The camaraderie at Kowen is
the stuff that minstrels of old and
bush balladeers write about
my health or just in the hope that he
might score a photo in ADB. After
getting some advice from the
organisers on suitable action spots I
was also able to get the good oil on
short cuts, ahead of those who’d
already left. We found a great spot
where the course snaked back on
itself a few times, repeatedly
crossing a steeply banked creek
lined with exposed rocks and tree
roots before finally turning to run
up the creek itself.
The exits from the creek were what
was causing riders to come to grief, as
momentum was needed for the ascents
but getting just the right amount of
throttle to provide it was the tricky bit.
Nobody seemed to have any trouble
though, applying either too much or
too little. I’d have loved to help with a
push for those that got stuck but I had
to man the camera, sorry fellas.TIRELESS
Of course an event like the DSMRA
Kowen Forest Ride can’t be run at all
without the tireless work put in by the
volunteers, and there were about 30 of
them. That’s an incredible effort from
such a small group. The committee is
made up of Peter Daley (originator of
the ride), Peter Wenderoth, Peter
Gendle, Shaun Lonergan and Dan
Fuller. A few other names deserve a
special mention as well, such as Chris
Springer who rode with an injury from
course marking all weekend to ensure
all went well, along with Adrian
Whittaker who marked almost a whole
loop single-handedly after Chris’s fall.
Doug Waterhouse manned the main
entry gate from Sutton Road all
weekend, from 6am until 11pm, Friday
to Sunday. Graham Smith handled the
communications, St Johns Ambulance
staff handed out the band aids and
mercurochromeandLauraKing
registered 250 peopleonFridaynight
byherself,quickerthanthetwo
single-fingertypistsworkingwithher.
If youhaven’triddentheDSMRA
KowenForestRidethenmarkit down
inyourdiaryfornextyearrightnow.
It’sdrawingmoreriderseveryyearand
thelongeryouleaveit themore
competitionyoufaceintherafflefora
newKato.Gotsomethingtosayaboutthisyarn?
[email protected]
Moreimagesandinfoatadbmag.com.au Upshitcreekpaddlinghard KTM300EXCTPIwinnertryingtofloghisoldbikeTheflowingsingletrailKowenis knownfor FMX riders outside their normal habitat86 | JUNE 2019 http://www.adbmag.com.au
TRAILRIDE I DSMRA KOWEN FOREST