Kashi's MTB Journal
23 December 2008
Merry Xmas from sunny Dunedin !
A few weeks ago the guy that was managing my NZ sponsors for me just decided to stop doing his job, so I'v been left to pick up the pieces and be a business guy again. Not what I was hoping, but its all back on track now. I'm super stoked to have three sponsors who will help us (Marcus Roy and I) around some very cool races.
I will kick of the new year with my first race, the tour de vineyards, which is a 4 day road tour in the beautiful Nelson region, northern south island. I'm expecting it to hurt a lot as I really haven't been doing many intervals for ages... oh well, got to start somehow I guess!
For now though, its kiwi xmas time... my first time at home with my folks for xmas since 1996 !
Have a good one...
15 December 2008
I'm having trouble with my photo gallery... so until thats sorted I'm just going to update photos using iweb...
please click the link below...
http://web.mac.com/kashileuchs/iWeb/Site%202/Hey%20there.html
please click the link below...
http://web.mac.com/kashileuchs/iWeb/Site%202/Hey%20there.html
Well its been a pretty hectic week tripping around the county meeting some talented juniors, making an amazing high country mtb tour, then visiting friends and sponsors in Christchurch and Wellington!
The junior camp was for the top South Island riders and we had around 15 hot shots between 12-17 years old turn up for some fun in the Hanmer sun. This place is renowned for its flowing single tracks, so we all had a blast riding around the trails.. it was just a little hard to keep up as these juniors just attacked us oldies from the start!
I then joined Laurence, Guy (the Ground Effect crew) and Dave (legendary sadistic mtb adventurer) for some high country riding in the St James Station. Dave had planned us a suitably gnarly route... 2 days, around 160km through desolate high country, lots of rough walking tracks, and a fair amount of hike a bike peaks to ensure a fair mix of pleasure and pain. We slept in a DOC hut, so had to carry sleeping bags and food.. no wussy 4* hotels like on my previous euro trips!
The scenery was great as expected, but I was really amazed by how sick most of the walking tracks were! Most of it, right on the edge of unridable, were the most fun I've riding in ages. I was under pressure too, not wanting to accept that Dave, just shy of 50 and riding his quirky Salsa 29er, could out ride me. In the end though I had no chance, not on the downhills, nor on the climbs!
Laurence also got the better of me, but I can justify that because he was on a big bike (Santa Cruz Heckler). His fun was put to an abrupt stop though due to a naughty twig that somehow pushed his rear derailleur into his rear wheel. After a quick mod to single speed mode he made it through day 1, just to have his freewheel crap out due to the extra pressure. Finally faced with the only remaining option of riding the final day as a fixie, he settled for a 50km road ride home.
The second day involved a bit more pushing and Matagouri bashing, but the reward was an amazing single tack descent from Fowlers pass that just naturally flowed down the valley back to the main gravel road where the van was parked. We ended up with around 17hrs riding time through some true 100% pure NZ.
The junior camp was for the top South Island riders and we had around 15 hot shots between 12-17 years old turn up for some fun in the Hanmer sun. This place is renowned for its flowing single tracks, so we all had a blast riding around the trails.. it was just a little hard to keep up as these juniors just attacked us oldies from the start!
I then joined Laurence, Guy (the Ground Effect crew) and Dave (legendary sadistic mtb adventurer) for some high country riding in the St James Station. Dave had planned us a suitably gnarly route... 2 days, around 160km through desolate high country, lots of rough walking tracks, and a fair amount of hike a bike peaks to ensure a fair mix of pleasure and pain. We slept in a DOC hut, so had to carry sleeping bags and food.. no wussy 4* hotels like on my previous euro trips!
The scenery was great as expected, but I was really amazed by how sick most of the walking tracks were! Most of it, right on the edge of unridable, were the most fun I've riding in ages. I was under pressure too, not wanting to accept that Dave, just shy of 50 and riding his quirky Salsa 29er, could out ride me. In the end though I had no chance, not on the downhills, nor on the climbs!
Laurence also got the better of me, but I can justify that because he was on a big bike (Santa Cruz Heckler). His fun was put to an abrupt stop though due to a naughty twig that somehow pushed his rear derailleur into his rear wheel. After a quick mod to single speed mode he made it through day 1, just to have his freewheel crap out due to the extra pressure. Finally faced with the only remaining option of riding the final day as a fixie, he settled for a 50km road ride home.
The second day involved a bit more pushing and Matagouri bashing, but the reward was an amazing single tack descent from Fowlers pass that just naturally flowed down the valley back to the main gravel road where the van was parked. We ended up with around 17hrs riding time through some true 100% pure NZ.
04 December 2008
Life in Dunedin is humming along nicely. I'm as busy as always, but spending heaps of times at the laid back cafe's and restaurants as well. This is one thing I love about this place... perhaps because of all the students, there are just so many cool places to go, not to mention my all time favorite hangout, annoying the nice folks at R&R :)
I'v also been meeting lots of great people involved with the academy of sport which has its head quarters here. Its an awesome setup, with all sorts of top experts and help for us athletes. I can go and get massages or any kind of medical help, talk with sports scientists about the latest studies and research or go into the private gym.
They have got me on a new tough weights program and Chris Donaldson (NZ 100m champion) will be my personal trainer !! I was a little embarrassed in my first session, as the Highlanders (Otago Rugby team) were all there pushing such huge weights, I felt like a little horse jockey in comparison!
I'v also been meeting lots of great people involved with the academy of sport which has its head quarters here. Its an awesome setup, with all sorts of top experts and help for us athletes. I can go and get massages or any kind of medical help, talk with sports scientists about the latest studies and research or go into the private gym.
They have got me on a new tough weights program and Chris Donaldson (NZ 100m champion) will be my personal trainer !! I was a little embarrassed in my first session, as the Highlanders (Otago Rugby team) were all there pushing such huge weights, I felt like a little horse jockey in comparison!
25 November 2008
Cruising around my home town has brought back lots of nice memories. I never really thought Dunedin had special scenery before, but now after so long away, I can really appreciate it for the first time!
15 November 2008
Its just amazing how much stuff there is to do when moving ! I'v been at it for the past month, organizing my life, stuff with my new team, selling off old gear and seeing friends. Its been a super nice autumn and I'v really enjoyed spending some quality time with friends. So in the end I was pretty sad to finally say good bye and head south back to NZ. The plan to return to my 'real home' has been in my head for a long time. I'v been overseas for the best part of the last 13 years and I'v been getting that itch to see what its like to actually live back home again.. so it had to be done. Of course I can't move permanently, as between April-October I need to be in europe for my racing. But I'll be down here for four months, which should be enough time to catch up with a bunch of old friends and get a small feeling to how it is to be a duno's kid again.
Normally I had planned on a 2 day stop over in LA to stretch the legs, but once at the airport I changed my mind.. and my ticket, so to fly straight home. This was great, I thought, as no one was expecting me yet.. I could have a real few days of doing nothing. So I got a big surprise when boarding the final plane from Auckland to Dunedin and in the cue I saw Mr Ken Cools, the NZ BMX coach who I had met in Beijing.. and who lives in Canada. So after a bit of a 'hey, er what the, why?" , he explained that in fact most of BikeNZ were coming to Dunedin for a big conference, built around a big sports science/med conference going on. ah, so much for rest eh.. I couldn't turn this down ! I ended up resisting the jet lag and going to listen to a bunch of NZ's leading coaches, various sports scientists/nutritionists and some super motivational speakers. Some of it was way over my head, but other stuff was smack on and extremely interesting. The best thing though was just meeting a whole bunch of new people and getting idea's for the future.
At the end there was a discussion forum with athletes, coaches and medical staff. Normally NZ's silver medalist, Hayden Roulstan, was supposed to be in it.. but he had pulled out and so then asked me to take his place. I felt very honored just to be asked and be able to contribute my idea's in front of such an important group! I just want to say a big thanks to Raylene Bates, who I contacted just the day before, but still found a way to include me in it all.
Now, I'm hoping, its time to just reelax and enjoy the sunny 25+ dunedin weather .. and no i'm not kidding !!
Normally I had planned on a 2 day stop over in LA to stretch the legs, but once at the airport I changed my mind.. and my ticket, so to fly straight home. This was great, I thought, as no one was expecting me yet.. I could have a real few days of doing nothing. So I got a big surprise when boarding the final plane from Auckland to Dunedin and in the cue I saw Mr Ken Cools, the NZ BMX coach who I had met in Beijing.. and who lives in Canada. So after a bit of a 'hey, er what the, why?" , he explained that in fact most of BikeNZ were coming to Dunedin for a big conference, built around a big sports science/med conference going on. ah, so much for rest eh.. I couldn't turn this down ! I ended up resisting the jet lag and going to listen to a bunch of NZ's leading coaches, various sports scientists/nutritionists and some super motivational speakers. Some of it was way over my head, but other stuff was smack on and extremely interesting. The best thing though was just meeting a whole bunch of new people and getting idea's for the future.
At the end there was a discussion forum with athletes, coaches and medical staff. Normally NZ's silver medalist, Hayden Roulstan, was supposed to be in it.. but he had pulled out and so then asked me to take his place. I felt very honored just to be asked and be able to contribute my idea's in front of such an important group! I just want to say a big thanks to Raylene Bates, who I contacted just the day before, but still found a way to include me in it all.
Now, I'm hoping, its time to just reelax and enjoy the sunny 25+ dunedin weather .. and no i'm not kidding !!
18 October 2008
Ce weekend au Roc d’azur, c’était la dernière course avec l’équipe Cannondale Vredestein. Toute l’équipe était là et on a mangé pour la dernière fois au camion.. Le Dimanche, ils ont préparé une soirée crêpes… miam ! Merci Tony et Irina !!
L’ambiance était un peu triste, mais Roel nous a remonté le moral avec une très impressionnante victoire dans les deux grandes courses, le XC et le Marathon. Alors on a fini l’époque CV avec brio !!!
Moi, j’ai bien profité du soleil et de la chaleur. J’ai nagé dans la mer et j’ai bronzé à coté de la piscine. J’ai fait un peu de vélo, mais vraiment doucement ! En regardant tous les autres coureurs, je me suis senti vraiment paresseux et ce n’était pas très bon. Il y a eu des moments cette saison où j’avais pensé arrêter la course, à cause de tous les problèmes de santé, mais maintenant je suis sûr que je veux essayer encore! De temps en temps ça fait du bien de voir la vie d’un autre oeil parce qu’on peut apprécier plus ce qu’on a déjà !
Finalement, je voudrais dire un gros merci à toute l’équipe CV pour leur aide pendant les trois dernières années. C’était une très spéciale période de ma vie. Maintenant c’est l’hiver qui arrive. Mais on va tous se revoir très bientôt l’année prochaine…
L’ambiance était un peu triste, mais Roel nous a remonté le moral avec une très impressionnante victoire dans les deux grandes courses, le XC et le Marathon. Alors on a fini l’époque CV avec brio !!!
Moi, j’ai bien profité du soleil et de la chaleur. J’ai nagé dans la mer et j’ai bronzé à coté de la piscine. J’ai fait un peu de vélo, mais vraiment doucement ! En regardant tous les autres coureurs, je me suis senti vraiment paresseux et ce n’était pas très bon. Il y a eu des moments cette saison où j’avais pensé arrêter la course, à cause de tous les problèmes de santé, mais maintenant je suis sûr que je veux essayer encore! De temps en temps ça fait du bien de voir la vie d’un autre oeil parce qu’on peut apprécier plus ce qu’on a déjà !
Finalement, je voudrais dire un gros merci à toute l’équipe CV pour leur aide pendant les trois dernières années. C’était une très spéciale période de ma vie. Maintenant c’est l’hiver qui arrive. Mais on va tous se revoir très bientôt l’année prochaine…
14 October 2008
This weekend I was at the Roc D'azur, despite not racing. It was fantastic weather and I did manage to ride a little. It was a nice chance to be with the team one last time and say good bye on a relaxed note. Roel also made it a successful final race by winning both the XC and Marathon.. wow! By sunday I was really feeling very lazy and fat and it was not nice. I really wish I could have been out there suffering and pushing myself with the others.. they all looked so wasted, but happy at the end. So now I think its about time I start eating well and training lightly again... but I must still keep the intensity down for one more month. I'll be like a loaded spring when it comes time to race again!
29 September 2008
Team Felt Presentation
Its been a nice weekend in Italy meeting the new team, checking out all the bikes and amazing new team truck! I'm really impressed by how organised the team is, considering how early we are still. This is great for me, as my plan is now to return to NZ in around 6 weeks.. so its important I have things sorted. Here's a few photos... more on the photos page...
Its been a nice weekend in Italy meeting the new team, checking out all the bikes and amazing new team truck! I'm really impressed by how organised the team is, considering how early we are still. This is great for me, as my plan is now to return to NZ in around 6 weeks.. so its important I have things sorted. Here's a few photos... more on the photos page...
Press Release:
New Zealand's mountainbike star Kashi Leuchs has confirmed a change of teams for the next four years to team Felt International. This follows an amazing and successfull three years with the team of "Cannondale/Vredestein" where Kashi achieving a steady top ten ranking in world-cups and a win in the marathon world-cup final in 2006.
Kashi just met his new team at the Gimondi Bike race in Italy. He had this to say: "The Felt racing team is full of passion and style. Everything is well planned and organized and the bike looks and feels great. I'm also very happy to continue with Mavic and Vredestein, two sponsors I know well and enjoy riding for. I'm confident this is going to be a really great team ! "
After 11 years of professional racing with some of the best teams in the world, Kashi is one of the most experienced riders on the circuit. While the olympic discipline of cross-country remains his first priority, Kashi hopes to also compete in some marathon and stage races which he has always enjoyed for the beauty and challenge. Kashi's teammates with Felt racing will include his friend Emil Lindgren (SWE/Full Dynamix) as well as Jurg Graf (SWI/Swiss Power), Andreas Kugler (SWI/BMC), Blaza Klemencic (SLO), Joel Graf (SWI) and Andrea Tiberi (ITA).
Kashi says "I have always enjoyed helping younger riders and with this team I have the chance to be a little bit of a team leader. This will be a new challenge for me and motivate me a lot."
During the past few months Kashi was suffering from a stomach infection which caused bad asthma and took him out of contention for the Olympics and world-cup overall. He had to stop his season early and will now take an extended off-season to let his body recover. Kashi is normally based in Annecy/France, but this year will return home to New Zealand from November to March to enjoy the summer down under. There he will begin his training for next year as well as compete in a limited number of races, including the exciting new MTB stage race, www.alpineepic.co.nz
Finally, Kashi would like to express his heartfelt thanks to all the guys and girls with "Cannondale/Vredestein. "I'm sure we'll stay friends. I'm sure Roel and I can still race our RC trucks together even if we're on different teams!"
Further information about Kashi, his team and his racing ventures can be found at his website, www.kashileuchs.com.
New Zealand's mountainbike star Kashi Leuchs has confirmed a change of teams for the next four years to team Felt International. This follows an amazing and successfull three years with the team of "Cannondale/Vredestein" where Kashi achieving a steady top ten ranking in world-cups and a win in the marathon world-cup final in 2006.
Kashi just met his new team at the Gimondi Bike race in Italy. He had this to say: "The Felt racing team is full of passion and style. Everything is well planned and organized and the bike looks and feels great. I'm also very happy to continue with Mavic and Vredestein, two sponsors I know well and enjoy riding for. I'm confident this is going to be a really great team ! "
After 11 years of professional racing with some of the best teams in the world, Kashi is one of the most experienced riders on the circuit. While the olympic discipline of cross-country remains his first priority, Kashi hopes to also compete in some marathon and stage races which he has always enjoyed for the beauty and challenge. Kashi's teammates with Felt racing will include his friend Emil Lindgren (SWE/Full Dynamix) as well as Jurg Graf (SWI/Swiss Power), Andreas Kugler (SWI/BMC), Blaza Klemencic (SLO), Joel Graf (SWI) and Andrea Tiberi (ITA).
Kashi says "I have always enjoyed helping younger riders and with this team I have the chance to be a little bit of a team leader. This will be a new challenge for me and motivate me a lot."
During the past few months Kashi was suffering from a stomach infection which caused bad asthma and took him out of contention for the Olympics and world-cup overall. He had to stop his season early and will now take an extended off-season to let his body recover. Kashi is normally based in Annecy/France, but this year will return home to New Zealand from November to March to enjoy the summer down under. There he will begin his training for next year as well as compete in a limited number of races, including the exciting new MTB stage race, www.alpineepic.co.nz
Finally, Kashi would like to express his heartfelt thanks to all the guys and girls with "Cannondale/Vredestein. "I'm sure we'll stay friends. I'm sure Roel and I can still race our RC trucks together even if we're on different teams!"
Further information about Kashi, his team and his racing ventures can be found at his website, www.kashileuchs.com.
