The South Island delivered the riding most had
come for, and riding the trails used by the power
line contractors, the riders got to enjoy some
decent technical riding going over the passes in
the upper Southern Alps, and given their training
before the event here the riders were in their
element. As ever, the accidents come not when
the riders are tackling challenging stuff – when
they’re fully engaged – but in the slack moments
like when a gentle curve suddenly tightens.
In all, the route would not be classified ‘extreme’
by any self-respecting Kiwi adventure rider.
However, before the event the GS Trophy course
director had already mentioned this would be an
event where the ride would be about the country,
about the nature, as much as it would be about the
riding and the competition. It could be in these
32 KIWI RIDER
increasingly environmentally-aware times, that the
GS Trophy is moving away from its rowdy, hard-
riding extreme past, toward a more considerate,
almost quieter, future.
All that said, the participants, for their part, had
a great time and were thoroughly blown away by
the scenery and the hospitality of the locals. And
sometimes – given the recent technological rush
in the adventure sector – we forget this. Adventure
is about taking the road less travelled, seeing new
sights, meeting new people and as general rule,
getting back to nature. Yes, super-talented Chris
Birch can carry on jumping fallen trees, doing his
wheelies and skids, but the hard core of ‘adventure’
isn’t – and shouldn’t be – that. And maybe, just
maybe, the 2020 International GS Trophy captured
some of that truth.