Rocky Valley near Mudgee, NSW played host to the fourth round of the 2012 Australian and Underground FMX Championship, the Jetpilot Invitational this past weekend, presented by RFDmx.
With a number of tour regulars absent due to other commitments, the field was narrowed to just 8 riders for the weekend's event, with the weather unfortunatley becoming a massive hurdle and a revised format was run in order to achieve a result.
The course at Rocky Valley was similar to last year, consisting of two 75ft ramps with concrete runups, but both were followed by large dirt doubles this year, 75ft in one direction and the other around 80ft.
The quarterpipe was again present for those riders with the skill and mental game to utilise it. Most riders arrived on the Friday and started dialling in the course, however a large storm system blew in overnight bringing rain and heavy winds.
With series organiser Joel Rayner unable to attend, it was up to Joe Sheppard to organise the event and decide on the best course of action. Having run the tour in 2009, Joe was up to the task.
Event time rolled around quickly Saturday morning, but with the course drenched and the wind howling, the riders were left with no choice but to sit around and wait for more rideable conditions.
Some ventured onto the motocross track and sessioned some stepups and tabletops, throwing tricks in amongst the trees where the jumps were more sheltered from the wind. As the day wore on and the course dried out, boredom and determination took over and the riders hit the course to see if they could overcome the wind.
With a 38km/h crosswind, and gusting even higher, the guys battled to throw a few tricks out to see if they would be able to run the competition.
Brodie Markham was first bitten, getting blown off-axis on a Supercan and stomping his foot on landing and doing some ligament damage to his ankle.
Following right behind him the next jump, fellow Victorian Dean Matheson also fell victim on a Sideways Hart Attack, and took a dirt sample but got up uninjured. At this point it was decided that it just wasn't safe and we would return the next morning hoping for better conditions.
