TransNZ. It’s not really Trans New Zealand, more trans lower South Island of New Zealand, but it’s pretty much 75% of the best riding in the country. We’re talking native beech forests, big alpine backcountry, the grippest schist rocks, hero dirt bike parks, quintessential landscapes, and, of course, Queenstown. I think anything more would make an already logistical nightmare, look like a walk in the park, so fair play on the name.

It’s funny how the world works. My ex raced this event in 2016, I couldn’t go due to work commitments, and to be honest probably for similar excuses to now – it also seemed like a lot of cash to race trails I’d already ridden and raced locally. She befriended a racer, Christian, that year, and I’m grateful to call him a great friend too. We have had epic days all over NZ and even Whistler… and too many beers and laughs to count in between. A few months ago while catching the gondola of our local park, Skyline, he, said “I’m volunteering at TransNZ, it’s awesome, you should come take photos!”. “Ah yeah, sure, maybe.”. Next thing he’s typing an email to Megan the organiser, and before we reach the top, “Done, I sent it”. A few days later her reply was, “Awesome Todd, you’re in, what size jersey do you want?”

I tell you what I didn’t appreciate what it would mean until it was underway. I had torn emotions about the whole concept. Nervous, stressed, excited, and as usual thinking of all the negatives.

1. Hadn’t shot a single MTB photo in 12 months.
2. Six-year-old camera and laptop.
3. Almost zero time on the stead.
4. Not enough time to organise everything.
5. 18 days of non-stop. Tasmania with the boys, TransNZ, Dansey’s Pass Hard Enduro Loop, and a heli bike to wrap it all up.
6. One person I would know.
7. Uber busy at work.
8. Unpaid gig.
9. I’ve already shot these places, I’ve raced these trails, I’ve already blah, blah, blah.

That said I’ve made a conscious effort in the last few years to do things that scare me. These are things that mean a lot to me, deep in my being, that make my wheels turn, heartbeat, and the noise of everyday life fade away, but I also avoid them due to indecisiveness and overthinking, so I’m doing my best to ignore the negatives and keep focusing on what could go right. Boy does it pay off,  I’ve been having a time! Running marathons, backcountry skiing, learning Hard Enduro (dirt bike), converting my van into a toy hauler and home on wheels, investing in businesses, attempting Hard 75, frequenting the gym, eating healthier, and rounding it out by focusing on being more creative and less consuming, hence this article and trip.

Jump forward a couple of months. I’m franticly wrapping up work, fitting new tyres, forgetting to install valve stems, cutting rim tape, leaking sealant, charging cameras, and emptying memory cards, all while swearing like a pirate and packing everything but apparently a rain jacket. I do most of my best work at the last minute.

What followed was one of the best weeks ever.

DAY -1
A banter-filled drive to Craigieburn with Christian’s punk/metal playlist & Sanagas pies and coffee – forget Farlie, Cromwell is where it’s at baby. If you didn’t know, now you do. Followed by an evening spectacle for the volunteers while I got covered in sealant, gave up and fitted a tube.

It takes a lot of people to run a race like this

DAY 0
This was volunteer day, basically, we went for a ride. Kline (one of my all-time fav trails.), cheesy DH, and a fresh loamer too, chasing who I’m calling it now, a future champion – Xanthe, smooth, fast, a good down-to-earth level-headed human, and for all of just 16 years old.

First photo, hey it worked…as they say “just like riding a bike”, right.

This was followed by a racer briefing, and a glorious feed, oh, and it’s March 11th, my birthday no less. Hero dirt, luscious trails, frothy comradery, and delicious beers, birthdays can’t get much better.
Certainly better than my last birthday that started in the Craigieburns, also a very memorable time but for all the wrong reasons – a blown-up van, a broken elbow, and a house raided by heavily armed police officers. No joke!

DAY 1
Game day, started with a two-thirds charged e-bike, the plug got knocked loose overnight, doh! This made for a battle of conservation, but it didn’t stop the bangers or banter. Soo much froth from the riders. Radio chatter line of the day. “They’re chain-smoking their way around the course.” – love those Singaporeans, legends!

The Edge, lives up to its name and is always one to get the heart rate up with lots of no-fall zones.

Bubbles cutting his way through the Beech forest.

Technically out of focus, but I don’t care, great light, scenery, and a smile. Beat that.

Food & hydration is key for a happy support team.

DAY 2
About that rain jacket. Dam, did I get lucky. Heavy rain from 11 pm the night before right through to the first turns of my cranks on the way to the bottom of stage one, phew dodged a bullet, I think!

It was dark, dreary, and damp, my camera was set way past max ISO, everything grainy to high hell, and struggling to focus (again), but the weather couldn’t stop the smiles!

Not enough light? Panshots

Pete all smiles after a muddy day out on two wheels

Neo avoids the long line at the wash station, instead opting for a dunk and scrub in the ice skating rink

This wet cold and muddy morning of racing was followed by a long drive south to Queenstown and if you know me, I hate being a passenger, so yep. A shuttle driver for 6 hours, dinner, beers, and back into photo editing mode… Another red eye.

DAY 3
It was ridiculously fridged heading up my now local, Coronet Peak… All I could think was – look for the different and embrace the difficulty.

What resulted was one of my favorite shots ever. And it was from patience, calm, and perseverance.

A much-needed defrost and nap before the action started

Not Bad.

Xanthe flat out

Our glorious leader Megan

Big mountain

We got back to basecamp and the volly team wanted to ride McNearly Gnarly, an iconic Queenstown flow trail full of beautiful jumps and berms.. a few cans deep I obliged by finishing another on the pedal to the top. This followed up with a run-through mini dream, not once but three times, with a nasty case to boot. Sensible no, fun, yes.

DAY 4
Cardrona. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, best dirt in the country, ultra-grippy sandpaper-like schist mixed with damp alpine soil. Dreamy.

DAY 5
Lack of sleep is really kicking in here, but it’s Alex and Alex is a Thyme (terrible pun I know).
Also Woody was present, ensuring hilarity would be had.

That case came back to bite me, a blown spoke, and a big old flat spot to start the day. Made for a nice photo though.

Vollys know how to have fun!

Woody didn’t disappoint, scaring the internationals. Again.

Not an official race trail. but one hell of a backdrop with fellow squid Ewen

AI robot in hot pursuit

Courtnaey, our social media wizard, full-time frother, and an absolute shredder

If you are queasy, don’t look too hard. Yes, that’s a stick. In one side, out the other.

DAY 6
This was my eureka day, where all the dots connect, and the answer to why you do, what you do.

Now, I’ve been doing this Perfect Line thing for 13 years – by all accounts a late arrival to the party, I was like 23 years old shooting my first content – and very much an amateur for that first five. Things changed, and I got a bit more serious – published paid work started coming in, but along the way, I lost my why. I loved mountain biking, but I spent more time editing videos, shooting races, stressing about late bike shipments, chasing race events, and keeping other people happy. I was over it all. So I took a step back and focused on other things, hence the year off the tools, a much-needed reset and refresh.

Back to the race, I and fellow photographer Ewen were parked up on the same corner.

Ewen “Man I wish it was dusty, I would love a backlit shot, like this shot I’ve seen of Miranda Miller.”
“What shot? show me it”
Ewen taps away on his phone for a little bit…” Cairns”….
Flicks me the phone, “This one!”

By the way, this is the same six-year-old camera (Panasonic GH5), albeit nearly new then.

“Ha, no way! You’re f*cking messing with me, right? You know that’s my shot?”
“You what?!”
“Yeah, I took that at World Champs 2017!”

Now, Ewen’s a young bike mechanic and aspiring photographer from Scotland, living in Australia (at the writing of this article, he came to his senses and moved to Queenstown!). The fact my shot inspired another photographer – especially someone up and coming, blew my mind! This is exactly the reason I still shot, for enjoyment, for creative expression, and to light that fire for photography in someone else, it only fuels mine. Another slice of pie for the soul. Job done.

After party!

What a crew!

Burning the candle at both ends, a late night followed by 5.30 am photo editing, before hitting the road to a gnarly dirt bike trail ride.

Nothing like a heli bike to wrap up a birthday week, even better when it’s free, thanks Atlas!

Even better when it’s with mates!

So what did I learn? Don’t always listen to your mind, go with your gut, and do what feels right. Take that risk. Lifes made for living.

Six days of back-to-back racing, with the same frothy crew, on some of the best trails in the world. Just do it, trust me it’s worth every cent to race or unpaid minute to volunteer. By the way, I’m not advocating for the exploitation of photographers, don’t just give your content away, the gear doesn’t buy itself, and rent needs to be paid, but I feel I got my return on this one, sometimes a monetary transaction is not the be all end all.

Now what’s next? I can’t decide. I’m wrapping this article up while recovering from vertebrate fusion and a broken MCL/ACL, so the mind has had plenty of time to wander again…Kashmir skiing, Tasmania biking (this one was canceled, again), Alaska to Patagonia by dirt bike, a van tour of Europe sampling all my favourite activities. Who’s keen?

Cover photo: Ewen Mearns