‘Classic Aussie Nats’: What the favourites are saying about Mt Buller’s Downhill course

We’re two days into Downhill practice at the 2025 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships.

Mount Buller’s 1.8-kilometre “International” trail is challenging at the best of times. With sweeping berms, two road gaps, tricky rock gardens, off-camber corners and a super-fast finish, it’s a complete test of a rider’s ability.

This week, the trail is about as dry and dusty as it’s ever been.

We asked five top riders how they’ve found the course and what they think are the key sections. Here’s what they said.

'A lot of fun': Sian A’Hern

Canberra Off-Road Cyclists

"I'm really loving it. It's a kind of brutal course, actually – I'd say, a classic Aussie ‘Nats’. It's so dusty and loose up there. It's quite rowdy, but I'm having a lot of fun.

"There's a lot of sections that if you make a mistake or you’re slightly off-line somewhere, your whole speed for a section’s quite prohibited.

"I'm finding it really difficult in those little sections. But overall, I'm having a lot of fun. I feel like when you actually work for your speed here and are quite aggressive on the track, I'm starting to figure out my flow in the tracks a bit better."

'Speed is high': Jackson Frew

Canberra Off-Road Cyclists

"Blown. Out. It's been a very long time since I’ve ridden bulldust that thick before, but we're getting there. It’s sick.

"Speed is high. And actually a fair bit higher than I expected. They made a bunch of changes that I thought would slow it down, but we're still moving, so it's going to be good.

"It's a bit flatter once you get into the trees, and carrying your momentum is really important. The whole track’s going to be a challenge to really link. I think with how tight times are going to be, you’re going to have to be pretty perfect."

'Pumpy and flowy': Luke Meier-Smith

Giant Factory Off-Road Team / Manning Great Lakes Tip Riders

"The track's changing a lot. Pretty dry and dusty and getting pretty blown out, but I’m enjoying it.

"I think it's a track that suits me pretty well and sort of pumpy and flowy. Trying to carry my speed; a few slower turns, which are pretty crucial. Looking forward to seeing what I can do on Saturday.

"I probably think like the middle sort of section, the slower turns. It's easy to get caught up. And also at the top it’s quite difficult with how blown it is.

"So, sort of trying to be patient there and then executing that middle section and then on the gas down the bottom on the bottom and in the flowy turns. It’s going to be tough to piece it together. but I'm looking forward to it."

'Not one key section': Kye A’Hern

Kenda NS Bikes UR Team / Canberra Off-Road Cyclists

"Yeah, it's definitely a tricky track. I'd say it's technical to ride.

"There’s some tighter sections that are hard to carry speed and find flow through. And then there's a lot of rock. That top section is going to be one of the harder bits. It’s just inches thick of bulldust: hard to carry speed and carry flow.

"There's not one key section where it's won or lost. I definitely think it can be lost in the top very easily, if you don't carry good speed through those soft turns.

"But I think the key is going to be to carry good speed the entire way down. Not necessarily send one section really hard, but just find good flow from one section to the next and keep the speed going."

'Very dusty': Sacha Mills

Kooralbyn Valley MTB club

"It’s very, very blown out and very dusty at the moment. I think it's getting worse and worse every run, but it’s kind of fun.

"The top section: some people can go through it quite fast. Some people are struggling. I think I'm struggling a little bit at the moment. I’m getting there, but I think that's going to be the major  make-or-break section.

"Every corner, it’s just big holes of sandy dust. It’s just like ‘eurgh’ every time."

'Always changing': Troy Brosnan

Canyon Factory Racing / Inside Line

"I'm sure everyone's saying, but it's absolutely blown out. There's not much dirt left. A lot of rocks are getting exposed, but it is fun.

"It's always changing. The lines are good one run and then not there the next run. So, it's kind of hard to keep on your toes and be ready and looking forward, because it's constantly changing even between runs.

"If you can not get held up or checked up in any of the corners and just keep your momentum going forward, that's going to be the whole package. The whole thing is really hard to find your flow and go fast the whole way down, because you’ve got to generate the speed yourself. You can't just gain the speed."

The Downhill competition begins in earnest tomorrow with seeding runs in the afternoon.

Photos by Matt Rousu