Na-Palm Returns to DH Stradling an Intense
SOL VISTA, Colorado (derailedonline.com) - All eyes are on the US National Championships this weekend at Sol Vista, Colorado. This is why! Competing for the first time in 12 years is the man that gave DH the image it is today, Shawn Palmer. Palmer, Na-Palm, returns to DH racing after 12 years of "retirement" competing in other extreme sports.
What makes is return to DH racing even more interesting is that he will be riding an Intense 951. The brand of bike that he helped make famous with his 1996 Worlds race upon a Stars and Stripes painted Intense bike. While being a Specialized rider in the years after that, he is most known for helping Intense to be the icon it is today in the downhill racing arena.
Palmer gave DH it's cool factor. He was the complete antithesis of the calculated and dominating Nico Vouilloz with his wild hair cuts, tatoos, and copious amounts of hard rock/heavy metal influence. After over a decade absence from the sport, Palmer finished 2nd last weekend at the California Golden State Championships in Fontana. He is planning to use mountain bike racing as training for his attempt later this year at a spot on the US Olympic bordercross team.
Palmer has this to say about his return to DH; "I have always done better in my sports when I stayed involved in two or three at a time. The worst thing for me is for my bad brains to sit around idle. I have to stay busy and the panic of racing downhill will keep me sharp and help me to achieve my olympic dreams", says Palmer. " Of course, I miss being at the races and I miss the fans but mostly I miss hanging out with my friends, especially Peaty."
At 40 years old, Palmer has some high goals but his track record proves that age isn't much of a factor. Will this mean he's back to the sport he set afire over a decade ago. In Palmers own words: "let's just haul ass this season w/o me smashing my nuts. See ya'll at the races!"
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Posted on Jul 16, 2009 22:03:10 -0400 by Brady.