Youth Downhill Mountain Biker Shares Race Day Secrets and More

Today's youth are the future of our sport, and we appreciate the fire these young rippers bring to the world. From freeride to XC, the youngsters are on fire and doing exciting things. The Kids Are Alright will be a running column showcasing the up-and-comers who are keeping things fresh, dialed, sick, and whatever else the kids are saying these days. If you want to nominate someone, please, shoot me an email !

Tell our readers a little more about who you are and what type of riding you do

Hi! My name's Ryder! I am a downhill Mountain bike racer from Canada.

Where did you grow up?

I was originally born here in Canada but grew up in Australia.

Where do you live now?

I currently live in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island. It is such an awesome spot because you look all around and all you see is mountains upon mountains that can all be ridden!

Age?

16

When did you find the love for the bike, and what made you stick with it?

I used to race motocross but when Covid hit, all of the tracks closed down due to health issues. I went for a ride with my dad at the local mountain and that is where it all started. The thrilling feeling and calming feeling when you are flying down a singletrack trail is something that is indescribable unless you have experienced it, this is one of many reasons I have stuck with it!

What is the earliest memory you have of bikes?

The earliest memory I recall is ripping around my local playground on a little strider bike using the swings and climbing structures as obstacles for me to swerve around.

How vital is the support from family to keep racing or riding? Would you be where you are today without them?

It is crucial to have a strong family base and supportive parents, without all of their help along the way I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today.

Favorite Place to Ride?

My favorite place to ride by far is Mount Prevost! It is about a 40-minute drive from my house and is a shuttle mountain. All the locals and anyone who has ridden it knows how gnarly it is and even though I have ridden those trails more than I can count I still get butterflies at the top.

Favorite Ride Snack ?

The best snack, and one of my favourites, is definitely a PB&J. The sweetness of the jam and the saltiness of the peanut butter are a match made in heaven!

Current Soundtrack? Do you have a favorite album/song/playlist that gets you hyped?

My genres are very diverse. I am a big new school rap guy so I would say anything like Ken Carson or Destroy Lonely. Although rap is really good, Linkin Park is my favourite rock band.

What is the first thing you do after a ride?

After a ride, I always wash my bike and do a bolt check.

Do you have any post/pre-ride rituals?

My pre-race run ritual always starts the night before, with pasta for dinner and early bedtime. On the day of the race, I always mix music, visualization, and stretching.

Dream Event to Ride?

A dream event of mine would be racing World Champs for my country! It would be such an honor to be a part of only a few people who are selected every year.

Biggest Inspiration (This can be another rider or athlete, or anyone/anything)?

I have two inspirations in Mountain biking. The first one is the legend, Stevie Smith. Seeing how his legacy has impacted so many racers and people in general is so awesome and he was also one of the greatest to ever race downhill at the time. The second one is Magnus Manson, I have the privilege of being on the same race team and being one of his friends. After being a force to be reckoned with for a ton of years he ended up being diagnosed with cancer. Seeing the way he has come back from that is truly inspirational.

What is your favorite aspect of the sport?

My favorite aspect of the sport is racing. The tunnel vision becomes so heavy that all problems seem to vanish.

Least Favorite Part of the Sport?

I don’t have a particular thing that I dislike about the sport, but the couple hours leading up to the race gets pretty nerve-racking.

Favorite Non-Cycling Sport to Watch/Play?

My favorite sport to do outside of riding is playing Basketball.

Greatest Achievement on the Bike

My greatest achievement on the bike was winning Canadian Nationals in the U17 expert category, as well as Canada cup champion, Provincial champ and BC cup overall! I am so proud of all of these achievements.

What are you looking forward to the most in the next 12 months

I am really looking forward to being able to race the World Cups overseas next year. Also doing everything in my power to get me to the top of my game going into it.

Anyone you want to thank or give a special shoutout?

I want to give a big shoutout to my parents for always supporting me!