OUR VERY FIRST RACE - And We Are Proud Of It!
Yes, indeed. It was our very first race and we're really proud of it. I can’t deny the fact that there are still many loop holes and glitches that happened during the whole event, but then again, it was ...
our very first race.
Many of you are already aware that we're a bunch of riders trying to push the mountain bike scene here in Malaysia. Not yet an establishment, neither an event house or a sports event management company. Simply a bunch of riders dying to witness the rapid growth of Freeride and downhill MTB.
As I look back to the DHM organised race back then, we have grown a lot since. How it was to have the objection of cross country riders in building the
wooden ramp up in Twin Peak, (someone tore it down!). But that was just part of the beginning. Creating and building more and more jumps, searching for new routes for our downhill trails, planning and building the first wallride, the gap jumps, the drops in Kiara - all those compassionate + non profit + freewill hard work [themakingof] has finally come to a result, our very first series: FREERIDE MALAYSIA - 08 KIARA DOWNHILL DOMINATION.
But then again, we’ve only gone through Race 1 and there will be more to come. And much much more to improve and learn. And keep gaining experience.
I sure do hope that in the next coming races, we'ill experience more success, with more sponsors that would come forward to support the race - and of course more and more participants and crowd. We were as delighted as the enthusiastic riders to see the 'huge' turn out in Race 1, a total of 89 riders (biggest so far eh). The most numbers of participants so far in any downhill race ever held in Malaysia.
Race 1 was actually intended as a grassroots level race. We wanted to have a downhill race so bad that we even suggested to have an illegal race - a ‘lumba haram’ (that was where the idea came from) - among fellow riders in Kiara, but I guess having one as such was not part of any dreams of the riders that represent Freeride Malaysia.
Thank god we did the first one right. With medic support team and the approval of DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) to utilise the vicinity.
There is still a long way to go.... to see our final dream turning into reality, and find out where such a race like these would lead us to.
The
same applies to the idea of us building and maintaining the trails in Kiara. It's simply pure passion, with a place to ride and play, to freeride, just a ‘teh tarik’ post mortem and the casual bragging rights chit-chats.
Anyway, Race 2 is just around the corner, three steps away from the Big One. Again, we will try make it as ‘happening’ as possible. We'll make it our own shared pride and joy.
As it has always been our motto
Our Passion Goes Beyond...
With all of your continuous support, I hope, lets just see how far beyond we can make it .....
A Big Shout OUT to all the members of Freeride Malaysia, all those riders and volunteers out there for all the support that you have given us, no matter in helping us build the trails, helping us organize the race, the sponsors, the media, the photographers, the scouts, the crowds or just simply being there on the race day. We salute you!
You've become a part of making something essential in the growth of MTB racing in Malaysia!
Amir
of Freeride Malaysia |