Slides
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<b>Andrew Neethling says, "Welcome to Norway," at 1/40th of a second.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>B practice is primetime for teams with Junior and female riders to get in some quality riding time together. Loris Vergier before his experience in the next slide...</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Loris got off lightly and walked away with only a concussion. The full story will be revealed in Aaron Bartlett's movie 'Life Behind Bars' out in November.</b> -Steel City Media
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<b>Casey Brown showing why and how she won Whip-off Worlds in Canada just a few weeks ago, scrubbing the gaps.</b> @Maddogboris
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<b>Casey Brown scrubbing a different kind of gap later in the day after things didn't go quite as planned. #gross #healup</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Ben Reid was back on pace today. He had a big crash end of practice and might have to sit the race out.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Sadly, for the second year in a row, Floriane Pugin is out with an injury from Hafjell. A broken collarbone, as far we know, and a premature end to her season.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Risk or reward? Sick Mick nailing tech sections. Very few people were gapping this hole and first run down he took it with ease.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Gee was hauling into the first woods and rocks. Already looking far ahead to the next section. </b> @Maddogboris
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<b>Commencal Riding Addiction steaming up the gondola</b> @Maddogboris
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<b>Matti Leicahikoinen.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Beauty and beast all rolled into one.</b> -Steel City Media
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<b>Blenkinsop still rolling on 650b and cruising the technical track with ease.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>It's always impressive how different sections of the track can look at various times of the day. This same view is the identical setting for scrub photos elsewhere in the slideshow, but with a 4 hour time difference.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>While Duncan was getting the inversion layer and banging light, I shot from the GT pits while having a coffee with Mark Maurissen. First run 2013 Hafjell UCI World Cup.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Brage Vestavik the youngest course pre-runner yet. Only 14-years old but clearly comfortable out here.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Manon Carpenter looking stylishly confident right out of the gate today.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>It's considerably dustier than last year and running faster because of it. Manon continues in audio.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Vital contributing photographer, Tim Bardsley-Smith, deserves a medal. He broke his femur and had a rod inserted the day before the Crankworx Slopestyle. Already back shooting on the side of the track. He can't walk so uses a bike to get around. #tougherthanstone</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Danny *Norelco* Hart, shaving jumps like the stubble he wished he had.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>@Brendog1 (no underscore) far more comfortable here than with the technology that is Instagram and smartphones.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Ruaridh Cunningham catching the golden light this morning.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Oscar Harnstrom from across the border, flying low. </b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Stevie Smith gapping into sections where others stay low and glued to the ground. His speed carries him that much further. </b> -Sven Martin
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<b>There are surprisingly few viewpoints on this track, not that Steve and Greg would notice, as both riders put down a healthy amount of runs, getting the most from training.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>GoPro on a stick? No. Fancy R/C helicopter? No. Climbing sketchy lift tower? Yes. Joe Smith natural step down.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>If you ever need an idea as to how big *Andi's Gap* is, here ya go. It's one big pull up!</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>4th in timed training today, Bernard Kerr breaks down where he's making and losing time.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Yeeuh, Cahnuh (that's Australian for Yeah, Connor). Fearon flying.</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Start of the Elite Men's practice and the light is still looming low on the horizon. First run down the hill and Remi Thirion always looks good straight off the mark. #joelikes</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Little princess' 17th birthday today. Taylor Vernon got some sweet gifts from the team and Loydy taught him how to drive stick shift. </b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Girls and gossip. You won't believe what they talk about on the way up to gnarly DH runs. Refreshing. </b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Elite Women's XC today. Some got bummed, some just blasted to the moon! #charging</b> -Sven Martin
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<b>Maybe it's Beast before beauty here?</b> -Steel City Media
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<b>Mike Jones has one Junior win from the year under his belt already, and given how at-home he looks on this track, he's high in contention for another.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>After a successful return from injury at World Champs, Tracey Hannah is looking flat out here in Hafjell.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Without other frames for comparison, it's quite hard to see how low Lorenzo Suding is in this corner.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Tire buzz isn't often heard mid-air but Pom Pon wasn't in the mood for slowing down over the flat-out step down.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>This section of the track is riddled with line choice. Here Rachel's opted for one of straighter and techier lines, making it look easy.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>The #1 grip-your-tire-stuff now in a box.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>In Norway the sun rises later and sets later than usual. The Hafjell lift runs mainly above newly developed properties as the area becomes increasingly popular, mostly due to the photos in Vital's slideshows showing the off epicness.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Copying Sven's photo from yesterday, except with a cloud inversion, rider and an early start! Scott Mears gettin' the worm.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>2x Whip-off World champ doing what he does best. Bernardo Cruz. Yeeow</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Pagey and Peaty talking through line choice like in days past and maybe a couple of other things too. "That's my little pet rat," said Peaty.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Are those 26-inch wheels? Ropaloto shredding on the latest and greatest while half the field discusses line choice.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Kovarik and Claire Buchar have made the trip over from bike park to bike park. The track here at Hafjell is no ordinary bike park track, however.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Extreme Lunching.</b> -Duncan Philpott
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<b>Andrew Neethling opened up the slideshow and now he ends it as he poses as a rocket headed straight back to South Africa. Thanks to Sven, Duncan and Joe for the incredible images, once again. It's going to be one crazy race weekend!</b> -Sven Martin
Description
The Hafjell World Cup course is taking no prisoners as many riders went down on the first day of practice. The course is packed, dusty and much faster than last year which means speeds are higher and moves are riskier. Hang in for some carnage and celebration as the UCI World Cup Downhill season rolls on with incredible imagery by Sven Martin, Duncan Philpott and Joe Bowman
View replies to: BRUTAL BEAUTY: Hafjell World Cup DH Action
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