2002 Australian National MTB Championships - CN

View from the top - riders set out for downhill practice
Going up - two fully-armoured riders take the lift to the top
Baby air - cautious in practice, a few centimetres was the safe cruising altitude
Going Global - a Global Racing rider gets airborne
Outrigger - a rider extends a balancing foot
Just another perfect day - and body armour is SPF 50+
Down through the trees - after the open mountainside, a cooling spell in the shade
Lets twist again - tricky singletrack requires contortionist skills

Chris Kovarik pounded his way into first place
Chris Kovarik crosses the mountainside meadows
Nathan 'Stomper' Rennie plays avoid-the-haybales. The powerful young rider from Western Sydney finished second.
Nathan 'Stomper' Rennie powers across the meadows
Milling about is a vital part of downhill racing
John Waddell used his international experience to land seventh place
Sam Hill - the junior worlds bronze medallist was a comfortable U19 winner
Justin Havukainen starts out on the way to the silver in U19
Lindsay Klein gets low in the U19 on the way to third place
Lindsay Klein demonstrates that gravity provides the fastest way between two points
Ricky Lee was just one of three riders in the U15 class

The time is out of joint - Bruce and the Castech crew are here to put it right
Extreme repair techniques, as demonstrated by Kip Frost
Braking bumps made the corners interesting, as Brock Newling demonstrates
Ashley Rangott was one of several riders sidelined by mechanicals as the tough Thredbo course took its toll

Chris Kovarik on The Ramp
Chris Kovarik - totally focused on the win
Joel Panozzo grabs his chance and goes for silver
Joel Panozzo rode hard for second place behind Kovarik
Nathan Rennie flew in the early rounds but had to settle for fourth in the final
A fast start was essential - when the gate went down it was time to hammer
Styling over the jumps isn't faster, but it sure impresses the crowds
Camera crews had to beware of low-flying downhillers
Crashes were inevitable but fortunately there were no major injuries
Darkness looms - riders wait to start the later rounds as the day draws to a close

The Elite men launch their assault on the start loop climb
Sid Taberley took three titles: Elite national champion, U23 national champion and the unofficial Most Improved Rider.
Paul Rowney - almost looked like he'd catch Taberley, but never quite closed the gap.
Sid 'Two medals' Taberley grins for the press after the awards ceremony
Paul Rowney on the podium with daughter Kaitlyn
Brent Miller - eighth overall and second in the U23
Trent Lowe lead U19 from the gun and never looked in danger
Michael Skroblin chased Trent Lowe hard in the U19
Timothy Bartholomew leads Brent Miller and Daniel Van Der Ploeg in the Elite/U23
Chad Gossert fixes a mid-race puncture
Justin Case on the way to the U17 title
Jeremy Davis, U17 runner-up
Matthew Molan was the most successful of the VIS U19 men, finishing third
Cal Britten - the weekend's youngest winner in the U15 class
Johann Esterhuyzen Jnr, U15 runner-up
TJ Hollis, the youngest racer in the cross-country, determined to finish U15
Josh Fleming leads Paul Rowney in the Taberley chase in the early stages of the race.
Neil Van der Ploeg, third place in the U17 men

Mary Grigson finally triumphed at Thredbo to take her fifth consecutive national championship
Dellys Franke never gave up but had no answer for Grigson's raw speed
Claire Baxter took a promising third place.
Mary Grigson and Brent Miller contemplate alternative two-wheeled transport.
Lisa Mathison was a clear winner in the U19 women