Q&A
Q: What do you love about the downhill sport?
Sam: I love the freedom and the sense of achievement the sport gives me. There is nothing else quite like pinning my bike over steep, rocky terrain as fast as possible. Once you start from the top there is only you and the track. It is a few brief minutes when you are totally focused on one thing only. Trying to nail every line and getting some great drifts is awesome. There is no other feeling like it. You get to see some awesome countryside and you’re out in the fresh air, to boot. You’ve got to love that!
Q: What strategies and training do you use?
Sam: I really don’t have any strategies other than staying relaxed before a race. I wont think about the race until I’m in the starting gates and the clock is running down. At that point I just think about getting as much speed as possible.
I’ll always walk up a course and pick out the lines I will try before I ride it. I then put in a couple of mid pace runs. I might stop a few times to recheck lines. Then I do a few practice runs where I’ll do sections of the track as fast as I can. I’ll never ride the whole track flat out. I don’t like to over practice a course. Some people may think that’s lazy, but its just the way I approach the race. I do what feels comfortable. I then find other things to do, like watching the juniors or getting myself something to eat. I don’t listen to music or watch videos to get psyched. I’ve never found that necessary. I like to relax and reserve my energy and I wont think about the track again until race time and I’m in the gates.
I know this “lack-of-practice” can frustrate some photographers because it limits their photo opportunities, especially if I’m on the course early in the day. I don’t mean to be difficult, it is just what I need to do to get the job done.
Training is varied. In the off-season I don’t ride my dh bike much at all. This is so when I go back to the world cup season I feel fresh and I’m keen to ride. Training in Australia is mostly moto riding, either socially or competitively. I find this is good for my fitness and I enjoy it. I also play a bit of golf and go surfing when I can. Doing anything physical is beneficial and keeping my activities varied, and doing the things I like, keeps me motivated. In January I get out my XC bike and add this to my other activities. I mostly ride alone, but it’s also fun if I can find someone to ride with. I might also enter one or two national DH races to gauge my fitness level.
I don’t do a lot of gym work or weights training or hours on an exercise bike. I haven’t had a gym membership for some time. I may not be as strong as some of the guys who can power through the pedally sections, but I seem to do ok. By March I begin to be more careful about what I eat. I make healthier food choices and cut back on the amount I drink, not that I drink a lot normally. I don’t have a strict training programme. My coach Scott Sharples sets me up with a programme that works for me with the things that I like to do. I pretty much do what I enjoy, and what I feel is necessary. This may be unorthodox but it works for me.
Once I’m overseas I get back into downhilling with training, practice runs and, of course, the races themselves. There are times when there is a race every weekend. I don’t do a lot of training then what with travel, practice and races, there just isn’t time. When I can, I still do a bit of moto.
Q: What sort of DH tracks do you like to race?
Sam: Anyone who has seen me ride will know I prefer the steeper, more technical runs. I’m a smaller guy so I don’t have as much power as other riders on the flatter, pedally sections, although I am trying to address this weakness in my riding. In the last couple of years some tracks have been more difficult and technical. It may be a trend to where DHing is going, I don’t know. I’d like to see more tracks like that. I feel our sport really is meant to be like this and you may find many of the riders prefer it this way. I also prefer a course that is more natural; a track that gets cut through forest and every rock, root and stump is left. I prefer this to a trail that has had many of these obstacles removed. I can’t see the point of that. It just makes it too easy. Of course, there is always room for different styles of tracks. Riding through the streets of Lisbon is always fun.
Q: With so many riders/teams trying to find out what you are doing, do you have to change your tactics?
Sam: As has been documented in the past, there are times when I feel I can’t practice the lines I will use in the qualifying and final runs. I might get a couple of goes at them if I get on the course early enough. I’ll then use different lines in these sections for the rest of practice. Luckily it hasn’t harmed my race runs so far, but it is frustrating. We are all elite riders. Everyone should be able to find their own lines by this level.
Q: How well do you get along with the other downhill riders?
Sam: On the whole we are all pretty friendly. We all have the same love for MTBing and we are all in the same situation with airports, living out of suitcases and having travel hassles. We have much in common and can empathize with these circumstances. We also have respect for each other’s abilities. There is competitiveness, but that is generally kept to the race track. My team and I are all pretty quiet and low key so we tend not to go to after parties as much as some of the other guys
Q: Do you have much to do with any of the other teams?
Sam: I don’t have a lot to do with other teams. Sean, my manager sets up our accommodation, which can sometimes be away from the main village. Then we have our own tent in the pits. Sean will deal with sponsors and related details. Jacy works on the bikes and I just chill and chat to people. Maybe do a few signings. Sometimes the race organizers will have the top guys do a signing together after the race, but that’s not often the case.
Q: Do you think you have one of the best jobs in the world?
Sam: Quite possibly. I love the riding and the races. I’m lucky I can do something I have a passion for and get paid to do it. The hours are great and I get on well with my “workmates”. And I can’t complain about the office view. I have a reserved and quiet nature, and may sometimes come across that I’m not enjoying myself or I’m not happy to be there. That’s far from the truth. I am one of a privileged few who get to travel the world, ride bikes and get cheered to the finish. I appreciate all the work done by the organizers and I’m grateful to all the people who come to watch and give the event a great atmosphere. Riding down a hill with a crowd cheering is awesome. However, there are downsides. By the last few weeks of racing, all I want to do is come home. I’m tired of airports, hotel rooms and questionable food. The traveling sounds exciting, but in reality, its not.
Q: What is your biggest motivation to ride DH?
Sam: I love the competition and the challenge every race brings and I love the feeling I get from pinning some great lines. I also like to put personal challenges on myself and the feeling of satisfaction I get when these are achieved. The competition and these challenges and participating in a sport I love, all keep me motivated.
Q: Is there anything you dislike about what you do?
Sam: I don’t enjoy being in airports or flying. That’s probably the worst thing. I spend so many hours in the air that at times it feels I spend more time traveling than riding. Being away from home, family and friends for six/seven months is also hard. The riders living in Europe and the US get opportunities to drop home during the season. That’s just not possible when you’re a 22+ hour flight from home. The food is not always the best. It takes a bit of getting used to ham and cheese for breakfast. And I don’t recommend a 6-month diet of take-away. I also find it difficult to give interviews. I don’t think I’ll ever be comfortable doing that.
Q: Do you ever think you’d get bored with racing/riding DH?
Sam: I don’t think I’ll ever get bored with DH riding. It is too much a part of me. Racing, on the other hand, is something different. I love the competition and the opportunity to race against world-class riders, but the lifestyle and travel is not my favourite. If I could do all my racing here at home, the world would be perfect. That’s not the case, of course, but don’t think I’m about to give it all up! I can put up with the travel for some time yet.
Q: If you weren’t racing Pro downhill, what would you be doing?
Sam: Sitting back on my verandah and getting fat! To be honest I don’t really know. I’ve wanted to be a professional rider for what seems forever. At school I was told to give up my pipe dreams and concentrate on a real job. I guess if I wasn’t racing I’d still be involved in the industry; track designing or bike building or whatever. I’ve always loved MTBing. I’d want to be involved in some way.
Q: Do you get to choose your parts/gear or are you limited to only what is offered by your sponsors?
Sam: I have a choice on what I use, and I only use what I feel comfortable winning on. A few of my sponsors make me some different things that will suit me better, and I take a lot of time with Jacy to set my bike up properly for myself. I have longer pins on my pedals for extra grip, and my bars are wider. I helped design the FUNN stem I use. The shocks are custom built for me. Different tyres are trimmed to my preferences. I’m allowed input into my clothing and I designed the Sam Hill 5.10 shoes. As far as I’m concerned, I have the best bike out there.
Q: Who is your mechanic?
Sam: Jacy Shumilak. He’s an awesome bloke and we get on really well. He and I have been with IH since 2003. He knows my bike to perfection. I’d want Jacy with me where ever I went. If you ever meet him give him a tickle. haha (Sorry Jacy, I had to!)
Q: When did you first get into MTBing?
Sam: I’ve ridden bikes for as long as I can remember but I first got competitive on MTBs when I was 12. I didn’t know about downhilling really until I was taken to a local event at the Goat Farm. I had a go and loved it.
Q: With your style of riding do you think you could perform just as well on a different bike?
Sam: I’ve ridden a variety of bikes in the past, particularly before I became professional. I’m not sure they affected my style to any great degree. I certainly like riding the IH Sunday and I guess that helps. When you are happy and confident in the equipment you can perform at your best.
Q: What was the first bike you ever owned?
Sam: I don’t remember the make of my first bike but I had the opportunity to customize the hell out of it. I was about 4 or 5 and painted it up with about 20 different colours and had a piston welded to the frame. I thought it was the most awesome thing ever. I’ll have to see if there is a relic photo of that!
Since then I’ve had heaps of different bikes. I had a few BMX bikes up until I was 12 when I got my first MTB. It was my brother’s old Shogun Trailbreaker. I don’t think that lasted long. After that I had a performance frame that got built up. I cracked that bike about 100 times before I got my first real downhill bike at 14. It was a Craftworks dhr. It was a pretty cool bike. In 2000 I had a Cortina and that thing looked sick. I raced it in the 2001 World Champs. In 2002 I got given a bike from Intense. It was an M1 and was all factory looking.
Since 2003 I’ve had nothing but Ironhorses and I’ve helped develop the Sunday that I race on now.
Q: What is the favourite part on your current bike, and on previous bikes?
Sam: Well, you’ve gotta love the paintwork that Troy Lee did on my Sunday for the 2007 Worlds. The guys did an awesome job, much better than my attempts at five. As to having a favourite part, that’s not something I’ve thought about much. Maybe because I designed the head stem bracket it has a special place. If I had to choose one thing though it would be my suspension. It still blows me away how much stuff I can get away with on a bike with good components.
Helmets too are kinda special.
Q: What’s on the table for the ‘09 Sunday?
Sam: My bike will have some cool new colours that I am excited about. It is going to look pretty damn factory. I have some new, really cool blackbox stuff going on in the suspension that is awesome. I’m looking forward to racing on that. Other than that I think everything is pretty much the same as last year.
Q: Do you enjoy other types of riding besides DH?
Sam: By the end of the race season I don’t want to see another bike with pedals for a while. But come the New Year I love nothing more than riding the trails at home or around Nannup and Dwellingup on my XC bike. My DH bike only comes out now and again if I have a race. Or sometimes there’s filming or there is a crew over doing testing. I have an IH road bike so I can vary my training but I’m not very fond of that style of riding. I have so many great trails on my doorstep that I don’t need to go on the road.
Q: How do you ride so fast in the wet?
Sam: I never think, “Damn, it’s raining.” There is still just me and a track and a stopwatch. I don’t start thinking I will do anything different other than maybe a change of tyres. I guess it all comes down to knowing what I can do and just going for it. I live in the hills area of Western Australia, which has some pretty slippery ground. You may have heard of pea gravel? You learn balance and how to handle a bike on this surface very quickly or you spend a lot of time in the dirt. I don’t know, but maybe this surface assimilates well to wet conditions. Fortunately, without the mud.
Q: How did you get so fast around corners?
Sam: Here I think picking the right line is important. The right line will allow you into and out of a corner quickly. Do some experimenting with different lines. Pick a line you wouldn’t normally consider and see what happens. It will be a bit of trial and error for a while. I also think riding pea gravel has had its benefits here. You learn to stay balanced and in control. The feeling of a good drift is awesome. I also like to push the limits of my tyres and see how fast I can take a turn.
Q: Why do you see lines no one else does?
Sam: That is something you’d have to ask the other riders, although, I guess I have always made different choices. I have always tried to look for different lines and find out which is fastest and smoothest.
A track is usually a couple of metres wide, not just a couple of feet. There is plenty of choice. It basically comes down to thinking outside the box.
Q: Do you have more faith in yourself or your bike?
Sam: I have total faith in my bike or I wouldn’t attempt the things I do. I also know my own abilities and limitations. It is important to know your limits. If you push past your limits you’re going to crash. The quickest way down is not always the most reckless ride. It’s usually from making no mistakes by staying within your abilities.
Q: Do you have to be fearless to be a good DH rider?
Sam: I don’t think so. You need to be confident in what you can and can’t do. I rarely take risks. I know what I’m capable of and ride to those abilities. Occasionally I’ll have to take a riskier line or I’ll come into a turn a little faster than I should, but I’m not reckless. There is no fear when you know you can do it
Q: What’s your opinion of riding hardtails in DH?
Sam: Hardtails are a great fun ride. And back when DH started, that was pretty much all there was. I don’t think I’d like to be doing the tracks I ride now on a hardtail, though. I don’t think it would be physically possible to be competitive on one at this level. Hardtails are a great option for minimal cost. If it gets people out riding and loving a sport, it’s got to be good.
Q: What do you do with your old parts and bikes?
Sam: Most of the parts get used up or saved for a rainy day. I get to do whatever I want with my bikes after the season and I usually sell them when I don’t need them any more. I have kept the bikes that I have won the World Champs on though. I also keep every helmet I get and have them around my house.
Q: What is your opinion on the Australian Team (incl. Scott S.) and their success on the world stage? How do you think they rate against the rest of the world?
Sam: Australia has a really strong depth of riders. There are some talented guys at the top now and a lot of talent moving up as well each year. Scott Sharples has played a huge role in the success of downhill in Australia. I think we are one of the strongest countries for sure.
Q: Who do you think will be the next big Australian rider?
Sam: That’s a tough one. There are always fast juniors stepping up so it could be anyone really. Sean O’connor has shown some really good speed.
Q: What’s your favourite food?
Sam: I love Mexican and hot chilies. There is a place called El Ranchito in California that does the best burritos any where. While home I get cravings for them.
Q: What is your favourite beer?
Sam: I’ll probably be accused of being very un-Australian, but I don’t like beer. I usually drink Scotch or Tequila, with mixers.
Q: How many cans of Monster Energy do you drink?
Sam: This will sound like a sponsor’s plug, but in all honesty I love the stuff. I’ll usually have a can before I go to the moto track or on any long XC ride. I like the flavour and it helps to maintain my energy levels. I’ll also have one during dh practice and before my dh finals. I’m not sure how many cans that would be each week, since I don’t have any set routine.
You can’t buy Monster in Australia so I have to get slabs freighted over. It is always a sad day in my house if it runs out. Once I’m back overseas, supply is no problem.
Q: Why are you never featured in the New World Disorder movies?
Sam: ha ha. You’d have to ask them that.
Q: What is your thought on illegal DH tracks? Should riders go out and build/ride illegal tracks since the councils aren’t building any?
Sam: That’s difficult for me to answer. I can hardly publicly encourage something that is deemed illegal. Fortunately I live in an area with access to lots of council approved trails so I don’t feel the frustration that I’m sure some riders do. Especially if they are below driving age and can’t get themselves to tracks further from home. Personally, I don’t think getting on the wrong side of your council is going to get you tracks any faster. It may even slow up the process. It comes down to your personal situation and a decision on how far you are willing to bend rules and whether or not this would be more detrimental than beneficial.
I think that in the not too distant future, government, and thus councils, will have to be pro-active in limiting the effects of global warming by encouraging more cyclists onto our roads. Recreational cycling will be a large part of that. This will mean that councils will have to supply the necessary facilities and infrastructure to make that happen.
Now, while I have everyone’s attention, I’d like to thank a few people. My parents and family for always encouraging me and helping me to get to where I am now. My cycling club at Melville/Fremantle who fund-raised to get me on my way. Sean for keeping the team a smooth working outfit. Jacy for the magic he performs on my bike. Scott for encouragement and training advice. To my sponsors for accommodating my requests and supplying me with the components that make up one awesome machine and the gear so I look the business. To the behind-the-scenes people who make the world circuit possible and the races operate. And finally to you Farkers who sent in these questions. I’m kinda surprised, and very humbled, by the amount of interest that people have shown in what I do. I’m just one lucky sod who gets paid to do something he loves. I still enjoy riding in the small, locally run races as much as the high-profile world level events, if not more. It is the grass roots riders who are the backbone of this industry and without you there would be no need for a “World Champion” and I’d be out of a job.
Thank you all.