Just a bit of background first.....What teams were you 1st on?
Over here - Fusion, In the States - Foes

How long with Foes?
1996 - 1998

And Fusion?
They did it properly for 1 year - summer of 96/97. I was still with those guys when Jason Yalden & I went around in a green falcon in the summer of 97/98, wearing Fox gear (bright orange).

Team Fusion looked pretty solid?
They did a pretty good job. They got pub charity money & put it together & bought an old Range Rover. It was a bit of a pile but it worked. Then they had a pretty nice trailer made up. Got a lot of stuff from Sports Pro, Fox gear, then Keewee were behind it building bikes & stuff. It was pretty good.

In 96 was Vanessa on the team?
She was the year before. Fusion was around for a year before I got on the team. It was myself, Sheridan King, Brent Cochran and Jodie MacDonald.

Did you win Nationals that year?
I think so yeah.

What did you get out of that?
I think I got a bonus for winning the Nationals & prize money at the race. And they covered all our expenses, entry fees...

What did you do before Team Fusion came along?
I just went around on my own the year before that. That was my 1st season and I was 2nd behind Darren Henderson.


//JK.WORLDS ROTO '06
PHOTO MIKE HILL

So Overseas teams were Foes '96-98, then Schwinn '99, Rocky Mountain 2000, what were those teams like?
Schwinn was the full corporate style team - a lot of pressure. Big sponsorship from Toyota, so they wanted you to perform. Toyota were putting in a pretty decent amount of money, so not much fun that year. I didn't enjoy it that much. I didn't like the bike - it took a while to get used to it - had a lot of mechanical problems in my race runs. All in all, it was a pretty average year.
Then I moved back to NZ beginning of 2000 & wasn't even really looking for a ride - just had enough at that stage after that season. Was just back in Wellington living & working, then got contacted by Rocky Mountain & went back & rode for them. It was a fun year. Just me & the mechanic, we did our own thing. It was good.

What was Foes like before that?
Foes was good - always had new stuff to try & new stuff to ride. In '98 it was good because Dog Boy was the mechanic & we had a proper set up that year. 2 years before that I was somewhat on my own. Brett would come to some races, Jason (Yalden) would come over & we'd travel around in a van together. It was good.

Must be a lot of old JK bikes on the circuit?
Yeah probably a few in pieces. There's one here in town that I sold to a friend. But it would be cool to get a couple of them back if there are any out there still together. Maybe I can put the word out.
At the time they were worth so much money & I'm not that sentimental. I've kept the helmets & have plenty of photos. I've still got my 4X bike, kept the downhill bike, x-country bike, road bike...If I come back to race I'll definitely be coming for a social time.

How's it been going from having good years and all the bike companies throwing money around then the arse falling out of the market?
Yeah, originally it was on ESPN - it was the hot new thing. The x-games came along & mountain biking got chucked out & forgotten about. When it was all that, everyone got paid good money & car companies were sponsoring teams. Then it slipped to cable TV - outdoor life channel - now it's not even on that. And a lot of teams didn't find it viable to have downhill teams. Some teams are gone all together - lost their sponsors. So now just the smaller teams are out there.

Is it starting to build up again?
In different areas - like in freeride. It is tough, especially for a new rider to get in now & earn money. I was a known name & got regular results & could earn money, but now you have to be doing something special.

There's more kiwis's going overseas. Is there a career for those guys?
There is as long as they're proactive & if trends change they move with it. Young guys have got time. They can still go over & earn a living - it comes down to the individual rider. I probably could have earned more but I was happy with what I was doing & didn't want to do extra work.

Like what?
Spending more time in the States, being more proactive, doing more fringe racing like Red Bull type events, & pushing my name out there - getting more magazine coverage, doing a bit of freeride type stuff - just working more. It's not going to guarantee you make more money - you may get injured - it's about finding a happy medium.

Sam (Blekinsop) looks like he can be a World Champ?
Yeah I think so.

And Cam?
He'll always be a good rider too, especially with his 4X as well.

Does that make him more marketable?
I think so - if he can continue to do both well he'll get double the chance to build his name on. Both of those riders have got good futures.

At the Worlds you seeded 9th, then came in 21st?
Yeah, the course got slower, but really I lost too much time at the top. I hit the lines too tentatively. I felt confident but once I got into the run I was thinking too much & didn't attack it. And I did 4X the night before & probably used up all my aggression. It's hard doing both too. But I'm glad I did both. The best way to describe it is, I was sort of freaking out about flipping it & it ended up an average run.

It was pretty bad over all for the kiwis (except Sam & Cam)
Yeah it was pretty average showing that's for sure. Not mentally strong enough. Me too - I let it get to me.

Were you looking forward to the Worlds being in Vegas?
For sure. I was struggling with my motivation toward racing but I made sure I put an effort into it.


//JK.WORLDS ROTO '06
PHOTO: MIKE HILL

Why were you struggling?
I have been the last few years. Just haven't wanted it badly enough.

Been doing it too long?
Yeah, and no goals. That's why I decided to stop racing when I did. Maxxis would have had me back for a couple of years but....

Time to settle down now?
Yeah, a little bit more of a grounded life. You come back here & it's amazing how quick it goes by & you have to pack up and go again.

Was it enjoyable though when you were racing?
For sure. I had times when I didn't want to be in the States. I definitely enjoyed it a lot more in my earlier years but I got more & more over it in the last few years.

You didn't do a lot of World Cups did you?
No, the reason is Maxxis didn't cover expenses. I did the whole season with Schwinn. And I would do some from time to time. Maxxis always wanted me to do Norbas & it ended up being too hard travelling to do both. I saw guys who did both & they'd get injured or do good at one & shit in the other.

Would you have rather done World Cups?
In the last few years - yes. But they were never willing to cover it. They would have paid for accomodation but I would have had to pay for everything else. But I'm not that worried about it. I would have liked to race in Europe the last couple of years just to have done something different. I would have found it hard going to the Worlds because I've never raced in Europe much & the courses are run more on the fall-line. A lot more steeper & faster, more high speed & grassy. Still gnarly but in a different way.

What was your best race & why?
Probably when I won the Norbas at West Virginia in 2002. It was a really strong field - a lot of top riders there. It was dry & rocky. That was one of the most memorable.

What about World Cups, have you had a podium?
I've had numerous 8ths, 9ths,10ths & a 6th, but no podiums. Missed many chances with a crash, or lost chain...just never went my way. If I had raced more World Cup circuits I would have had a podium. Especially in 2002 to 2004 when I was a lot more onto it. But I'm not too worried.

Your highlights?
Winning the 2 Norba champs. And back in the older days TV, interviews, & cameras in your face. Just so far from it now but it was a lot of fun back then.

//JK Also won this year's Norba cup race - shown here with his winners cheque.

What's the whole Norba series like? I've heard some comments that a lot of riders aren't happy with it?
Some of the races are just a joke. The organisers are doing the same thing. They're doing it just to make a living & they do just get by, but they're not paying any prize money. They're trying but it's not possible. It would still be cool for the younger riders to go to because it's bigger than anything they'd be used to

How does it compare to the NZ Nationals?
Still more riders & a lot bigger than a NZ race. Some courses are good - some are average. There were a couple of really bad courses this year. But you can't really compare them. NZ is still just like a little local race over there.

What about the level of racing?
The level in NZ races is higher than any States race. The level has definitely come up in the last few years.

Nathan Rankin did a big stint in the States while you were there. He had some pretty hot results but never seemed to get a good team hook up?
He's always been really fast but he just struggled to put it together. I think he just never helped himself enough & made enough contacts. And like anything, he got over it with time & had enough.

Is that something you have to do - go out there & talk to everyone?
Yeah, promote yourself & know people & come near the end of the season, find out what teams are looking for riders & what's going on.

Did you have a manager?
No.

Did that stress you?
It was really hard, especially when I was younger. I had to sum up the courage to talk to these people & all those big teams. I didn't like doing it but I did & it helped me later on with people skills. That's what I tell any NZ rider - you have to know as many people as you can & talk to people.

Is that what they're buying....personality as well?
Yeah, but if you're winning.........like Sam Hill is unique - nice guy but wouldn't say boo...he can get away with it because he's winning. But if you're a good rider & not winning races, you have to have personality as well. Maxxis team wanted to have Cam next year - they like a good personality, someone who can get on with the mechanic & is easy to have around.

You think he'll be on the team next year?
Good chance. I've sort of lined it all up for him. Lahar are trying to keep him though I think.

Anybody really helped you heaps?
Never had any major help from any one person but in the early days I had help from Al Heine at Blue Shark. And once in a while I'd talk to Darren Henderson. I'd mainly do a lot of listening & learning. Bob Tuxford was quite knowledgeable & a good influence. I always thought of him as a friend & we'd talk about a lot of stuff. Every year I went back to the States, he'd meet me at the airport & we'd talk about things. Brent Foes was always really good. But I didn't have parents who were into what I was doing so did most of it on my own.

Why did you go to the States?
Basically, first for work after leaving college, before going to university. My old man lives over there - moved there when I was about 12, so I went over & worked for him for a year. Bought a bike over there & started riding & that's when I got into it. Started racing. Then came back to NZ & did my first season here. No one knew who I was. I did the Mount race & won it. They were always fun. Good memories of the Mount. I had a flawless record there then the first year, I lost it my mate Rolly beat me in 2002 I think. I was far more concerned about the house we'd rented on the beach & the beer we were going to be drinking.

How many times did you win?
4 or 5. But always good times there.

Good payment there?
$1,000 bucks...and one of those big cheques.

What's up with you now. Going to be a builder?
Yeah, finish my apprenticeship - get that behind me. Lead a bit of a quiet life for a little while. I did the Hawkes Bay 6 hour enduro on the weekend. I hadn't ridden a moto for a couple of years so I was shattered. I'd like to get a moto & do a few x-country races. Definitely going to race something. I've kept one race bike from World's.

You won't be racing Vets class?
(Ha ha)...actually I don't know. If it was in a couple of years & I hadn't done any downhill, I may be in Vets. But I wouldn't be out there trying that hard. I enjoy going to races when I do go. It'd be fun if they had one of those endurance downhills like at Coronet Peak where you ride the lifts...like a 12hr or something. Team up with someone...

Are you going to have much to do with Bike NZ?
There's not much in the way of funds there for downhill. I'd be keen to help out if needed.

Would you like to do something like what Scott Sharples does if they paid you?
No I don't think so. If I had finished my building apprenticeship & wasn't happy working physically with tools or my body didn't allow it, I would like it. But not right now. A full time job like that, you can be cut off at any time if there's no money for downhill. I want more control over my future.

You wouldn't do like JK clinics?
I probably could do that but I don't know if I'd be a good coach. It's one thing knowing how to ride but another to coach people. I've had a couple of people contact me about what they should be doing & probably could get a little business going, but I just need some time - maybe look at it next year.

Do you think downhill gets looked after?
The people who make it happen are the riders who are passionate about it & who hold the races. If you look at the World's, there's probably 3x more people into downhill. With Bike NZ it comes back to the whole Olympic issue.

What do you think of downhill in NZ? Was there much promotion of Sam & Cam?
I don't like to get into the politics too much. But it seems pretty healthy here.

Thanks for that John and good luck with the building gig.
(Hopefully John will be as good at installing doors and windows as he is a breaking them!)