Unit's Canadian DH champion Claire Buchar as wrapped up a successful three months with a bronze medal at the ICU World Downhill Championships in Switzerland at the beginning of September.

Buchar battled through deteriorating weather and track conditions to finish third in the Pro Women's class behind Emmeline Ragot and Rachel Atherton on one of the most technical, steep tracks of the year.

"The rain came hard on Saturday afternoon and through Sunday, and I had a pretty big crash in practice the morning of the finals where I may have broken or dislocated my pinky finger," Claire says.

"The track was the gnarliest I’ve ever seen it, just getting eroded and lots of slippery shale slabs coming through. It seemed to be ridden in more this year too and hard-packed in sections so it was harder to break through and form ruts to help guide you down.

"I decided that if I just toned it down a little, rode smart and stayed on I could get a good result, but I didn’t expect to finish third!

It was so scary andat moments,I felt like just hanging on like superwoman."

In the Junior Men's class Unit-sponsored teenager Brandon Yrttiaho placed 21st, while current Oceania DH champion Rhys Willemse placed 41st in the Pro Men's division.