The Kosciuszko Killer is back and it's getting tougher every year.
As Aussie riders get used to the idea of hard enduro,
the organisers are making the tracks tougher.
And there was plenty of wet weather forecast for the weekend
so riders got to experience this hard enduro event in two very different ways.
The day of the prologue?
Dry and dusty. The main event on day two?
The rain kicked in and the mudfest mayhem began.
Sometimes it was just easier to slide down without your motorbike.
Plenty of crashes.
Some slow and graceful.
Others not so much.
Some hills were ridiculously slippery whether climbing or descending.
The infamous Rocky Mile hill climb was a mix of clay, rocks
and dust underneath if you spun your rear wheel enough to dig through the wet topsoil.
Lets see what we can learn about slippery hill climbs.
Momentum is your friend, along with a good sense of balance.
Use as much runup as possible, and maintain that speed.
Find the right throttle setting and keep it consistent.
You may find too much wheelspin actually decreases traction.
But you will need a certain amount of wheelspin to throw mud from your rear knobby to find traction.
Sometimes you need to 'think outside the box'.
You might find better traction at the side of the track where there is still some grass.
Keep maximum weight on that rear wheel.
Sit toward the rear of the seat. If you put your foot on the ground,
make sure you only touch the ground hard enough to keep balance.
Don't take any weight of that rear wheel.
Tyre pressure?
The lower the better.
You want a big footprint from the rear tyre for climbing, and at the front wheel for descents.
Know when it's time to quit.
A lot of riders came to a stop then kept trying to climb the hill.
On clay hill climbs this is normally impossible.
Save your energy, go back and try again.
Descents?
It takes a brave rider to ride down a hill like this.
It is usually safer to 'bulldog' and walk your motorbike down.
Stop the engine.
Click into first gear.
Then use your clutch as a rear brake.
Lean the motorbike into your hip, then walk or slide your way down the hill.
We have a complete training vid on the bulldog technique.
Get into it.
And to finish off, here are a few more scenes from the Kosciuszko Killer.
Thanks to Grant Paisley for most of this video footage.