THIS weekend will bring some of the world’s best to Mount Panorama for the Newtons IDF World Cup opening round, and one man determined to make the most of his trip to Bathurst is Jackson Shapiera.
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The Curl Curl resident, and member of the Newtons Organising Committee, is out to tackle a track he shares a “love-hate” relationship with.
Injuries and even inclement weather have gotten in the way of Shapiera, 26, from taking on the Mount and it has made him all the more eager to give it a crack.
“This was actually the first race I did, which is probably surprising. That was in 2008. I went alright and that’s what started it all for me,” he said.
“In 2009 Bathurst was awarded the World Cup race … but two weeks before it started I tore the ligaments in my ankle. In 2010 I was killing it in practice but injured myself again. 2011 was wet … and the next year I had broken my leg.
“I finally got to race it again in 2013 but I was still in recovery mode at that stage. Of all the times I’ve raced it the only time I’ve done it at 100 per cent was the very first time I raced it.”
Shapiera was a podium finisher in the overall 2011 World Cup rankings and prior to that had been consistently ranked inside the top 10.
Since then it has been a rocky road. Two years ago Shapiera required bone graft surgery and has slowly worked his way back into the sport.
Shapiera was living in California but returned to Australia during recovery from his surgery, and last year bounced back with an equal third place at Mount Keira.
He’s hoping Mount Panorama can kick start a memorable year of racing.
“It’s a unique track in terms of downhill skateboarding because the acceleration happens instantly. On other tracks you have some time to build it up. On this track it’s just push, push, go,” he said.
“There’s a lot of importance in drafting and getting the right position … and going into the straight aerodynamics are everything.
“Normally at other tracks you can save yourself if you get into trouble and wipe off some speed, but you can’t do that here. You’ve got to be on the ball with your lines.”