//INTERVIEW:
NATHAN RENNIE
Fastest run of the day
[Seeding Thursday 24th]
I talked to the literal giant of world DH, Aussie Nathan Rennie, just after he had come down the hill after elite practice. He is on the Santa Cruz team with Brit all time great Steve Peat. These are two of the tallest people to ride DH.
NZRIDE: So do you have to be tall to race for Santa Cruz?
RENNIE: Dunno. Its just coincidental.
NZRIDE: Enjoying the course?
RENNIE: Yeah lovin it, nice and fast. Couple of bits are a little bit awkward, some of the bridges are a bit steep off the backside. Some bits are also a bit slippery, but overall pretty nice. You can keep a constant speed the whole way.
NZRIDE: What happens if it rains?
RENNIE: Well its been kinda damp the whole time, I’m picking if it really rains it will get real soupy.
NZRIDE: How are you finding the pond jump? How is the entry into it?
RENNIE: Oh its all right, its just a little slippery. Without the weather it would be fine. But its like anything, if it rains it gets slippery.
NZRIDE: So why does Australia produce so many great riders?
RENNIE: I dunno, people ask me that all the time. I dunno.
NZRIDE: Is it to do with the way young riders ride, or the tracks they ride?
RENNIE: To do well these days you really have to pin it, you really have to punch it, and it just so happens that a lot more Australian riders are prepared to take those little risks and stuff. There is nothing special, there is no difference in riding. If you want to win you have to go for it.
Rennie practicing up in the larches.
NZRIDE: Do Australian riders ride together much?
RENNIE: It depends, sometimes, I like to practice by myself, but back home we all ride together, just the same as any other country would do it. But we are all good friends.
NZRIDE: In two weeks time you're heading off to Schladming for the world cup final?
RENNIE: I’ve got two weeks home after this race, then I’ll have a couple more weeks at home after the world cup final, then the Australian series. I’m really looking forward to my time at home.
NZRIDE: Do you ride when you are at home?
RENNIE: Yeah I ride a little bit, do some spin classes. Ride at the bmx track, a bit of DH, muck around, nothing too serious.
NZRIDE: So you’ve got a few more years left in you?
RENNIE: Well I’ve only just turned 25. I hope to have a couple more years.
NZRIDE: It just seems like you’ve been around for years. I remember when you won the Junior Oceanias in Wanganui in '97.
RENNIE: I’ve been around a long time but I still haven’t completed all my goals. I want to be world champion. I'm always on the podium but I want to be a consistent winner.
NZRIDE: What would that take?
RENNIE: Well I haven’t really focused on a lot of training before. I need to knuckle down and get a bit more serious at times, but being young you want to have fun as well. It's at that point that I’m not a teenager anymore, I have to dedicate and train and really concentrate.
NZRIDE: What sort of training. Fitness? Skills?
RENNIE: Well all of the skills are there, just need more overall riding, a bit more preparation as the season comes off. A lot of its in the mind. My mind is usually there on the day, but you need to be as prepared and comfortable as possible.
NZRIDE: Does this track suit your riding?
RENNIE: A lot of it does suit my riding, although it is pretty pedally which on flat pedals might be a bit of a disadvantage. Overall it suits me.
NZRIDE: Have you ever tried racing clipped in?
RENNIE: Well I have but it just doesn’t suit my style, I just come unclipped all the time, it just doesn’t work.
NZRIDE: Who do you think will go well on this track?
RENNIE: It’s the same as any other race. The are probably 15 guys who can win, plenty of young guys, plenty of guys wanting to pin it on the day. This is the one race where you have got nothing to lose. There are no points. Anyone can win, you could draw any one of the top 15 riders in the world out of a hat.
Well there you have it, another fast Aussie and he is loving the track. He seemed pretty focused. You never know, by Saturday he could be World Champ. You heard it here first.
NZRIDE REPORTER: MIKE CARDEN
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