The winter races are over, the nights are getting lighter and the sun is starting to shine, this can only mean one thing. The SDA season is upon us.

Entry for the SDA is done online using a ticket system, with 2 races being released at one time on a first come first served basis for the majority tickets for these races are rarer than rock or wide open line at Inners. With Pitfichie and Fort William being the first 2 races up for grabs it was no surprise when all 300 tickets for each race were sold out in 4 minutes!

Due to the current uplift rules and the gradient of the uplift track, Pitfichie was designated as a push up race. The combination of sunny weather, a cheap entry price (the SDA is a non-profit organization) and every race of the season counting to the final season points ensured that the field was full come race day.

The Pitfichie track is one of the flattest downhill tracks around, but what the track lacks in gradient it makes up for in character. The normal combination of roots, ruts and steep sharp corners are replaced with granite slabs, rock gardens and a series on small fast drops and perfectly bermed corners, this track resembles more what you would find up in the mountains of Scotland than any other track.

The track itself is split into 3 distinctive sections; the top of the track is on open moorland, with some super fast corners and large rock slabs to negotiate on the way to the second section, this is entered using the Pitfichie step down for the good riders, a 6ft fly off, landing into a rough rock garden, the slower and less brave choosing to go round the feature, the track is now steeper and rougher with some nice corners thrown in, and one steep rock garden that makes you smile every time you hit it, 3 more rock gardens that require skill and bravery to not exit slowly and you are onto the 3rd section at the bottom of the track, flatter with some nice bermed corners and a number of drops followed by a nice jump into the finish of the track.

The push up gave everyone a good chance to section the technically challenging rock garden sections of the track, catch up on what they had been up to over the winter and witness the elite showing how to ride the rock gardens with grace and style.
During the Saturday night the SDA had organized a friendly mini slalom race, watching Jo Barnes and the like practicing for this it was clear that this was as important to some as the race the next day. Round after round they came down, elbows out looking for the inside line. This was the time for team mates to get bragging rights and no love was lost into the corners.

Race day and most were taking it steady, not wanting to burn out from pushing up before race runs. 1 full run had to be completed before racing, then people concentrated on sectioning.

Sun, no wind, dry track, good banter and the largest ever SDA vet’s field kept everyone feeling good. Pitfichie results showed who had been training over the winter and who had been watching dancing on ice…

I even heard that Ali MacLennan managed to pedal his way down the track in a respectable time.

Full results can be found at www.sda-races.com

Massive thanks to the SDA for organizing yet another great race, ordering the weather and taping a fun track to ride, roll on Fort Bill.

Thanks to Jamie Rodda for the photos.
John Young