Word to the wise, the locals were wearing DH leg and arm armour. They are not wimps, they are smart. It was know then as the cheese grater. That is not sand on the trail, it is coral and it will cut you up like a razor. I got a wonderful gash on my knee.
Locals also load up on bug repellant, so follow their lead.
Use protection and enjoy the trail. The novice trail was a good mix with a lot of tight turns and twists. You get good on these and you will not stay a novice. The trail is real tight in some sections and it is eay to hang a handlebar going through there. I take issue with the one reviewer that commented there were AHs there on the weekend.