What were you expecting start of the year last year?
So, start of the year I didn’t really have any expectations, I just wanted to try and qualify at every round at World Cups and then top ten BDS, they were my initial goals. Then the first race I did, I was fifth at Nant G and my goals suddenly changed.
It was just a snowball effect from then on – I just bounced from one result to another and it got real good by the end of the season!
Which result stands out for you as the best?
The standout was probably Fort William qualifying. In my run I caught someone up and I was stuck behind him for a while and then I burped my tyre at the bottom so I had like 10 psi to the line. I qualified tenth and that was my second ever Elite World Cup. Holy shit. You normally have to have a pinned run to get top ten and somehow I managed to do it with all that going on.
How does it feel to be BDS champion?
Pretty crazy actually! I was junior champion last year and that was pretty sick and now doing it back-to-back is mad. I never really thought it at the start of the year. I’m definitely going to do some BDS next year but I’m not sure I’m going to do the full series. Sometimes I’d feel pretty fatiugued because I’d raced a National beforehand but I’m definitely going to do the first few because they’re such a high standard.
When did Trek first approach you?
It was quite a weird one really. After National Champs they followed me on Instagram so I was like: “oh here we go” and then we didn’t hear anything for a while.
When I used to ride for Dirt as a first year junior, Jonesy had sent an email to Dan Brown asking if he had any space and they said no. Then Browny actually replied to that email again from about three years ago saying they’d like to have a chat.
How well do you know the Athertons?
Before this year I’d not really spoken to them. I obviously knew who they were and I’d always watched them growing uo so now to be on the same team is pretty crazy.
What are they putting in the water in South Wales?
Yeah, it’s mad really that there are so many fast people around this area. I ride a lot with Matt [Walker] and when we go practicing it’s pretty lethal. We say we’ll just take it steady and then third run in we’re going absolutely flat out.
I think it’s really good becuase if you’re riding with people like that all the time, I’m pushing him, he’s pushing me and it just makes you go faster, it’s ideal.
How’s the new bike?
I’ve got my new downhill bike and I’ve had a few sneaky practice days where no one was allowed to see me on some pretty secretive tracks that the Athertons have built. I’m still on the 650 but I’d like to try the 29er.
