Introducing...'As Good As Pros'

25 November 2016


Introducing...'As Good As Pros'

Introducing 'As Good As Pros' - a Father and Son team originally hailing from North Otago and now residing in Christchurch. The full Aspros contingent includes the two men of the family plus The Boss. - Rowan Aspros, Paddy’s Wife and Damo’s mother. Rowan will be attacking the 4 Day Traverse and is part of the As Good As Pros wider training group.

In their own words, here’s their Pioneer story to date….
 
The name may not be completely accurate, we are a couple of stock standard blokes always keen to test ourselves, the podium isn’t our aim rather bragging rights that we survived! We are both really excited by the challenge as well as the opportunity to explore some new parts of the South Island.
 
We have both been riding for 15+ years and have dabbled in XC and Downhill Enduro racing.
 
Damo has recently returned from Perth, Western Australia where hills are scarce, the last two months have been a trial by fire in terms of proper hill riding. Paddy is a Christchurch local so is providing the young bull some key lessons in gaining elevation and respecting your elders.
 
Training hasn’t exactly gone to plan with injuries and work commitments getting in the way of the team becoming real medal contenders………or that is our excuse anyway!! We have been lucky in the fact that injuries have been muscle related with backs and hips taking the medals in the race for line honours. Regular physio at Optimal Performance has now got us both back to 100%. Bike set-up is also a work in progress with hand numbness sneaking in for Damo during longer duration rides.
 
Training to date has been focused in the Port Hills, Kennedy’s trails then linking up with the Flying Nun for a bit of reward during the week and venturing further out onto the Banks Peninsula with rides from Little River to Wainui providing some great meters to get the legs screaming.
 
Heading into the race we will be looking to hit up a few of the longer duration races including The Bridge to Bridge, St James Epic and the Bannockburn Gutbuster, Paddy and Rowan are breaking ranks to do a return trip of Queen Charlotte track in November. During December we have some awesome missions planned including Oamarama to St Bathans, Old Ghost Road, sections of the Alps to Ocean and Oamarama to Hawea.