Inside Info: Connor Fearon -

Smiles for the camera! Connor Fearon ripping one of his home tracks. Image: Matt Gibson

As Connor FearonA�was packing his bags and getting ready for another International season we sat down and had a chat with him, here is what he had to say;

Thanks for chatting with us Connor, what are your plans for this year.

I am the only rider on the Kona World Cup team this yearA�and I head to Sea Otter, then I head to Washington to train with Luke Strobel for a bit before I head over to Montreal/Bromont for some more training, riding and to race a few of their races. Then after that it is the first World Cup in Fort William, followed by Val di Sole before a gap where I am going to come back to Australia.

What are your goals this year.

I want to be in the top 20 overall for World Cups, that’s the main goal,A�it is aA�pretty steep goal. Last year I started in the 60’s (placings), before getting to the 30’s. If have a strong start and keep it consistent I think I should be able to do it. The tracks are pretty much the same, I haven’t ridden Andorra before but Val d’Isere isn’t on the calendarA�anymore which is a shame as it was the best result I got. This year I am really trying to make a go of it and I hope the results show that.

Connor finished 34th overall last year and is looking to improve that this year, his highest finish, 22nd also came last year and is another goal for the 2013 season. Image: Matt Gibson

With your training have you got a more structured training plan.

Yeah, Jarah Breese has been helping me out, I have been training pretty hard for the last couple of months and it is definitely showing. I have been riding a lot of cross country and heaps of dirt jumps, there are a lot of dirt jumps around and heaps of my friends do it. I am pretty excited to see what difference it makes at the World Cup level.

The scene is getting more and more professional, what is it like from your point of view.

The racing in the past few seasons everyone has gotten faster and times seem to be closer as well, it seems to be gettingA�faster and more professional every year. I think there are moreA�riders and people, likeA�AaronA�Gwin, just stepping up the gameA�and people are trying to catch up.

Did you race many races over the Australian Summer.

Nah not really, even the National rounds I wasn’t taking that seriously as I just wanted to have fun, the season for me is really just about to start and I want to come in fresh. I had some good results at the Nationals but it doesn’t bother me that I wasn’t winning or up there all the time, if I take them super serious I have serious racing all year round.

A hard off season of training looks to be paying dividends already with Connor claiming third at the Underworld Cup at Port Angeles against a stacked Pro Men's field! — A hard off season of training looks to be paying dividends already with Connor claiming third at the Underworld Cup at Port Angeles against a stacked Pro Men’s field! Image: Matt Gibson

There was a lot of talk about your new bike (which we featured here )A�anymore information about it.

To be honest I don’t know much more than you guys, I got it and ride it and like it. I don’t think there are going to be any changes made to it, the set up I have will be exactly the same as what people can buy.

A whole lot of the new wave of Aussie talent, such as David McMillan, Jack Moir andA�some juniors,A�are heading over to some of the races this year, are you looking forward to hanging out with them (downhill247.com will be following these guys at the races this year but more on that announcement soon).

Yeah it is so good riding with someone you know, Whistler this year as well they’re going over and I am looking forward to that, just having fun and a break from racing. It makes it more relaxed at races having people you know there and if you’re having fun you’re more likely to go faster in the race anyway.

With all the Aussies getting together and racing overseas lets hope it is a case of Aussie domination. Image: Matt Gibson

Now that you have been overseas racing so much, what are the things you look out for, free wifi? Good supermarkets? What have you learnt from all these foreign places, especially where they don’t speak English.

We travel in a group that’s pretty good at cooking, I am pretty hopeless and can’t cook more than 2 Minute Noodles or baked beans! The main thing is to get someone to cook some healthy meals. Sometimes it is hard to keep a really good diet when you’re travelling so much but at the races it is pretty good to just get good food and that helps with your racing. No Farmers Union Iced coffee when I am overseas so I have to stock pile those now haha!

The new carbon Kona Operator certainly sent the internet into melt down when Connor debuted his at the National Champs, good news the model we can all buy is the same as ridden by the man himself! Image: Matt Gibson

As we have previously we will be checking in with Connor and his overseas adventures throughout the year so stay tuned to downhill247.com and join us in wishing Connor all the best for the upcoming season!

Images: Matt Gibson

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