Super Cali’s a sunny delight

You might be wondering what I'm doing in the States while many of the Hard Enduro guys have recently been competing in Romania.

 

The answer's simple – I'm taking a little time off!

 

With indoor events running through the winter and with Erzberg in June the first ‘big' race of the year, April and May are the only two months that are relatively quiet for me. 

 

I could keep myself busy with events easily enough, but decided not to. 

 

I've not really been able to fully recover from the glandular fever I got last year and together with the guys at Red Bull we 

decided a break would be a good idea. 

 

So my mechanic Julian has headed east for a little R&R and I have come west to California.

 

I first spent time in California a few years ago when I hooked up with Kurt Caselli and got a taste of what it's like to ride over here. 

 

I had a great time then but with Kurt in party mode, having just wrapped up another WORCS title, I didn't actually spend too much time with him. 

 

But it gave me a taste of what SoCal has to offer, so when we were working out where would be the best place to relax and take in some sun I didn't really have to think too long or hard about it.

 

I'm fortunate to have a few sponsors over here – Oakley and Osiris – so as well as a few health tests I've been using my time off to meet some of the people who support me. 

 

Getting to take a look inside the two companies has been pretty amazing and the Oakley HQ is out of this world. 

 

I'd seen pictures of it in magazines and on the internet but it's not until I got here and had the tour that I realised how bonkers it is. 

 

It's an amazing place and I met some great people – all so enthusiastic about what they do and what I get up to.

 

As well as visiting sponsors and having some fitness tests and health checks, thanks to the guys at Red Bull, I've pretty much been doing what I've been told to do – taking it easy, meeting up with friends and topping up my tan. 

 

As everyone's season is getting going it feels weird to be taking a little time out but I know that resting is as important as training, so taking it easy is exactly what I'm doing.

 

I'm going to be over here for a little while longer, just hanging out and relaxing. 

 

It's easy to chill out over here because the weather's so good. 

 

I'm going to meet the guys from KTM US as well as a few of my other sponsors, and that's about all I have planned. 

 

Apart from visiting a few of my sponsors I didn't have much else planned when I got on the plane to come here. 

 

But since I've been here I've been meeting up with all kinds of people, which has been great.

 

I don't think I'm going to want to head home!