At the 2009 World Championships in Canberra, Australia, Brook Macdonald of New Zealand stormed the hill to take the gold medal and make his first dent in the world of international mountain bike racing. Back during the last racing boom, there was only one top rider from New Zealand making waves on the international scene. This was John Kirkaldie, and since his retirement at the 2006 world championships at Rotorua, there have been more and more of his fellow countrymen making their mark on the world cup circuit.

Brook MacDonald is one of these fast New Zealanders who spend countless months away from their beautiful homeland, travelling the world racing their bikes. New Zealand is about as far away as you can get from where most of the World Cups venture, but after 2010 they are currently ranked the second fastest country in elite men’s downhill racing. And Brook? Well he may just be one of many fast Kiwi’s making a name for themselves, but at nineteen years old, Brook has already stormed the top ten twice, narrowly missing his first podium by 2.2 seconds, down what is considered, the worlds most challenging race course out there. This was Champery in Switzerland, a track, which induces a certain feeling in every downhill racer who has ridden it. Champery is significant for more than just its technically challenging steep course, as this is where the 2011 World Championships will be taking place, and the significance of that is obvious. Finishing his first season in the Elite category put Brook 18th in the world, higher than many of his peers, and at only 19, there is definitely more to come.

Interview: Olly Forster

Photography: Jacob Gibbins

Brook Macdonald Interview

So Brook. Tell us where in New Zealand you live and what’s the riding scene like there?

I come from a small city called Hawkes Bay, Napier, Its pretty sweet for ridding, we have one of the biggest mountain bike clubs in New Zealand so that’s cool but the ridings awesome lots of XC and Downhill and people are starting to get more behind it and making it better.

How long have you been riding and racing mountain bikes and what or who got you into the sport?

I have been ridding a bike since I was little, doing jumps of curbs but have been racing for about 4 years now. Well, one day my mate took me out to the local tracks and it all started from there really.

There seems to be quite a few fast Kiwis around at the moment, what’s the scene like in New Zealand?

Yea, the scene is getting quiet big and its good for such a small country and there is a lot of young talent coming up so its really good to see.

So, going back to 2009 when you were on the Ancillotti team, was this your first year racing abroad and how did you find the competition away from home?

Yea this was my first year on a team, I found it difficult at the start I didn’t really know what I was in for but didn’t really have a good season that year apart from worlds. The competition was a lot harder over seas, that’s for sure!

2009 was a pretty good year for you, ultimately winning the junior World Championships in Canberra. Not many people get to wear the rainbow stripes in their careers, how did you feel on the podium?

It was a pretty amazing day that day it felt pretty unreal to be standing at the top of a podium with rainbow stripes on.

Being the junior world champion, you were going to have a lot of attention going into the elite category, with potentially some high expectations. Did you feel any pressure going into 2010, or was it an easy transition to make?

I had absolutely no pressure I just had fun and thought about my goals for 2010.

So, the MS-Racing/ Evil Bikes team. Big team, big truck and big presence in the pits. What was it like riding for a big team with a real international mix of riders and having your name on the back of the team truck, must’ve felt pretty pro?

Yea, it definitely was, coming from such a small team to a big team like this was sweet, having all mixed team mates was cool too and knowing that you have everything there for you was amazing.

Champery was a good race for you, finishing 6th, so close to that first podium. Is that the kind of track you like?

Yea that track is gnarly, but so sick probably one of my favorite tracks in the mud, Yea was so close I was a bit bummed, but what can I say, 6th is still sick.

Windham and Mont St Anne were also pretty good races for you with a solid top ten finish in 8th, and then 12th at Mont St Anne. Your results really turned around after Champery. Did you get a good confidence boost from that result, or did things just start clicking into place?

Yea my confidence boosted a lot and I think staying and riding with Blinky really helped me out so I was pretty stoked to be hanging with him and it all kinder started happening after Champery.

With the 2010 season behind you, how do you feel your season went?

I was pretty stoked with my season it started off not so well but towards the middle it started getting better and better so I’m pretty stoked with my season.

What kind or tracks do you like and what would you like to see?

I like most tracks, Muddy tracks would be the best though but I would like to see more jumps in tracks.

What’s your favourite racecourse on the world cup circuit and where do you like to ride away from the races?

I would have to stay Champery and Mount Saint Anne are the best! I think Whistler is sick, so much riding to do there and you can’t get bored of anything there.

World Champs at Champery next year. Looking forward to it?

Yea man so stoked to be having it there.

Between world cups where do you base yourself and who do you hang out and ride with?

This year I was based in Morzine for about a mouth and rode with Blinky and Aari Barret a lot so two New Zealanders, it was good.

Does it ever get frustrating being so far from home during the race season?

Yea it does especially being away for 6 mouths, but I think you just have to forget about it and have fun, it makes the time go faster!

If New Zealand were closer to where the races are, would we see a lot more Kiwi’s racers at the world cups?

Yea definitely, we would have a lot of Kiwis racing, but I have to say it was pretty good this year couple of the World Cups we had 30 racing so that’s pretty cool.

Do you think southern hemisphere riders have got a good thing going, getting to race through the Northern hemisphere summer and missing most of the crap weather back home?

Yea, its so sick having two summers, its amazing, we are pretty lucky missing winter and heading over seas for their summer and then back for our summer!

What do you do back home to relax and do you do you get up to away from the mountain bike?

I just hang with my mates and ride my moto a lot, I don’t spend much time on my downhill bike when I’m home, only when I’m racing but it’s always good to get out and ride with my mates.

If you weren’t racing mountain bikes, what do you think you’d be doing?

Probably trying to make a career in rugby.

Its summer for you right now, what are doing to prepare for the 2011 season?

I have been hard working out but have finished now, so hard out into training, a lot of gym work and road riding and a bit of moto.

Can you tell us a little about your 2011 programme and where we’ll be seeing you?

I’m with MS Evil again and we will be doing all the World Cups, Crank Works and some IXS races.

Thanks Brook and all the best from everyone at Factory Jackson. Time for those obligatory interview shout out!

Just like to thank my Friends and Family for all the support and MS Evil, Alpinestars, Fox, Shimano, Gravity, Mavic, Oakley and Factory Jackson for the interview!

Comments

comments

TAGS