With back-to-back UCI Downhill titles and a brand-new sponsor set-up heading into the 2013 season, Aaron Gwin (see him in action in the video above) is firmly in the spotlight as the mountain biking faithful turn their attention to Fort William this weekend. An extended off-season has allowed everyone the chance to really dial in their training programs, so there’s no doubt that we’re in for an explosive kickoff to the series.
Gwin dropped into the Red Bull offices in California shortly before hopping on a plane to Europe, so we had a quick chat about his readiness level. See what he had to say below, and tune into the live webcast on June 9 to see what happens at Fort William.
redbull.com: How are you feeling heading into the official start of the season?
Aaron Gwin: I’ve been feeling really good; training’s been coming together really well. I’ve done a few prep races in Washington and at Sea Otter and those went really well, so everything’s right on track.
It’s been a while since the last UCI event; do you think there will be any adjustment to get back into race mode?
There’s a lot more around the World Cup than a normal race, but once you get there, it’s something you’ve been preparing for for seven or eight months, so it becomes business as usual pretty quickly.
Has the longer off-season break had any effect?
It’s been a few more months, but it was good for me; I really had some time to get… not refreshed, because I didn’t need that, but just to get everything in order. I made some big changes in my program so it gave me some time to adjust to everything.
Are you feeling any additional pressure heading into the 2013 season?
I feel good. I wouldn’t say the pressure’s off, because I want to keep winning, but it’s just about enjoying it now. I’ve always had some really cool sponsors, but I really feel like the group around me now is a bunch of cool people. Race results are still the number one objective, but it’s more about being able to enjoy the experience and hang out with cool people, so I’m stoked.
...if you’re not ready when the season starts you’re going to be behind the ball pretty quick.
What do you do to stay fit while you’re out on the road?
I think it’s about making sure you’re ready at the beginning of the season; you have to do all of that off-season stuff to build that base. It won’t carry you through the entire season -- you’re obviously training as much as you can during the season when you’re on the road -- but if you’re not ready when the season starts you’re going to be behind the ball pretty quick. It’s hard to make any huge gains once you’re in the season. My off-season went really well, so we’re good to go.
You and your fellow competitors are all at an elite level, so your training programs are obviously pretty strict. Do you do anything to reward yourself -- to “cheat” a little?
For sure. Everything in moderation, but I’ll eat ice cream some weeks or just have a blow-out at Coldstone (laughs). I eat healthy 99% of the time so I don’t have a hard time being a little loose every once in a while. For me, not stressing about that stuff is more beneficial than trying to be super strict. I definitely get what I need when I need it, but I’m not afraid to let loose once in a while.
Follow Aaron and Red Bull Bike on Twitter for updates throughout the season.
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