Interview: Joe Smith

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Joe Smith 2009 Photo: Paul Mears

Joe Smith, he might not have the most Welsh name but this pinner from the “Land of the Dragons”, has one thing for sure and it’s that he certainly rides like a Welshmen…that’s firey, crazy fast and so many skills to boot. Joe took some of his downtime out to answer some choise Q’s from the Marsden, who answers to the name of Mike or anything else to care to call him, enjoy.

DW: Let’s break the ice with a few quick fire questions. What is your favourite…

Place to ride? Whistler

CD to drive to? Chase & Status, More than Alot

Beer? Magners (That’s a Cider Joe!)

TV Show? Top Gear

Picture on your wall? Steven Hamilton

DW: 2009 seemed like a pretty good season for you from where we are standing, how was it for you?

Joe Smith: Yeah it turned out quite good in the end. The first couple of races didn’t really go as planned but by the time we got to Fort William for the World Cup I was riding well and my results started to pick up. I managed to get some solid finishes at the two Canada World Cups and then I was looking forward to Schladming as I knew I was capable of doing really well there. I ended up finishing 17th which put me 26th in the overall. I also got to go to Chile and Japan with Kona which were really good experiences.

DW: And looking forward……what’s on your schedule for 2010, have you got any particular goals or areas of focus?

JS: Well for 2010 I’m really going to be focusing on the World Cup series and trying to finish consistently in the top 20. The tracks for next year all really suit my riding so I think that I could push for a top ten at one or two of the rounds. This should put me in contention for the World Champs team for Mont Saint Anne.

DW: Is it back on Kona for 2010 or is that still all to be confirmed?

JS: Yeah at this stage it’s still all to be confirmed, but I would like to stick with them.

DW: Looking at the World Cup schedule for 2010, how does it look to you? Is there any particular tracks that stand out as being big targets for you, or indeed any you would rather miss?

JS: I’m really looking forward to next year, there all tracks which I think ill be able to do well on. I’m looking forward to Champery, Val di Sol and Schladming most out of the World Cups. There all really steep and technical and when I’ve been to them before they have been really fun.

DW: There have been a couple of venues on this season’s circuit (South Africa, Canberra) that have held top class races without chairlifts.
Do you think we will ever see a WC event in the UK away from the chairlifts of Fort William?

JS: I would like to see a World Cup somewhere in Wales; I know we have the terrain to have an awesome track which would have aspects of everything to challenge the best riders. However the tracks we currently have wouldn’t be practical enough to host such a big event.

DW: What do you get up to in the off season, what’s your winter training schedule?

JS: After the season finishes, I usually leave my downhill bike in the shed for a bit and ride lots of motocross, BMX and trails and just have fun without having to worry about racing on the weekend. I’m going to be riding a lot of road and xc to help with my endurance and hit the gym a couple of times a week also to improve my strength.

DW: It’s fair to say that you have been one of the young guns spearheading the next generation of British DHers on the World stage over the last couple of seasons, does it still feel like that or do you feel like an old hand already?

JS: I still feel like one of the young guns as I have only just moved up into the elite category. 2009 was my first full season racing World Cups so I think I have learned a lot this year, but I also feel like I have loads still to learn in the next few years. I do however see the juniors doing their first world cups and I try to help them out with my experiences so far.

DW: Outside of riding bikes and racing bikes, what do you like to do to pass the time?

JS: I used to go Skiing with the family before I got serious about my racing, so I would like to start doing that again, also surfing is something I wouldn’t mind getting back into between racing. I went and watched the rally GB this year, that was so rad, watching the top guys going sideways through the trees at stupid speeds.

DW: Fast and open or tight and tech?

JS: A bit of a mixture is always good, fast and tech would be ideal if you could find it.

DW: Skinsuits or not?

JS: I’m not too keen on that debate. I think people should just concentrate on riding their bikes fast.

DW: If you were to do a training course for riders, what main aspects would you focus on? i.e. What do you think are the most common mistakes made by Joe Public?

JS: I think one of the main mistakes people make when they are riding is not looking far enough ahead and concentrating too much on where their front wheel is. Also body positioning is very important in making the bike as stable as possible.

DW: One of your predecessors on the Kona Team, Fabien Barel, is famous for customisation of his race steeds. Is there any special mods or secret components on your race bike?

JS: My bike is completely stock other than the paint job, I also have machined out rocker arms to save a little weight. You could buy the bike and it would be the same frame as I’m riding at the world cups.

DW: Time for the thanks, who could you not have got here without?

JS: My family has definitely helped me out the most, my mum has always been booking flights and accommodation, etc and my dad sorting my bike out and driving me to the races as well as all their support. Other than them I have to thank all my previous and current sponsors especially Kona for giving me the chance to go to some great new places and experience new cultures. Also my friends who I ride and train with; I always have good times riding and messing around with them.