Sam Hill (Image credit: Evan Jeffery / evanjeffery.blogspot.com)
Two-time World Champion, Sam Hill, annihilated his opposition in a blinding downhill run in the fourth National Series round in Mt Buller last weekend. Hill blitzed the 3km run in 3:18.84, beating National Champion Mick Hannah from Cairns by six seconds.
"It was pretty hard," admitted Hill. "I wanted to give it everything I had to see what time I could do. It's a fairly technical and a loose and dusty and dry course." Third was Amiel Cavalier from Wollongong.
Hill will spend two months in Perth to prepare for their assault on the World Cup series which has been dominated by Hill in previous years. "I've got two months before the first World Cup. I will just get as fit and strong as I can," explained Hill.
While there was little surprise in the men's winner, the women's race was the exception when Tasmanian downhiller Leigh Douglas took the win from National Champion Claire Whiteman from Canberra. The 30-year-old Canadian claimed the first win in her career after placing on the podium only once in the second round of the series.
"It feels awesome, especially when I called my parents back in Canada. It felt really, really good," smiled Douglas. She qualified fourth fastest but put in a convincing final run.
The fifth and final round of the Australian national series will be held in Hobart at the end of February.
