Yeah our second favourite sport after the bikes is jumping into and playing in rivers. The two compliment each other perfectly. We are lucky enough to have great rivers up here, they all have waterfalls into deep pools prime for a flop. That’s the main problem with racing in France, poverty, rubbly rivers.

With every family holiday as I grew up being on a boat it definitely plays a part. I do admire a fine vessel and the fun starts when things get rowdy in a tight river. The boys have never got into kayaking like many others around here and instead keep it original, a set of pants and a one–man dinghy does it for the Dudes.

Yeah, basically. Leaving home in Fort William and heading out for a three month trip around the races in Europe. The life changing purchase of the Sachs 25cc Koala Scooter and the ups and downs of van life provide most of the action. The catch phrase throughout the summer was “Fuck it Boys, we’re off to Sweden” and when we were driving down the hill from the Val di Sole World Cup in the old van looking at the map, we realised that the squiggly line to Sweden more than stretched to home and back to Italy again. Things nearly fell apart right then. The catchphrase was said one more time and so we trucked for the next five days until we made it to our end of season treasure. A camp fire in the Bay of Bothnia, with a calming swim greeted us for three weeks pikeying around this foreign, Scottish–like, land. A feeling of being constantly diddled on the exchange rate meant plenty of nibbles while doing the shopping, Ferg ate 36 sausages in one shop and Liam filled the water drum up with coke from MacDonalds on another. Many a river to jump into and many a new trail to explore. This was what it was all about, an unfeasibly inaccessible trip with three great friends. I am just pleased we got the camera out a few times and now have The Movie to watch and remember forever.

After our first season of episodes, the bike sites were rife with homemade low budget (like ourselves) episode style videos and it was time to make a change. To be fresh is the most important thing for us and so ‘The Movie’ was devised. Since then, we have had projects like ‘Mega Vision’, a daily update of all the goings on at the Mega. A hit single for our Christmas Number One campaign and back to the classic episodes with Episode 7. Got to keep it fresh.

They are both from Corpach, yes. Ferg is basically ‘The Flipping Boy’! He has raced DH with me for years now. Was 59th in the World Cup series and has numerous Scottish title wins. First to send the bug stuff and not shy of a drop–to–flat. He inspires any ride with something you can’t believe – a night ride on a carbon XC hardtail with an Exposure joystick on the bars, sending all the jumps on the Fort William 4X track. This somewhat calculated incalculable madness is contrasted with a love for building and a work ethic to get the job done. His own house extension is just finished and it’s on to the next project. Liam is a bit younger and is at University just now doing the mountain bikers degree, Mechanical Engineering. Perfectly located for a good winters training. Liam always turns up with legs of steel and an unrivalled love for bikes. Always coming up with comedy ideas, Liam’s lining up his next project, the tandem skis ready for a tandem flip this winter. I just hope I am not drafted in for this one.

In some ways true. In every SDA from the age of 16 to 19 I got a frustrating second. Then conquered Scotland, winning many a SDA and also the Scottish Champs twice. It took me another year to do well in Britain, finally getting my first National win in 2008. I was eighth in the British ranking for the next three years. World Cups have always eluded me, and a 26^th is my best result, but I do feel I didn’t reach my full potential in DH.

Yes, five wins was a good start, but mechanicals halted me in Europe this year. Jammed chain at the Mountain Of Hell, eventually getting 9^th. Puncture in Mega quali, starting in row four in the final to get 15^th and a puncture at the Enduro of Nations. A mixed season, but with good dominance at home and as my first full Enduro season. I learnt a lot.>>