| Tom Braithwaite Interview.... | |
Wednesday, 02 January 2008 |
An Interview with Tom Braithwaite: DHP gets the inside details on the UK's very own, future plans, life and more.
Pic courtesy of Phil over at www.gravity-slaves.co.uk
-Name
Tom Braithwaite
-Age
23yrs
-Job
Semi Pro DH Cyclist during the summer and work as a ropeaccess abseiler during the winter. Started a part time degree course at
-Home
Saddleworth - North East Manchester
- How or who got you into the sport of Mountain biking, then the Downhill side?
Two mates from school, Tom and Graeme, got me into riding. We spent 2 years jumping off walls and riding down steps on the most knackered Raleigh Max’s. They discovered girls and beer and I carried on with the bikes, they’re both still my best mates.
- How long have you been riding?
I’ve been riding since I was 13 and I started racing when I was 16 - came into it pretty late by some peoples standards.
- Hows your 07 season gone this year? I know you broke your elbow in Champery, did this play a large part this year?
This has been one of the toughest years of my racing career. In Spring I missed the first National and SDA at Inners as my hand was in traction for 5 weeks due to breaking my finger. Then like you said I dislocated my elbow in
- Many top riders seem to do alot of other disciplines well such as 4x, moto etc. Other than Downhill races, have you done any other events or sports this year that help?
I ride motocross when I can; more for the enjoyment of just being out with mates I race against every weekend but without the serious side of racing. As for 4X I’d love to do more, it’s good fun but without a backup team it’s difficult to fully focus on the downhill (which is my priority) when doing the 4X at the same time. I rode 4X practice a year ago in
- How has the world cup tour gone for you this year? Highs and lows?
Highs and lows is the best way to describe the way this year has gone I think, the lowest moment has definitely got to be when I dislocated my elbow at WC Rd 2 in
Pic courtesy of Jeff from www.monkeyspoon.com
- Tracks like Champery this year tested every rider to their limits, do you think tracks this hard should be the norm on the world cup scene? (I tried it in the wet this year... Bad idea.)
I did enjoy riding the track and I think the best riders in the World should be riding tracks which push the boundaries. However, safety and the weather should always be a consideration especially if they’re going to be part of the most prestigious race series in the World. That track was pretty unraceable in the conditions and those conditions are particularly common in the
-Since that race Sam Hill has gone onto the best scene a Dh racer has probably ever had, literally dominating every race he entered. Do you think, at the rate he's going, he can be caught?
I think the way Sam operates at races is inspiring and he is the best downhill racer at the moment, but he can be caught! I think Greg, Fabien and Gee will be his biggest threats in the year to come and Steve’s still there to be beaten!
-
Well yeah, I am ready for that. Before I dislocated my elbow I did actually meet the selection criteria for the World Champs. Hopefully I’ll have a bit more luck before the 2008 Worlds.
- Racing at an elite level, it's just as much a mental game as a physical one. What do you do to focus before the clock starts?
Yeah Elite is a total mental game. The fact is when your in Elite people are expecting you to get the fastest times of the day or at least not be slower than any other rider in other categories. You see a lot of fast riders come into Elite and crumbling under the added tension at the top of the hill. Instead of talking or joking around, people are sat on turbo trainers and listening to music. I’ve always been very focused on my riding and that atmosphere suits me just fine. Don’t really know what I think about at the top, just imagine myself pinning sections.
Foto: Phil Reed- gravity-slaves.co.uk
- I saw you racing at the Megavalanche this year, how did that turn out?
Ha, what a week. I really enjoyed the qualifier and came 5th - the highlight of that would have to be cutting up Eric Carter in the first corner. I’m sure I’ll not have the opportunity of pulling one of them on him again! The main event didn’t go so well, I got knocked off on the ice about 3 times and I think with it being my first race back after my elbow injury I just didn’t have the balls to pin it down the ice the way I should have. I just spent the whole race trying to battle my way through slower riders on single track. I pulled some pretty gnarly moves on riders down that track - thought I was going to eat shit for sure a couple of times.
- What do you think about the whole flat pedals revolution? Ever raced un-clipped?
I ride flats when I ride trails and I’ve raced downhill on flat pedals a couple times but don’t really feel like I’m racing when I’m not clipped in, so I’ve decided its clips for me all the way, from now on when racing. It’s just personal choice really. I think on SPD’s you need to plan your run a bit more, to decide where you’re going to take your foot off and if you do, then whether you’re going to be able to clip in again after.
- After a race are you first at the bar, out with the missus or first to bed?
Oh definitely out to the bar, find some chicks, drink some JD and Coke.
-Theres a bar brawl....who out of the World cup scene who would you want watching your back?
Rennie, Without doubt!
-Where do you class as your local ?(track not pub) Any riders you train with regularly?
Don’t really have a local downhill track; I have to travel about 2 hours to get to any decent downhill tracks. I do quite a bit of riding down in the
- Your dad is a very accomplished mountaineer and has also grabbed bronze at a masters world champs previously... How much good has it done for you to know that your parents are backing you in what you do?
Well he actually got Silver at the Masters World Champs! It’s the most important thing for me that I know my parents are fully behind me. I wouldn’t have got where I am without them and it’s good to have them there at the races to support me.
-How has Giant been as your first major sponsor, has the glory lived up to the hype?Any mod's or personal touches?
The frame I rode for Giant the past two years has been totally standard. It’s been a great two years for me, I’ve learnt a lot from riding for them and working with Rob Warner.
- For 08 have you done anything different to prepare?
I alter my preparation plan from year to year because I learn a little more about myself and what I need to do to be faster every year. It’s all top secret though, so if I told you I’d have to kill ya.
- Any new sponsors for the up and coming season?
Well that’s the big news for me for the 08 season, I’ll be riding for Factory Orange and am stoked to still be with Hope, Mojo, Raceface, E13, Maxxis, 661 and Crankbrothers. Riding for
- Where will we see Tom Braithwaite in 3 years time?
In the next three years I hope to be a consistent World Cup circuit top 10 rider, and to be enjoying myself as much as ever.
- Anyone you want to thank?
All my sponsors; Mojo, MMA (Maxxis and 661), Silverfish (Raceface, E13 and SDG), Hope, 2pure (Crankbrothers), Giant for the last two year and Orange for this great opportunity.
I’d also like to thank Rob Warner for the help over the past two years, Martin Whitley for all the advice and support, all my friends from racing and from home. Most of all my Mum and Dad for everything they’ve ever done for me.
Big thanks to Tom for answering the above! We all wish him a fully fit 08 season with new sponsor Orange.
Cheers,
DHP
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