MTB World Cup Final - Schladming, Austria - DH

[leitch]

Click images for bigger versions. All shots taken with natural light, Canon EOS 40d, EF 135mm f/2L.

1: Rachael Atherton, negotiating one of the many rooty off-camber sections

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/2850998112_93411497a3.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/2850998112_2099d97466_o.jpg)

2: Unknown rider, styling the step down

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/2850166575_20320b9418.jpg?v=0 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/2850166575_9e12a68a2d_o.jpg)

3: Mitch Delfs, dropping into the bottom section

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2852987145_7627dd9dba.jpg?v=0 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2852987145_d23b07e3fd_o.jpg)

4: Fabian Barel, taking on the first of the steep rooted forest sections

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2852987135_2b8d96f243.jpg?v=0 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2852987135_d8830b0f41_o.jpg)

5: Stevie Smith, bringing fashion back to downhill racing

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2852987131_d7d8d8af6f.jpg?v=0 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2852987131_1d50931643_o.jpg)

6: Unkown rider, sending quality chunks of roost flying

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/2852987125_89600cefb3.jpg?v=0 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/2852987125_daac5eddb7_o.jpg)

7: Amiel Cavalier, just turns away from the finish line

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2852987121_21bf9ac7f4.jpg?v=0 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2852987121_480cc31a50_o.jpg)

[Greg_C]

Great series Andrew.

[khall]

Nice shots, the third is my pick, find the second picture confusing whats going on?

[leitch]

He's jumping a step-down - the dirt in the very foreground is the landing.

[khall]

Andrew would look better without all the people in the back ground.

[leitch]

Unfortunately given that it was the last round of this year's World Cup, the spectators are part of the scenery. Save for the guy in the red t-shirt, I like the spectators there. I could have cloned him out, but I prefer to leave things as much as they were as possible.

[DAdeGroot]

Very nice series Andrew - darn sharp, but then it was the 135L. :)

[leitch]

Thanks Dave. I do love this lens! :)