both in terms of racing, sponsors and just real life experiences for the boy (and us)
By the same account, it's also a small part of the season, last year cost approx £15k to go racing.
But in top of that there's the time, we're leaving tomorrow lunchtime and getting back Sunday night at 8om. So it's a massive commitment all round.

But, it's worth it when podiums comes off or the boy has a good run. It's just what we do.

Aha. I didn't read between the lines.
Makes sense now.

I must pay more attention

[weeksy]

So we're all sorted for the European championships in under 6 weeks now, really not long.

Anyone who's been following his Instagram will have seen he's flying currently



Screenshot_2024-07-01-20-43-07-729_com.android.chrome by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

The next 4 weekends are all racing, along with practice and riding at other times, including the National Champs in a few weeks.

We've sorted parking, accommodation and transport for Champery with your help and we're good to go.
Just need to keep him fit for the next 5 weeks

[weeksy]

Just wanted to say a final THANK YOU to you all.

The boy is heading off on Fri/Sat to Champery to get in a day or 3 of practice (Although only 1 day on the actual track as they close it to finish setting up etc). We're heading over on the Wed/Thu to get there for final track-walk and pit-setup. Then spending the race weekend seeing what happens and what racing the best in Europe brings for us.
We have no expectations on results for this one, it's our first big European event but i honestly can't see it being our last one

The boy is heading there fit and healthy, without injury and on form... The bike is prepped (apart from a few bits needed this week) and ready to roll. We've got a shit tonne of spares, bits and stuff.... So we're good to ride.

I'm excited, Mrs Weeksy is scared.

[Count Steer]

You're excited, Mrs Weeksy is scared....and Weeksy Jr is...?

[weeksy]

You're excited, Mrs Weeksy is scared....and Weeksy Jr is...?

Incredibly laid back about it all. I think he'll feel the pressure when he's there, but he's a very level headed boy and the pressure doesn't generally seem to affect him. Or certainly not in a way that's perceptible to me anyhow. He just does what he does and it's another day out on the bike.
I'm hoping that now he's finding himself in the top 15 Nationally on a regular basis he also now has a bit more self belief.
It's kinda funny that at some races he now seems to have developed a bit of a fan-boi fan club, with a couple of riders like "oh there's weeksy08, we're all fucked today" and "can you ask James if it's OK for me to follow him", which my reply is a bit cocky of "you can try your best mate"

I think all of this helps though with his mindset. The only thing we couldn't do was get Katy the coach over, she's only just back from the Olympics and has been away most weekends in the last few weeks before that (including 3 days at the National Champs for us) and needs to spend some time at home with family/dogs. But we'll still make it all work and still keep him relaxed, it's just that he won't get the last bits of her knowledge and her calming influence at the time.
But all that said, we've been there done this now, we're a pretty well tuned team and work well together as a crew/rider, so we'll make it work for ourselves for sure.

[weeksy]

So the boy is over in Champery with team mate.

"I actually love it to be honest. We have only done one run. Steepest hardest thing I have ever ridden but it is sick. I just keep smiling and laughing and i can't not like the track. "

Pretty pleased with that for a first report.

He'll be lapping the track all-day today and then it's closed until practice.

[Count Steer]

Happy riders go fasterest.

[weeksy]

Happy riders go fasterest.

Indeed they do. And even if they don't, they're still enjoying it lots anyway

[weeksy]

"almost had the biggest crash of my life but managed to save it"

Happily he's got it on GoPro

They've called it a day at Champery and heading back to Morzine now for some Pleny laps.

[Count Steer]

Son: 'Nearly lost it and just missed a 300ft ravine into a shark infested river'

Dad: 'Is the bike OK?'

[weeksy]

Day 1 done

IMG-20240804-WA0004 by steveweeks59, on Flickr

[weeksy]

They boy tells me this was a nearly career changing crash

[Count Steer]

Was that some confusion over direction? Hard to tell but the track appeared to split. Maybe clearer when it gets taped?

[weeksy]

Was that some confusion over direction? Hard to tell but the track appeared to split. Maybe clearer when it gets taped?

I think he catches a rock/edge so the direction changes were not deliberate but forced. Will find out more, but in truth I've seen him looking way more erratic than that

[weeksy]

HAhahahahaha that looks bonkers !!!

[MingtheMerciless]

Was that some confusion over direction? Hard to tell but the track appeared to split. Maybe clearer when it gets taped?

I think he catches a rock/edge so the direction changes were not deliberate but forced. Will find out more, but in truth I've seen him looking way more erratic than that

Looks like my normal riding (hanging on for dear life and trying to use the “force”)

[Count Steer]

That track looks really confusing. There are places where it seems to split without any markings. I suppose it's obvs different when seen through the camera, but all the same.

This extra time on it should pay big dividends.

[weeksy]

That track looks really confusing. There are places where it seems to split without any markings. I suppose it's obvs different when seen through the camera, but all the same.

This extra time on it should pay big dividends.

Yeah it'll be taped to be clearer in the next day or two, but they don't get to ride it until practice on Fri morning now.

[Count Steer]

That track looks really confusing. There are places where it seems to split without any markings. I suppose it's obvs different when seen through the camera, but all the same.

This extra time on it should pay big dividends.

Yeah it'll be taped to be clearer in the next day or two, but they don't get to ride it until practice on Fri morning now.

He's got that footage and the time on there though, so he can 'revise' in the meantime.

How's his chum doing?

[weeksy]

He's got that footage and the time on there though, so he can 'revise' in the meantime.

How's his chum doing?

He's currently taking 30 mins off due to a minor wheel/frame issue.

Spacer on the non-drive-side at the back-end was loose so he thought he had a wheel problem but was just a quick tighten of the outside spacer and they're back ready to roll again it seems.

Katie seems to have found Champery tough, but she's hopefully enjoying things now they're back in Morzine.