HUNTINGDALE’S Ricky Thackray is gearing up to take on the world’s best mountain bikers and navigators.
He has been chosen to represent Australia at the World Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships in Portugal.
Mountain bike orienteering is essentially orienteering – using a compass and map to go quickly around check points on a course – on a mountain bike.
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READ NOWThe 39-year-old said he was going to have to have a very strong performance to the top half of the field as it is a better known sport in Europe.
“It is relatively unknown in WA,” he said.
“We can get 35-40 people, when I go to Victoria they can get 80-90 people and it is better known in Europe.”
“Europeans are a whole different field – they live it over there
He said he got into MTB Orienteering after doing rogaining for 23 years before he did an adventure race – which included mountain biking, paddling and trekking – in the early 2000s and loved the mountain bike component of it.
He has already repressed his country in 2012-13 and is ready to have another from July 24-30 this year.
Mr Thackray was made redundant from his job as a financial accountant and has been using his time over the past few months to train hard.
“It was actually a big motivator as July is end of financial year,” he said.
With mountain bike race cross follow circuit several laps fast time possible the difference is get map one minute before time and there are
The Australian MTBO Championships for sprint, middle and long course will be held in WA this year.
If anyone is interested in entering or having a go at MTB Orienteering, contact Mr Thackray at rickythackray@hotmail.com