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2011 Aussie Nationals - Round 1

by Ian Hylands
Dec 11, 2011 at 22:18

Troy Brosnan has beaten out Sam Hill by over two seconds in the first round of the Aussie National series, the Real Insurance Gravity Cup, at Thredbo. Although it rained hard the night before that didn't seem to be an issue for the riders and the track was still fast. Jared Graves, now retired from 4 cross, was happy to be on the podium in third place behind Troy and Sam. In the women's race it was all about Tracey Hannah as she showed what she's capable of, winning by over 40 seconds. She'll need that kind of speed as she heads back to the World Cup circuit in the spring.

Mens Podium


Elite Men

1. Troy Brosnan 5:31.54
2. Sam Hill 5:33.87 + 2.33
3. Jared Graves 5:34.63 + 3.09
4. Ben Cory 5:38.76 + 7.22
5. Rhys Atkinson 5:42.15 + 10.61

Elite Female

1. Tracey Hannah 6:15.73
2. Claire Whiteman 6:56.24 + 40.51
3. Michelle Crisp 6:59.05 + 43.32
4. Holly Baarspul 7:25.46 + 1:09.73
5. Trudy Nicholas 7:27.98 + 1:12.25

Under 19 Men

1. Joey Vejvoda 5:44.66
2. Tom Crimmins 5:45.34 + 0.68
3. Connor Fearon 5:49.13 + 4.47
4. Jack Moir 5:53.69 + 9.03
5. Henry Blake 5:55.05 + 10.39

Under 19 Women

1. Danielle Beecroft 6:54.70
2. Ella Scanlan-Bloor 8:21.03 + 1:26.33
3. Gemma Greentree 10:32.41 + 3:37.71

Troy Brosnan showing off the skills that have made him two time junior World Champion.


Sam Hill, still working his way back into top form after a season plagued with injury...


Jared Graves was a dominant force in 4X for the past few years, now he's turned to downhill. Third place showing that he's got what it takes...


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Race Video is up here

Photos by Sean Anderson
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65 Comments

  • + 54
flag tylerthegiant (Dec 11, 2011 at 22:44)
 sam better show that kid who is the boss. lol
  • - 8
flag tylerthegiant (Dec 11, 2011 at 22:46) (Below Threshold) show comment
 forgot to ad i got renthal fat bars approved by sam him self lol. if there any thing like the dirt bike bars i wont be sad with them.
  • + 12
flag swan3609 (Dec 11, 2011 at 22:48)
 I agree.. After a disappointing season last year, I want to see him come back strong.. but at the same time that's awesome for Troy.. I get the feeling like Troy will not be second best to Sam the way that Brendog did.. Props to troy for ripping at such a young age..
  • + 7
flag adidasss (Dec 12, 2011 at 1:10)
 Sam is the legend but, he is on fire all the time, there is anything better than watching his runs, always different than others! Wait to see him on his 100%
  • + 4
flag fooox (Dec 12, 2011 at 1:15)
 Tracey Hannah winning by a casual 40 seconds... Should be one to watch this year
  • + 3
flag bikounet (Dec 12, 2011 at 4:37)
 Sam on his way to the top again...
  • + 7
flag chazdog (Dec 12, 2011 at 5:36)
 Yeah but Jared Graves!!! Gets bored of 4x, decided to dh and straight on the podium! oOuld be good to see a podiuming yeti rider in the next wc...
  • + 6
flag downlink (Dec 12, 2011 at 8:45)
 Is it my eyes, or was this just a 7 minute blur?
  • + 1
flag falomirMTB (Dec 12, 2011 at 19:03)
 when i grow up, i wanna be like Troy Smile
oh shit, im too old....
  • + 1
flag tylerthegiant (Dec 12, 2011 at 22:09)
 man thats crazy went hrom 4x to podium on dh. nice nice. wish i could ride good lol
  • + 1
flag FearTheReaper (Dec 13, 2011 at 9:55)
 @chazdog I don't think Graves got bored of 4x, i think the UCI cancelling the series had something to do with him focusing on DH.
  • + 1
flag chazdog (Dec 13, 2011 at 10:07)
 Am pretty sure he announced his decision to race dh and stop 4x long before the uci cancelled the series.
  • + 1
flag swan3609 (Dec 13, 2011 at 19:12)
 @Chaz.. I have a feeling that Jared knew that it was coming..
[Reply]
  • + 9
flag airsoftesneeto (Dec 12, 2011 at 0:13)
 "Troy Brosnan has one the first round of Aussie Nationals, Sam Hill in second and Jared Graves in third..."

...check your grammar pinkbike
  • + 3
flag ScaryGerry (Dec 12, 2011 at 5:39)
 Phew, good thing you pointed that out, we all woulda been screwed up for years! Close call.
  • + 6
flag Piks-Liks (Dec 12, 2011 at 11:20)
 *would have
  • + 0
flag zorba73 (Dec 12, 2011 at 14:36)
 ...check your grammar pinkbike.
  • + 4
flag IanHylands Mod Plus (Dec 12, 2011 at 14:53)
 actually that's not grammar, that's spelling, the result of cutting and pasting too many different things late at night. All fixed, thanks!
  • + 1
flag airsoftesneeto (Dec 14, 2011 at 13:55)
 hate to burst your bubble but you did spell it correctly, which would make it a grammar error not a spelling error
[Reply]
  • + 5
flag jumphilo (Dec 11, 2011 at 23:57)
 Sam is still recovering and his shoulder is still not 100%, he will be back soon. Troy is progressing so fast.... Good to see him winning the elite. Next season will be very interesting and exciting
[Reply]
  • + 8
flag TYNT (Dec 11, 2011 at 22:45)
 Troy beat Sam... That's weird
  • + 10
flag Worm-Burner (Dec 11, 2011 at 23:48)
 As it says on the home page..."Troy has one"...probably a big one...
  • + 3
flag Protour (Dec 12, 2011 at 1:38)
 The big surprise here isn't that Troy beat Sam, it's that Jared Graves was right there with both of them when you look at the times. He looks like he will be competitive in DH.
  • + 2
flag hoolydooly (Dec 12, 2011 at 1:58)
 Graves has already has always been good at DH, he got 7th at world champs in 2009 in the DH without even really practicing the course.
  • + 1
flag mikelevy Mod Plus (Dec 12, 2011 at 8:19)
 I don't remember what year it was, but it wasn't that long ago that Graves had a great year racing WC downhills.. who remembers the 2nd place at Angle Fire? And it was damn close to 1st!
  • + 1
flag alxxx (Dec 12, 2011 at 9:24)
 Troy isn't under 19?And he's in the elite man categorie?
  • + 1
flag dingo-dave (Dec 12, 2011 at 11:10)
 Yeah Grubby!!!
[Reply]
  • + 8
flag sup3rc0w (Dec 12, 2011 at 0:23)
 Teach the man with the headcam to point it further upwards!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag DownhillDomination (Dec 12, 2011 at 7:22)
 The helmet cam does not do the course justice. Check out my edit here to see the track from a few different angles:
http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/Australian-Gravity-Cup-11-12-Round-1-Thredbo,10796/Downhill-Domination,1061?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=spotlight
  • + 1
flag trimakas (Dec 12, 2011 at 8:07)
 Many thanks! Much better than that crappy helmet cam recording.
  • + 1
flag redrook (Dec 12, 2011 at 8:59)
 Cheers, that helmet cam above is terrible.
  • + 1
flag Solman (Dec 20, 2011 at 19:56)
 Brilliant edit man.
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag pim1231GT (Dec 12, 2011 at 10:07)
 I remember seeing a comment once that said "the awkward moment when troy beats sam"..................... I think this is that awkward moment
[Reply]
  • + 5
flag skippy888 (Dec 11, 2011 at 22:24)
 Bring on the next round at Mt Buller.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag MedellinColombiaDH (Dec 12, 2011 at 8:58)
 Fort William is as well straight+corner+straight+corner, yet its an awesome track. U cant judge a track with just a helmet cam video. Its not the best choice for the Aussie Nationals, but still a great track!
  • + 1
flag bigtard (Dec 12, 2011 at 21:38)
 it wasn't the nationals. they're in adelaide.
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag shockabahala Plus (Dec 11, 2011 at 22:26)
 I can't wait for the video
  • + 2
flag immacaroni (Dec 12, 2011 at 0:36)
 http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/Australian-Gravity-Cup-11-12-Round-1-Thredbo,10796/Downhill-Domination,1061?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=spotlight
  • + 2
flag IanHylands Mod Plus (Dec 12, 2011 at 20:30)
 Video is here
  • + 1
flag shockabahala Plus (Dec 12, 2011 at 20:33)
 Thanks!
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag Patsplit (Dec 12, 2011 at 10:03)
 Big Daddy Sam is probably wishing he hadn't given all his trade secrets away to the young whipper-snapper. That's okay. Sam has already began training his secret weapon for the 2030 WC season.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag liamman101 (Dec 12, 2011 at 8:02)
 The akward moment when troy beats sam
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag allan-taylor64 (Dec 11, 2011 at 22:32)
 Yewww, Troy!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag madbiker786 (Dec 12, 2011 at 21:57)
 f*ck man! The guy on the helmet cam had it pinned as a mofo the whole time!!!! B.A.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag downhere67 (Dec 12, 2011 at 11:18)
 Where was Delfs, O'Connor and Kovorik?

dave
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag hoolydooly (Dec 11, 2011 at 23:25)
 Does anyone know if they raced the fire road or not? Those times are bloody fast....
  • + 1
flag husabergforce (Dec 12, 2011 at 2:41)
 The fire trail was not used apparently, still such a long track though hey
  • + 2
flag hoolydooly (Dec 12, 2011 at 4:53)
 That sucks a bit.... I hope they let us race it at the State Series that is going to be held there next November! Thats still insanely fast though for no fire road.... Yeah its a super long track, but i love it because its just balls out fast from top to bottom pretty much!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag longgully-freerider (Dec 12, 2011 at 0:10)
 so there ahhh was rutts in the track and it was all blown out... blah blah blah i wana see some riding
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag saruti (Dec 12, 2011 at 6:35)
 it is a very small chain ring up front on Troy's bike...
32 T ?
  • + 2
flag Protour (Dec 12, 2011 at 7:09)
 I think he might be running a 9 tooth cog in the tear
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag octalex1 (Dec 11, 2011 at 22:50)
 SAM THE MAN!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag Felix316 (Dec 11, 2011 at 22:39)
 Sick shot!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag JaseZ (Dec 11, 2011 at 23:43)
 Does that mean Ian is in Australia doing all the National rounds?
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag singletrailrider (Dec 11, 2011 at 22:27)
 Young guns taking over!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag DBomberMan (Dec 14, 2011 at 18:42)
 fast
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag GermanyFreeride (Dec 12, 2011 at 9:19)
 Yop. Sam Hill kills it.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Lordofdogtown (Dec 12, 2011 at 6:58)
 Smile
[Reply]
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