The gravity cross course at Cardrona Alpine Resort saw a different type of action this weekend as 28 mountain bikers dressed in body armour hurled themselves over jumps, into the turns and raced at high speed to the finish line in the 2nd Annual Frankton Arm Tavern Winter MTB Gravity Cross.

The four finalists gave the many spectators a spectacular race through the course at breakneck speed.

Fastest was Scott Columb of Queenstown who escaped the mass pile-ups of tangled bicycle metal to take first place. Luke Millington from Dunedin was close on his tail and throughout the knockout rounds it was a tight run battle between the two riders. Third in the final was Christian Meali of Queenstown while fourth was Jeremy Armstrong from Wanaka.

"So much fun!" said Ewan Straight of Wanaka. "The snow was nice and grippy and all those studded tyres flying around were a definite incentive not to fall off! It's certainly a different and exciting way to get from top to bottom."

Conditions couldn't have been better for the race and many visitors to Cardrona stopped to watch the action.

"A handbag?," said Sophie Bracknell from the UK. Only joking...she actually said 'These guys are crazy!' as she made the most of the bird's-eye view from McDougall's chairlift. "Only Kiwis would think of doing something like this but it's brilliant and great to watch!"

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