What about the team dynamics? How does it feel to be getting beaten by Troy Brosnan this season?
It doesn’t worry me too much, I get on well with Troy. He’s a fair bit younger than me, and he’s doing well so he’s obviously full of himself at the minute (laughs). I know that I’m on a bit of a downer at the moment, so I’m kind of happy for Troy you know. I think if I’m riding at my highest level I can lift my game, but Troy has a lot of determination and he’s a great racer, he’s good at focusing and putting a solid run together and he tries really hard. But I’m still not too worried.
You’re not a kid anymore yourself, but one thing we’ve noticed about all your teams is you’ve always played second fiddle. Firstly to Steve Peat at Orange, then Greg Minnaar at Honda and now Sam Hill at Specialized. How does it feel that you never get to be the main man yourself?I do think about it, and yes, I think it affects me in a way. That’s just how it’s always been for me, and you’re right, it is hard to deal with. It’s pretty annoying as you really want to be the top dog yourself, and so far I haven’t been able to be yet. Last season I got a taste of it, being the team number one, when Sam was out injured for the whole year, and it felt better to be honest, I enjoyed it and then it also led to having some of my best results. I don’t know why. As for being the main man on a smaller team, the reality is I always have to think about the best bike and the best team for me, and that’s been my priority. There are certain bikes I definitely don’t want to ride for example.
In terms of training, you often hear about so–and–so putting the work in, and now they’re getting the results. Aren’t certain people just better athletes than others naturally? Some little kids can run faster than others, and some have better balance and can react quicker than others. Can someone like you ever pedal as fast as someone more physically suited to it?I’ve never really thought about it that hard. I was always a bit of an all–rounder at school, football and cricket and stuff, but I suppose some of the riders with less sheer power output might never cut it as a professional 4X rider or BMX racer. In DH there’s so many different aspects to it that it’s much more even. It’s also to do with technique and skill, and loads of riders with different physiques have been successful, from stocky and powerful like Gwinny or Sam, to tall and athletic like Greg or Peaty. A mixture of shapes and sizes can do well, but it’s definitely linked in to how much preparation and training you put in. I came from a background of dirt jumping and DH, and that was it. I mean I only even went on an XC bike in the last few years, it just wasn’t something I ever did, going on long rides or anything. But I’ve got to say I love that stuff now, and that’s pretty much all I do in my free time now is ride XC and a bit of dirt jumps. Getting the thrill from ragging the XC bike on the limit instead.
Your technique and style – it looks effortless. Did you realise you had this style when you were younger, and was there anyone who you thought looked good enough for you to want to copy?I’ve honestly never looked up to anyone racing downhill, or had any DH riders I’ve copied. I’ve always just ridden my bike how I want to ride and how it feels to me at the time while I’m doing it. I come from just riding jumps all the time, and admired dirt jumpers to look at, so if anyone…just them or motocross racers. I never looked at Steve Peat when I was a kid and said, ‘oh I want to ride like Steve or I want to ride like Sam’ or anything. I was never interested in that. I looked at how Olly Wilkins was on mountain bikes and then amazing BMX riders like Mike Aitkin. I wanted to ride my jump bike stylishly like that. I suppose I haven’t ever spoken to people directly about what looks good, but friends have said how it’s not boring to watch me ride, there’s always body language, stuff going on, things to watch, which I guess is bad for me in pure race terms because I might just get a bit too loose and sketchy (laughs).
Who’s actually got the biggest whips nowadays – you, or has Danny Hart overtaken now?
Are you trying to insult me (laughs)? That man can do a big whip for sure but maybe it’s the clips, cause I would have to say mine have more style and go a bit bigger (ha ha)… It’s weird, that stuff has never really been a vanity thing for me, it just feels good, if you know what I mean. I do them 100% just because it feels rad, and it feels like I’m relaxed back at home riding. Now and then I play up to the crowd and piss around – I mean you’ve got to – but just mainly so when I land I’ve got a good buzz on and a bit of a grin on my face.
I’m not really into doing the jumps in my race runs ike Cedric (Gracia) might. It’s opposite ends of the spectrum for him and me I reckon, it isn’t a bad thing, but he does it purely for that reaction and for showboating. People love Cedric though, and it’s what’s got him where he is today.
One of the other best things on the bike for me is just hitting a turn too hot. You’re coming in and you don’t know whether to brake or not, I mean you ought to, and you end up not bothering and you hit it right and just feel it you know, when you pop and the exit speed is amazing.
Are you aware of what the grip is doing in the turn in any moment, compensating for things changing, and constantly assessing it whilst it’s happening, or just smashing it and pushing through it?Well that’s the funny thing…I’ve started to think about it…
…and that’s a bad thing?
Dunno, I guess it might be, I’ve definitely started to think about my speed over a whole run and what I’m doing while I’m riding. I’ve started thinking about – should I spot certain braking points, things to remember on the course, what’s that certain turn going to be like at the end of the day, or how deep those bumps and holes are going to get? And I just never used to bother. I think there’s a lot of things you can consider, but at the end of the day when I’ve ridden the best I haven’t thought about any of that, it’s always been me just riding my bike and I’ve stayed ignorant to all that stuff and it’s not mattered. So I don’t think for me personally worrying about any of that stuff does me any favours.
Just keep it instinctive and natural?Yeah, exactly, that works best for me. Especially at the moment with everything that’s going on, I don’t really want to assess my riding too much and analyse little bits of it, I really just want to ride my bike more.
Are you going to re–evaluate your season after Mont St Anne and Windham if things don’t get better, or are you going to race the World’s regardless and give the rest of the season a go?Well I’ve got to qualify for the Worlds first! So I’ve got to get a top ten World Cup result or win national champs to guarantee a place and that’s obviously not happened yet. So it’s extra pressure for me, and for the last five or six years it’s something I’ve not ever had to think about. I’ve been lucky. Whatever happens, this winter I just want to go back to California where the weather is good and I can ride and train full time. I had kind of half had a trainer this last winter, but this time I need to be fully on it, so I’m going to have a full time trainer working with me. I’m still signed to Monster next year and I just want to win World Cups. I want to be back in the game, I want to be back in that top three every weekend and I’m not interested in anything else.
