Category: Inside Info

Inside Info features tech articles, interviews, etc

Inside Info: Connor Fearon – Australia

Connor Fearon, dwarfed by an angry rock garden sweeps through unfazed.
Connor Fearon, dwarfed by an angry rock garden sweeps through unfazed.

Home town race and therefore a home town Inside Info from Connor Feraon, the whole time in cairns even we noticed just how much support he had! So with out further a-do take it away Mr Worldwide;

As soon as I heard about the world cup in Cairns I was quietly confident. Even before I knew anything about the track I just had this feeling it was going to be a good race for me. My first world cup at my home country would really mean a lot to me. In my head the whole 2014 season was going to be good for me, I proved I had improved my fitness by a fair margin in South Africa with a 25th but I wanted better. I dona��t often voice my goals but I wanted to get a top 5 podium at the Cairns world cup, it was pretty much my goal from the end of last year when I proved to myself I could mix it with the best. Matty and I got to Cairns about a week early and did a lot of the obligatory tourist activities. Ia��ve never been to Cairns but highly recommend it as a holiday destination!

Track walk revealed a track that Connor liked the look of.
Track walk revealed a track that Connor liked the look of.

We stayed riding distance from the track but I actually never bothered to look at it until the official track walk day on Wednesday. The track itself is really good, it has everything; open turns, fast wide jump sections, whoops, technical rock gardens and root sections! I liked the look of it. The weather was really good in Cairns right up until the first practice runs on Thursday. The skies opened up and it rained hard. The track was really slippery due to the clay surface that covered most of the hills around the area. I felt good on the first run, this reflected in timed training when I was 2nd to Gee Atherton by less than a second. Qualifying rolled around on Friday, it was still raining hard the track was getting slower and harder. Nobody realised how physical this track was until they had to put a full run down to qualify. My whole body was screaming I could hardly turn the pedals at the end. Unfortunately I had a little crash at the start of my run. Despite the hiccup I still qualified 9th and the fastest Aussie. This meant a lot to me and boosted my confidence even more. It felt like all the hard work I put in during the off season would pay off. I had a lot of friends and family at the race and generally everyone at the event was stoked for me to qualify so well. Everyone was telling me they wanted me to do well at the race.

9th in qualifying after 2nd in timed practice, all good signs!
9th in qualifying after 2nd in timed practice, all good signs!

When I was warming up for my race run I was actually pretty calm, I was confident with my speed and fitness I just had to ride like a had been in practice. I rode pretty aggressively in my race run and nailed all the technical sections at the top. There is a long right hander thata��s quite fast before a jump. I came in faster than I have and didna��t let off the gas. At the end of the corner my front wheel washed out and quicker than I could react I hit the deck. I bounced off the ground and it felt like forever before I hit again. I remember sliding along the ground and almost being oblivious to the fact I was crashing. I couldna��t believe what happened. I didna��t jump back up too fast because I was pretty hurt and I knew I wouldna��t be in contention for the result I hoped for. The crowd the whole way down the track and especially at the bottom was huge. Ita��s definitely the most spectators Ia��ve seen at a world cup. They were extremely loud and supportive as well. Ia��m sure they pushed the Aussies to ride faster! I finished my run and rode back to the pits pretty swiftly as I was a little salty about crashing! It really set in when I was sitting in the medical tent getting a few stitches in my leg and I could hear the commentator announcing the winnersa�� So unfortunately this race wasna��t as good as I had planned. I dona��t think I made any mistakes by crashing I was pushing the limit and in this sport thata��s what you have to do. One good thing is due to the points I got in qualifying I moved up in the overall to 22nd. By the end of the season I want to be well in the top 20 so Ia��ll take what Ia��ve learnt from this race to the next world cups to achieve that goal. Ia��d like to thank my sponsors Kona, Fox Head, Maxxis, Sram, Rockshox, Stans no tubes, Truvativ, Yakima racks and of course downhill 247! Hopefully ill have something more positive to report next time round.

The eyes are the window to the soul, or something like that! You can tell Connor was disappointed but he handled it professionally and will be on that podium soon!
The eyes are the window to the soul, or something like that! You can tell Connor was disappointed but he handled it professionally and will be on that podium soon!
Not quite the result he was capable of but a lot of lessons learnt.
Not quite the result he was capable of but a lot of lessons learnt.

There is now a slight break before the world cup circuit hits up Europe for round 3.

Images: Jason Stevens Photography, JB Photomedia & in house images.

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Inside Info: Connor Fearon – South Africa

25th for Connor who was trying to match his plate it would seem, he will drop that number at the next few rounds we are sure.
25th for Connor who was trying to match his plate it would seem, he will drop that number at the next few rounds we are sure.

Let’s check in with Connor Fearon as he gives us the Inside Info on World Cup number 1 for 2014! Over to Mr Worldwide himself:

Last time I raced here I finished in the 60’s with a good run and that was my worst World Cup result ever. I’ve trained hard this off season to change all that. I was excited for the season to start and get back into racing with my new team mate Andrew Crimmins. As far as the team goes not much has changed. I still have my trusty mechanic Dupelle working on the Kona. Matty had already set my bike up with an air shock and single ply tyres to help bring the weight down to move along the pedal a bit faster. The track walk showed a lot of changes the track builders have made since I was here in 2012. A lot of the top section had been diverted and remade with the inclusion of a few very technical rock gardens. Apart from that the track was the same with the lung burning pedal and 4x style bottom third. My first few runs made me realise how hard the top section was going to be now with the added rock gardens. Everybody on trail bikes looked like they were struggling a bit. I opted to put my coil shock and downhill casing tyres back on. My plan was to make as much time at the top half and figure out the pedal section when I get to it. Unfortunately my team mate Andrew Crimmins crashes badly on the first practice day and broke his kneecap in half… He’ll be back eventually and will get to the top step I’m sure.

Roaring into the finishing area you can be sure the riders were hurting. Connor has been training hard in the off season and it shows!
Roaring into the finishing area you can be sure the riders were hurting. Connor has been training hard in the off season and it shows!

Qualifying was good. I put a solid run down and pushed hard through the technical sections. I qualified 26th. I really want to stay in the top 20 this year, statistically this is my worst track but it made no difference to my expectations. With racing on Saturday there was no practice day after qualifying, just a short session before racing. I made a few changes to my lines in some sections that would help me go faster. My race run was really good only some minor issues at the top and set my lungs on fire throughout the whole pedal section. Overall it was pretty good. I finished in 25th, to be honest I’m a little disappointed and I expected better of myself this season. After looking at the split times I was happy with my effort on the pedal. I was 18th at the last split then went back from there… Now my focus is on the cairns World Cup in a week where I really want to be up there in the results. Thanks to my sponsors for making this season possible- Kona, Fox Head, Maxxis, Giro Shoes, SRAM, Rock Shox, Avid, Yakima racks and Breese High Performance.

Next stop for the world cup is no where other than Cairns Australia!

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Inside Info: Andrew Crimmins

One of Australia's brightest future prospects?! No doubt... we are keen to follow Andrew Crimmins as he sets his sights overseas for 2014.
One of Australia’s brightest future prospects?! No doubt… we are keen to follow Andrew Crimmins as he sets his sights overseas for 2014.

If you follow downhill racing in Australia then no doubt the name Crimmins would be familiar to you, the brothers from Bredbo, about an hour out of Thredbo, have been making quite a name for themselves. Older brother Tom has represented Australia at the World Champs and is a regular podium getter across the land. For this interview we had a chat with the younger of the brothers, Andrew, at 16 he is set to make a name for himself. Just recently he has signed on with Kona to race both here and overseas, we sat him down at a race and found out what makes him tick.

With a new team along side Connor Fearon we think Andrew is really going to grow as a racer this year.
With a new team along side Connor Fearon we think Andrew is really going to grow as a racer this year.

Hey Andrew thanks for chatting with us, leta��s get through some of the standard questions that everyone wants to know, how long have you been racing for and what is like having a brother you can ride with:

Almost 7 years, I started when I was 10 and I think it has definitely helped me having a brother to ride with, growing up I have learnt a lot off him. There was some competition between us when we were younger but not so much anymore, we just push each other and help each other out.

Looking forward down the line for this year, what overseas races will you be doing? Furthermore, knowing that you will be heading overseas to race some World Cups, something Tom has done, has he passed on any a�?inside infoa��:

For 2014 I will be doing the whole World Cup series. I have already learnt a lot off his experiences and what he has told me, it certainly has helped my approach to the World Cup scene I think.

We saw you last year at Crankworx Whistler, which was the biggest race you have thus far been in, what was that experience like:

That was crazy over there, I couldna��t believe it, I was there for almost three weeks but still didna��t ride every track, so many people just love it over there. I will be over there again this year after Windham World Cup.

What goals have you set this year, not just for Crankworx but also the World Cups:

Jared Rando has helped me out a lot with that sort of stuff and he has set me up a training program and told me what my goals should be. I would like to go a few top 5s if I can in juniors, that would be my main goal, maybe a podium at World Champs if I can. I havena��t really thought too much about goals at Crankworx, I will just go have some fun and do the races while I am there.

Expect Andrew to be carving at Crankworx, especially with a few World Cups under his belt.
Expect Andrew to be carving at Crankworx, especially with a few World Cups under his belt.

Youa��re riding on the Kona team, along with Connor Fearon, how did that all come about:

I met Mathieu (Kona team manager/mechanic/boss man/all round good guy) at Crankworx last year, I think Connor had a bit to do with my signing, pushing Mathieu a bit. That was goods, it is heaps helpful. It is so sick riding with Connor I definitely think I am going to learn a lot off him, it should be good. We get on well.

A lot of people took notice of Andrew after he won the downhill race at Thredbo for the recent Cannonball Festival - beating names such as Troy Brosnan and his own brother in the process! We here at downhill247.com always knew he was fast though...
A lot of people took notice of Andrew after he won the downhill race at Thredbo for the recent Cannonball Festival – beating names such as Troy Brosnan and his own brother in the process! We here at downhill247.com always knew he was fast though…

Everyone has a fair idea of Connora��s riding style having seen him at so many races now but how would you describe your riding style and what style of track do you like:

A lot of people have actually said to me I ride a lot like Connor, which I think is going to help me with line choice, working with him as we will be able to ride together and do the same sort of stuff. I always ride clips, I cana��t even ride flats anymore! I like a track where I dona��t have to pedal too much, I really like the national track at Bright, thata��s probably one of my favourite tracks in Australia at the moment and it is just super steep. For World Cups definitely Mont Sainte Anne, everyone talks about how good it is for Australian riders and I cana��t wait for Cairns either, it will be the home town race and having the family there will be great.

You just got on the new bike recently, how is the beast treating you:

I am real happy with it, a bit of a short rear end which really hooks around the turns, I love it!

A humble guy, Andrew has 7 years of racing experience that shows with his maturity and results. Image: Henry Blake
A humble guy, Andrew has 7 years of racing experience that shows with his maturity and results. Image: Henry Blake

Finally, who would you like to thank for getting you here:

My family help me out a lot, they have over the past 6 years and I wouldna��t be here without them for sure! Also thanks to Kona Bikes.

Inside Info: Connor Fearon’s Kona – The Blackbird

New bike, same sweet style!
New bike, same sweet style!

Father Christmas was kind to Connor Fearon with the delivery of his new Kona Operator! Talk about a good looking bike, all the descriptors you want to use go for it; ‘Blacks on blacks on blacks’ or ‘all black errrything’ or ‘Blackbird’ or ‘the Black knight’ or… well you get the point!

Check the style! Are we talking about the bike or Connor? Or both?
Check the style! Are we talking about the bike or Connor? Or both?

We caught up with Connor as he had just gotten delivery of his new bike which he gave us the run down on before we headed out to Kangarilla, one of the better riding spots in his hometown of Adelaide.

So what you see here is Connor's personal World Cup rig but the good news is what you see here has the exact same angles, geometry and sizing as the public can buy from their local bike shop.
So what you see here is Connor’s personal World Cup rig but the good news is what you see here has the exact same angles, geometry and sizing as the public can buy from their local bike shop.
The difference is that Connor's bike is set up with sponsor/personal preference parts unlike the 'stock' build from your local bike shop.
The difference is that Connor’s bike is set up with sponsor/personal preference parts unlike the ‘stock’ build from your local bike shop.
Regardless of whether it is a 'stock' build or a custom jobby pedals is always personal reference. On this day Connor was riding flats but openly admits he can see many of the benefits of clips...
Regardless of whether it is a ‘stock’ build or a custom jobby pedals is always personal reference. On this day Connor was riding flats but openly admits he can see many of the benefits of clips…
Something that you might want but you won't be able to get, just yet anyway, is these prototype Maxxis tyres, 'Spec C' apparently... You know as much as we do!
Something that you might want but you won’t be able to get, just yet anyway, is these prototype Maxxis tyres, ‘Spec C’ apparently… You know as much as we do!
The only difference with this frame is a slightly different weave of carbon being tested by the guys at HQ, other than that as we have already said angles, geometry, size, etc are all identical to what you can buy.
The only difference with this frame is a slightly different weave of carbon being tested by the guys at HQ, other than that as we have already said angles, geometry, size, etc are all identical to what you can buy.
Carbon frame, carbon crank, titanium spring all exotic materials but who would have thought just a few years ago these parts would be as common as they are today, available for everyone?!
Carbon frame, carbon crank, titanium spring all exotic materials but who would have thought just a few years ago these parts would be as common as they are today, available for everyone?!

After discussing his bike Connor put it to use and showed us he is more than comfortable on it already which should be no surprise! You can catch Connor at the National rounds this year before he heads overseas to race the World Cups.

With this matching kit maybe we should start calling him Darth?
With this matching kit maybe we should start calling him Darth?
Looking comfortable with two wheels on the ground, going past in a blur...!
Looking comfortable with two wheels on the ground, going past in a blur…!
Weeeee!!
Weeeee!!
Blackbird cleared for take off!
Blackbird cleared for take off!
Can corner.
Can corner.
Higher!
Higher!
And more sideways...!
And more sideways…!

We also heard about a new enduro style bike he was waiting on….

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