The 2023 Fox Superflow® sealed by Stan’s Season opened with two back to back weekends in NSW and VIC and more than 800 racers were at the start. Both the Awaba MTB Park event in Olney State Forest near Newcastle and the Red Hill race on the Mornington Peninsula in VIC offered PRO Stage classifications in addition to the popular 3-stage Superflow® categories. With 19 races confirmed for the year across NSW, ACT, VIC and QLD already the team from Rocky Trails they are still scouting more venues, which may be added as the series progresses.
Race Video (full length): Awaba MTB Park NSW
Clean sweep at Awaba: Sydney’s Cooper Lowe and Jess Hoskin from Sunshine Coast
The Awaba race had 450 competitors at the start line in Olney State Forest. The event offered 3 stages and also included a fourth more technical “PRO Stage” track, that required full-face helmets. Rocky Trail has been adding an additional 4th Pro Stage for highly experienced Elite, U21 and Master racers at selected venues with the appropriate track choices.
In the Elite Men’s it was the 20-year old Cooper Lowe from Sydney’s South who took out the win against an experienced line-up of Rocky Trail old-hands. Cooper Lowe started racing the Rocky Trail events in the U13’s category and has risen through the ranks as one of the most accomplished athletes across the portfolio. At Awaba he also took out the Pro Stage classification in the U21 category ahead of Wilken Payens, who took out the U19 category in the main 3-stage event. Charlie Fisher from Newcastle came in second in the Elites (7:06.2) and David Ludenia from the Blue Mountains was third (7:13.4).
Our goal is to help riders enjoy bikes as much as possible, and for some, that means progressing their riding and racing to a more challenging level. The Pro Stages are a realistic training (and play) ground for aspiring gravity racers. We dream of Rocky Trail Racers breaking to the next level and racing on the world stage.
– Juliane Wisata, Rocky Trail Entertainment
Wisata has been an advocate for offering events that are challenging and governed by a strict set of regulations, however, she has been instilling her and co-founder Martin’s vision of ‘getting more people out on the trails’ by establishing welcoming and inclusive events with professional and friendly atmosphere – for competitors and their supporters. The Fox Superflow® has been attracting over a third of riders under the age of 17 and most are racing with friends and/or their parents. The Awaba event saw 10% of female participation; almost 50 racers competed in female categories.
Jess Hoskin had travelled to Awaba MTB Park from Queensland. The 2022 Fox Superflow® Series Elite Women’s winner had big plans to head to Europe to compete in the EWS and the Rocky Trail events are an ideal training ground, she said. Hoskin won the Elite Women’s competition in 7:45.7 and scored also in the PRO Stage classification with a 9:36.5. The 25-year old Queenslander had strong competition from the NSW racers – Connor Mielke came in second in the Elites with 8:00.1 in the 3-stage race and as the outright runner up she won the PRO Stage U21 women’s in 10:00.7. Amazing result also by fellow Sydney-sider Mel Hayes in the PRO Masters.
Notable female riders were also Daniela Reyes from Sydney in U19’s finishing with 10:05.0 and Rebecca Sams from Gunnedah in the U17’s who smashed it in 8:22.6. Andie Bull is making her mark in the U15’s (9:19.6) and new talent coming through in the U13’s with Elin Evans clocking in 11:28.3.
First Fox Superflow® at Red Hill delivers
For the first time, the Red Hill trail network South of Melbourne hosted a Fox Superflow® event and it was a fitting venue for the VIC Series start. In total the Series will include 6 races, which Buller and Falls Creek hosting two rounds each.
At Red Hill it was 19-year old Harry Cook from Dromana who took out the Elite Men’s Superflow® title with a fastest time on the Fox track and a combined race time of 6:26.8min on the three challenging tracks. Cook was also the PRO Stage U21 winner with 9:29.5.
Jeremy Hamilton (6:36.3) and ‘Griffo’ Griffin (6:45.9) came in second and third. Notably the race had over 150 juniors under 17 years old compete, representing 40% of the field. Bailey Kendall from Mt Martha took out the U17 men’s category beating 66 racers with 6:52.9, which placed him fourth outright. In the U15’s, the only 13-year old Jefthro Spyrakis from Rye won in 7:13.7 in a field of 47 and the 11-year old Kobe Shepheard won the U13’s with 8:03.4. With strong fields across Vets (30+) and Masters (40+), the race had over 60 athletes on eBikes on course.
In the women’s the 41-year old Kathryn Visser from Carrum Downs took out the Elite Women’s category. Visser took the outright title ahead of U19’s racer Lily Easy from Melbourne and 15-year old fellow Elite rider Zali Hunter (8:51.9), who came in third outright. Liv Curtis represented in the U17 women’s category and finished in 10:00.2. Lily Easy also scored in the PRO Stage U21, winning in 13:18.4.
In the PRO classification, Lachlan Green from Sandringham won the Elite classification in 9:57.1 on the four tracks. Jeremy Hamilton was the Master winner in 9:39.5.
The Fox Superflow® will continue at Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra on 25+26 February with a 4-stage Fox Superflow® on both Saturday and Sunday. The two 2022 events at Stromlo drew a field of over 1400 competitors, which is why Rocky Trail offers 4 Superflow® stages to spread the crowd across the mountain. The event will take place on the “front” or Eastern side of the trail network so that a big proporation of the park can remain open to the public. A second event is schedule to race on the Northern side of Stromlo in September.
The Queensland Series will start on 15 April at Eastern Escarpment with a “Pick Your Race Day” and PRO Stage on the Sunday format. In total, 5 out of the 6 races in QLD will offer PRO classifications this year – registration will open soon and visit the full race calendar.
Thank you to our amazing sponsors, supporters & crew who help bring these events to life!
