Fresh Lab Mixtape Vol. 1 // Joe Connell Video & Exc. Interview

November 23rd, 2012

You can always tell when the person behind the camera spends a lot of their time actually riding what they’re filming, and this especially true with Fresh Lab Visual’s Stuart ‘Stuz’ Leel. Bike and DH mad, Stuz brings a refreshing approach to filming downhill that is far removed from the pursuit of the next 5 figure camera accessory and the excessive use of detracting slow-mo, which for a sport that’s all about going fast is played out! Preferring to cover the action raw as it happens, and when combined with some quality tunes, well, it’s pretty reminiscent of the sports video heyday! In this sweet edit, we catch up with Scottish pinner Joe Connell, who introduces his Zerode to some wet and wild action North or the border. Top tunes too – A Tribe Called Quest – Buggin’ Out. Get on this and check the interview below…

Words: Stuz Leel / Fresh Lab Visual | Photos: Frank Connell

Who is Joe Connell?
An 18 year old, downhill mountain bike racer from St.Andrews in Scotland.

How did the 2012 season go for you?
It went pretty good, I won the junior British National Champs at Moelfre, which had been a goal of mine since I started racing the National series in 09. Near the end of the year, I was leading the British downhill series until I badly separated the AC joint in my shoulder at a training camp in Leogang, 2 weeks before the World Champs! I still managed to ride at Worlds but nowhere near my normal speed as my shoulder was still pretty bad. Although I couldn’t ride to my full potential there, it was good to get my first World Champs under my belt and gain some valuable experience for future years. Whilst I was injured I missed a round of the British series but I managed to come back a couple weeks after the Worlds and race the last round of the BDS series in Llangollen and get third place which was good enough for 2nd overall in the series.

What was your favourite race of 2012?
My favourite race of 2012 would have to be Rd.5 of the World Cup series at Windham, NY. The track was so sick, real dusty, big jumps and loose turns!

What do you do on a day to day basis?
Every day I have a program to follow that involves a mix of gym work, fitness work and skill work on the downhill bike and a bit of BMX and minibike action too!

How do you spend your time when you’re not riding/training?
When I’m not riding I’m usually listening to music, watching moto or eating, usually all three at the same time!

What are your plans for the 2013 season?
In 2013 I will be moving up to the Elite category which I’m looking forward too, so basically I just want to have fun riding whilst riding my bike at the races. As I’m moving up to the elites I’m not expecting to win right away but I just want to continue to progress my riding and build my way up.

What races can we expect to see you at in 2013?
I should be at all of the World Cup rounds, all of the European IXS races and as many BDS rounds that I can fit in-between.