Josh Carlson CT Blog: Happy New Year

Happy New Year, merry Christmas and all the trimmings!

Obviously the biggest low i had was busting my wrist and collarbone in Colorado. This sucked bigtime! It was a rough few weeks of pain and whinging but thanks to the doctors, family, Lisa and friends all over, it made it much easier to handle and bounce back from. HUGE lessons were learnt and THANKYOU is a huge understatement to all the kind words, messages and confidence that I’ll be back, from everyone to help me get back riding and racing again. And as of next week, the recovery process will FINALLY be over! I’ve just had the plates and screws taken out of my wrist 4 weeks ago and it is now as good as it will ever be! It’s been a long time since the accident in late July and once i get back on the Mtb next week...i will be stoked!

The biggest high i had for 2011 was heading over to America for my debut US Mtb season. Racing races like the Ashland 12 mile super D, Downieville, Mont saint Anne world cup, morgul bismark road race in Colorado and living and training in boulder, CO...it was a WICKED experience to say the very least! 

The amount of truly awesome people i met all over the US was truly amazing! From the west coast of Monterey and LA, bend and Ashland OREGON, all the wicked crew i rode and hung out with in boulder and all the great people i met at the races during my travels. Thanks for the great times guys and i hope we can all catch up at some point in 2012...luv ur work!

For this week, I’m off to the dark side...the road! I’m heading down to the Australian Road Cycling Championships in Ballarat, just outside of Melbourne, Victoria. A 165km smash fest with one of the best line up of riders, the event has ever seen...rot roh! I’m actually frothing for the chance to have a crack against not only Australia’s best road cyclists, but some of the best in the world over the brutal 16 laps of the 10km ‘lumpy’ circuit! It’ll be something different and a great experience at the very least.

After that it’s all systems go back on the mountain bike! First stop is the second round of the Aussie All mountain series at Mt Buller in the high country of Victoria. Another super D, XC and Enduro point to point race is on the cards and it promises to be even better than the first round.

Some may have noticed that i am no longer riding in the ROCKSTAR Racing team kit as of late. For 2012 i am riding for the Australian GIANT Factory team in Australia and internationally on the XC and super D circuits. It was a personal decision i made and after approaching GIANT Bicycles Australia and ROCKSTAR Racing, everyone was happy for me to make that decision to help further my success in the direction i wish to pursue for 2012. I had an awesome year representing ROCKSTAR Racing all over the world and i can’t thank Dwight, the team, and all the associated sponsors for all their support throughout the year in Australia and during my debut season in the US.

2012 is going to be a huge year! I’m working my guts out to make the most of it and giving it all I’ve got in the races I’m hoping to compete in this year. After the Australian domestic season finishes up for me in late march i am planning on heading back to the US in late April. My first stop will again be the Sea Otter Classic in California on April 21/22. After meeting so many great people there last year and the good times had, I’m super excited about heading back there as a starting point to my US race calendar. After that i am hoping to focus on a Super D/All mountain race calendar aswell as selected cross country races across the US and BC,canada. With races like the ‘Downieville Classic All Mtn Champs’, Oregon Super D series, North American Enduro Tour and Crankworx whistler high priorities for the year, it promises to be a wicked season!!

I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas and brought in the New Year in style! Thanks for 2011 and bring on 2012!

YIEEEEEEEEWWWWWW!!

LUV UR WORK!

JC