Back In The Day....

I got my first bike when I was 9. It was an old nobrand BMX that my dad and I build up from parts found in hard rubbish collection week. It lasted me 2 years and then I moved onto my first mountain bike. Not a big named bike, but good enough to do a few cross country races in. As it started to disintergrate bit by bit, I became more serious and soon came to my knowledge that I needed a much better ride. In 2004 I hooked up a great friendship with my local bike shop and they managed to get me a second hand Norco Bigfoot for AU$800. At the time I thought this was a bargain, but soon realised it would cost alot more than that to keep it in action with less than 5 of the original parts remaining on it. Riding this more seriously I entered a downhill open day for the fun, and thrill, and left wanting more. Realising that a short travel hardtail was not going to do, I worked my ass off for over a year and purchased myself a brand new 2005 Norco A-Line downhill race bike just under a year ago. With that I have seen my riding progress and improve every time I swing the leg over the bars to go for a ride. I hope to race every round in the coming Victorian State series as well as the King of Ballarat series, and hopefully one or two national rounds.

Goals for the Future

Finish Year 11 and 12 with a half decent result, ride more, work more, and play more.

Background Info

Im just a general 16 year old male teenage hormone throbbing boy who loves to get out on his bike and ride. I live in Wonthaggi, Victoria, which is in the grand old country of AUSTRALIA and I have a few close mates that also ride, and help me push the boundries of who I am. Im a volunteer firefighter at my local CFA brigade, and am also a volunteer Surf Life Saver at Woolamai Beach on Phillip Island and love both of them!

What Inspires Me To Ride?

My outlook on life is what I think drives me to compete. Although I haven`t competed all that much, I am dead set on competing more in the future as I personaly think that I am missing out on something that could change my life for the good or the bad. The reason I find I think I ride for is the freedom it gives me, to ride out into the unknown, push the limits, get the adrenaline pumping, cross the limits and think to myself 'wow, what a ride!' only to go back and do it again, and again, and again.

Music?

To me, music is a religion. Some people may like the music I listen to, others may not. To me a good song is a fast adrenaline pumping song that amps you up for that next set of doubles, or fits perfectly into your next homemade mountain biking DVD. Some of my music influences are Green Day , Vanilla Pod, Blink 182, Sum 41, Parkway Drive, Killswitch Engage, Silverstein and many many others!

When I'm An Old-Timer...

When I grow up I would like to have a job that has something to do with the sporting industry. Preferably in the bike industry. Although I would love to be a paid rider for a pro team one day, everyone must have a back up plan if their main one fails so I would also love to be a mechanic on a professional MTB racing team as it would be a great way to see the world, so if you need a mechanic in a few years time, remember the boy you once read up about on SponsorHouse.com

How Do I Manage?

From carwashing, window cleaning, broomstick making (yes... wtf?), to trolly boy, lifeguard and bike mechanic, I'v seen a fair few jobs come and go, and at the ripe age of 16, expect many more to come. 

What does my training program look like?

At the moment, its looking pretty cruisy, with nothing to serious or too punishing. I have a general outline for my training week, but it changes every month in relation to how close the racing season is. At the moment, with the racing season just over 3 months away, Im taining a few times a week. Here is a basic outlook.

Monday - Swimming Training (Aerobic and Recovery)

Tuesday - Run and Gym session in morning before school (Aerobic and Strength)

Wednesday - Work as lifeguard or mechanic

Thurday - Road ride (Endurance, Leg Power)

Friday - Gym Sesh and fun ride (Keeping it real and Strength)

Saturday - Road ride and work (Endurance, Leg Power, Money)

Sunday - Light ride or nothing at all except from fun ride (Recovery)

To be honest with you, I don`t realy have any competitive highlights as I haven`t competed that much as the area that I am from, is 200km from the nearest club and I am 16yrs old so I don`t yet drive. I have competed at the Schoolboys titles in XC and won that and progressed onto states and came 5th in the novice catagory. When the next year came around I got the exact same placings but also competed in my first 12hr enduro in a team of 4. At my second 12hr enduro our 4 man team won a prize as we were the youngest team at a bit over 15yrs old. I have also competed in a Solo 6hr Enduro and was about middle of the open age pack, when in the bottom half of the 4th hour, an old guy had a heart attack and karked it and the race got cancelled there and then. 

Another event I'v riden is the Long Gully DH open days and a few more ride days around the state which I find great fun and meet alot of others who I can get tips and hints from whenever I feel I need it. I have also competed in 2 state series races, finshing 36th in my first one and 18th in my second. Hopefully my improvement in positions will continue with future races to come! I sure feel it will!