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Nickname: McDreamy
Hometown: Brighton, MI
Age: A young 25
Birthplace: Ann Arbor, MI
Favorite Trail: Pisgah, NC…all of it! But if I had to pick only one, Black Mountain for sure.
Sponsors?
Bell’s Brewery, Quirring Cylcles, Louis Garneau, SRAM, Stan’s No Tubes, my ever-loving parents.
Favorite place to ride?
In a Land Before Time
Favorite place to race?
West Virginia holds a special place in my heart.
What sparked your interest in biking when you were young?
The feeling of freedom, pure and clean. I was addicted from the start.
When did you get into biking, and what form of biking was it?
My first bike was a two-wheeled 12-incher when I was three, named Dotty. That baby had sweet coaster brakes for extra long skids down the driveway. From there, it was into the BMX dirty dirty. Digging holes and jumping them anywhere I could. I became fully addicted to the MTB scene when I was 16, and have been ever since.
Have you had any serious injuries while riding or competing?
In a competition once, I broke my hand.
How long did it take you to get back on the saddle?
I was riding again 3 days after that, creating the world’s most rank and disgusting cast. Cut her off a few weeks early and went along my merry way.
Who are your favorite Riders?
In all seriousness, I respect anyone who pushes their threshold, no matter what class they race or ride in. Favorite riders are those who get dain.
What events do you plan on attending or racing this coming season?
Locally, all the Tailwind Series for sure. It’s good training for some bigger Triple Crown stuff. The Ore to Shore, Ice Man and the like as well. Might have to dig into the Enduro circuit too. Start with the Lumberjack 100, and possibly the Leadville 100 too.
What are the biggest podiums thus far in your racing career?
The box only stood 1 and half feet off the ground. How big are they where you are?
Is racing more mental or physical for you? Why?
Both. All XC races are obviously a physical challenge. If you do things right, the physical will bring you 75% of the way there. It’s the next 25% of the race that makes you a man. The only way through it is a sick mental game.
Do any other sports influence your biking or style?
I love soccer and snowboarding. The ball and foot requires precision and focus, so that crosses over to biking. Snowboarding is a release of freedom and pumping sick lines. Life is all about pumping sick lines.
What is your biggest goal for this coming season? And the following season?
This season, become the fastest man in Michigan. From there, I might have to work on a ride departing from the international space station. Keep ‘em lofty, right?
What do you do to occupy your time when you’re not on the bike, besides work?
Spending time with the ones I love. Snowboard trips and open men’s leagues where every dude you play relives the glory days and thinks it’s a World Cup semi-final match.
If you were to give one piece of advice to new kids on the block, what would it be?
Shit, I am the new kid on the block so don’t listen to me. If you set the goal firmly in your mind, work tirelessly to attain it. Eliminate the waste in life that might hinder such an achievement.
If you could ride you bike with an inspirational figure from the past or present, who would it be? What would you talk about?
Jesus, for sure. I would try to get him to do all the talking and I would just listen. I’m sure his stories are way cooler than my 25 years of meandering.
What is an aspect of your biking that you want to work on, or perfect?
Becoming more ambidextrous to start with. Line up lips with both left and right foot forward, having ideal body positioning in the hard whips and X-Ups. One footed corners, been practicing those as of lately. I’m still learning to judge the speed right to break both tires loose w/o the tapping the brakes.
