Mega Avalanche - proud Dad story.

[HIMUPNORTH]

Back home after a great holiday and an excellent weekend where my son took part in the Mega Avalanche race in Alpe D'huez in the French alps.

To give you some info on this unusual spectacle / event try these stats;

Mountain bike race with over 1,500 riders
8,000ft descent from Glacier to valley floor
Mass start (First 400, then waves after that)
Surfaces include snow, ice ,rock, dirt and grass
Winner took one hour to complete (record is 47 minutes!)


I did not go to the top and instead took position half way near my van (race passes through Alpe D'huez) where I could leave and meet Greg at the bottom or provide assistance for damages (or injuries :eek:)

We also had to head home as soon as he completed as it was 1,225 miles ( I counted) home.

At this half way point the track was flat so many of the riders took the opportunity to shake off that arm or finger-pump :D
http://garywilliamson.co.uk/PhotoDump/XA1D3879.jpg


Or smile at the camera man:
http://garywilliamson.co.uk/PhotoDump/XA1D3845.jpg


I am rarely envious of another togs position but these two had me beat:
http://garywilliamson.co.uk/PhotoDump/XA1D3923.jpg



My lad comes into view:
http://garywilliamson.co.uk/PhotoDump/XA1D3943.jpg



And I am amazed he finds time to play to the crowd:
http://garywilliamson.co.uk/PhotoDump/XA1D3946.jpg


It wasn't all downhill:
http://garywilliamson.co.uk/PhotoDump/XA1D3964.jpg


And sometimes the scale was hard to consider:
http://garywilliamson.co.uk/PhotoDump/XA1D3966.jpg



So Greg finished in an hour and a half which was well under his two hour target.

Although we have no confirmation it looks like he was the youngest competitor as he only just met the minimum age requirements. He was definitely the youngest Brit. He and bike were unscathed despite a fall on the glacier and I was a proud, and very relieved, dad.



Wonder what he has planned for our next holidays!

[CT]

Every right to be proud of that achievement. :clap:

[ShawWellPete]

wow!

[Marcel]

Every right to be proud indeed! :clap:

That is some achievement! Well done Greg :D

[dod]

great stuff, and some really nice shots too. That last one :eek::eek:

[moomike]

:agree: Excellent mate, congratulations to him :thumbs:

[mobilevirgin]

kudos - that looks like fun (well, it would have done when I was a teen)

[Forbiddenbiker]

Congrats to Greg good on him :clap::clap:

...and good on his dad and mum too, obviously heck of a fella...s. :D

Love the last shot BTW. :love::thumbs:

[Brains]

Looks great fun...very brave parents too!

[InaGlo]

What an awsome event to take part in, Greg must be extremely fit to even consider it.

Glad to hear he came through unscathed, and with a time to be proud of too ... well done that man! :thumbs:

Really enjoyed reading/viewing this Gary ... and I agree ... that last pic ... stunning!