No doubt if you have been following downhill racing here in Oz then you would have come across WolfPack Racing, the team of six have been prolific at races and online with some of their antics. We had a chat with the guys to ask; ‘For your nameA�is it because you just reallyA�like the movie?’ and more, read on…
So leta��s start with the name; WolfPack Racing, why that name did you just like the movie or is there more to it than that:
When I was over in Canada a few years back the boys and I went on a road trip to check out the BC bike parks. On the way to kicking horse we found a farm where you could go and hang with some real wolves. It was an epic experience to get so close to a a�?slightly domesticateda�? wild animal that had the ability to kill me if it really wanted to. In some respect I felt the same rush as I do when I race my DH bike so it kind of all fell into place after that. These days the WolfPack is all about good mates, racing and fun times so ita��s great to have a collective name that brings as all together.
Who makes up the WolfPack and where are you based:
The team has been around for 3 seasons now and we have 6 riders. Our teams focus to show how much fun our sport is to a wider audience. We have a great dynamic where everyone in the team has been friends for quite a long time, well before the team began.
Our riders and their local tracks
Ben Rohloff (Rollie) – Red Hill
Nathan Murphy (Nato) – Beach Road, St Kilda
Ben Hardman – Mt Dandenong
Jack Oa��Hare – Maldon
David Leach a�� Red Hill
Fabian Bill (Pup) – Red Hill
We are all based in Victoria as it keeps everyone close. We all ride together on weekend and always up for a beer or two when the right occasion presents its self. Being a team on close friends really shows in the online edits and I hope it can inspire other riders to take a similar approach.
At races you guys always seem to be having a lot of fun on and off the track, what were/are the goals of the team racing wise though:
Downhill is a very competitive sport these days. In some respects it makes the sport more enjoyable as the racing is faster and there is a lot more sponsorship and prize money on offer. The WolfPack has never been results based, we focus on always doing our best and enjoying our time together at the races, the results flow on from this. I dona��t need to say anything to the riders as I know that as soon as they leave the start gate they are giving 100% until the finish line. We also have an Alpha Wolf title which goes to the fastest rider of the weekend so each rider is pretty hungry to have the bragging rights over the other boys.
We have spotted you guys at some Enduro downhill as well as the regular format, what races will the team be doing this year:
The teams main focus is the VDHS coupled with attending as many national rounds as we can. We will have team members at all the Alpine Gravity DH and All Mountain races over the coming year as they are great to keep the fitness and skills up through the a�?off seasona�?. However, the Enduro format is taking off in Victoria at the moment. Ita��s a great weekend out as it feels a lot more relaxed than the usual downhill event. Most of the riders have AM bikes as ita��s hard to ride the big bike every weekend. I love the fact that in Victoria we can race some form of DH/AM event almost every weekend over summer and ita��s great for the promotion of the team having so many events close by.
What would you say the highlights for the team have been thus far:
Racing is the pinnacle of our sport. Being able to get together in a remote location with 300 other riders, having fun and pushing yourself to your own limits is something most sports cana��t give you. I know the guys are stoked to get positive feedback from the sponsors and even random fans on the Facebook page. I guess personally for me every time I race and hear people howl at me it always makes me smile. Ita��s great to have so many other riders support the concept of the team. Mates, Fun and going fast, thata��s what it all comes down to.
What would be the most priceless moments you have had so far as a team, racing or not:
The team always has a pre-season party which is usually fairy wild however the media edits are the best part about being involved with the WolfPack. Going back and watching some of the old edits always brings a smile to my face. These are the memories that will last forever. I cana��t wait to be 70 years old and to dust off the old DVD collection and watch them all again.
Thanks to the guys for chatting to us, the team would also like to thankA�their sponsors; Magneto Industries, Schwable, Sealya��s Cycles, Contour, GU Energy, Chromag and Fox head. If you see the guys out at the races wave and yell you may get on one of their infamous race edits!
Images: Jayden Ostwald