Drifts, crashes and electric shocks… This Euro Chillen from David McMillan basically has it all! The boys make friends with a bunch of Kiwis and head to some of the most iconic downhill tracks Europe has to offer.
David McMillan Diaries are on their way but technology is a funny beast when out on the road. Check back soon though #DMD
David McMillan is a name you have seen bandied across downhill247.com for years now, a Junior rider who has now moved into the Elite category Dave has speed and style! When we heard that Dave was heading overseas, to race the majority of the World Cups this year, we had to have a chat to him and we are pretty stoked to introduce David McMillan Diaries or #DMD. We will be bringing you regular updates as Dave and the rest of his travelling comrades (Luke Ellison, Joey Vejvoda and Jack Moir)A�travel the globeA�racing their bikes. It is going to be a pretty epic journey, with that in mind we had a quick chat with Dave just before he was preparing to get on the plane and start the quest!
Hey Dave, thanks for chatting to us, you must be pretty stoked with the next few months! Tell us a bit more about what you’re up to:
Yeah I am so keen, I am going and doing all the World Cups (except Norway because it is too expensive), after the Mont Sainte Anne World Cup I am going to Whistler for Crankworx and to ride for 6 weeks before I go to the Leogang World Cup. Finally I get home mid September.A�A�Between the World Cups I am hitting up some IXS races, try and win some cash haha! We have 4 weekends of racing in a row, it is going to be pretty full on but we are going to have some fun along the way.
Sounds like you’re living the dream! Who are you travelling with?
Yeah Jared Rando offered to help us sort out some accommodation, etc. Jack Moir and I weren’t sure if we should head over this year but then we thought we should just do it. Now I will be sharing a van withA�Joey Vejvoda, Luke Ellison and Jack Moir, there are going to be lot of two minute noodles! Joey is picking up the van at Fort William, sleeping in it andA�then driving solo down to Val di Sole for the race the next weekend – it is a three day drive!
Let’s not beat around the bush, World Champs last year followed onA�the disappointment of the year before with numerous crashes. Has that played on your mind and is it something you are trying to rectify?
Worlds was so annoying, I trained so hard for that race and then crashed at the start of the track… I was looking for a top 10 result, so hopefully I will be able to redeem myself this year.
No doubt you can! have you been training hard again for this year?
I have been training a little, I do two gym sessions a week with a trainer and I ride a lot, of everything; skate park, dirt jump, cross country and downhill but I don’t really have a structured training program.
Cool thanks for the chat, finally is there anyone you would like to thank?
I would like to thank FJC they just got me some new kit, Fektor and Specialized for helping out.
So there you have, we are pretty excited to be bringing you the tales from the road of the 2013 World Cup season, stay tunedA�- #DMD!
Connor Fearon has been hanging out in Bromont getting some preseason training before the World Cups kick off, so when he told us a video he just made with Vincent Allard was awesome we took note. Turns out the chairlift is closed during the week so Connor had to push up but at least it counts as training! ThisA�edit has it all, lens tear offs in the air, whips on that infamous Bromont bridge and Connor just shredding. We chatted with Vincent Allard, the filmmaker behind the edit, this is what he had to say;
Hi Vincent, thanks for talking to downhill247.com about your latest edit, before we talk about that though do you mind giving us a little bit of insight into yourself:
Hello, my name is Vincent Allard, Ia��m 23 years old and from Montreal, Canada. Ia��ve always been into bike riding and started doing bike videos a few years ago.
For this edit of Connor you went out to Bromont to film, what was the aim for this edit, was there a particular mood or message you were hoping to capture?
Yes we filmed this edit in Bromont, Qc which is the home base of Connor and Mitch during the summer season (and was the only hill available at the time of the shoot). We were not looking into making something extra special with the edit. I had just built a cable cam and my simple goal was to test it and make Connor a small video to get him stoked on the upcoming WC season.
A�How would you describe Connora��s riding today?
The riding was really crazy. He fired that gap into a berm that I didna��t even know was possible. I dona��t know how he managed to rail the berm after.
What do you look for in successful edit?
For me the key part into a successful edit is to feel that the people in it are enjoying what they do. I sometimes watch super crazy movies that were shot with 50ka��s camera and I dona��t like it because the riders dona��t look like they are having a good time.
Do you prefer shooting racing or more casual riding?
I prefer casual riding but racing is fun too, two different worlds.
A�Do you shoot any other type of sports, genres, etc.
Yes, I film lots of other different biking style and also cars. Ia��m slowly starting to make documentary and narrative movies too.
Finally, where can we see some more of your work?
Most of my work are on my clienta��s website but you can find a few videos I made on my Vimeo.
Australian mountain biking has always stood apart from the rest of the world. As one of the flattest continents on Earth, we don’t have the luxury of 15 minute Garbonzo runs that you’d find in the US, Canada and Europe. Our trails are short, steep and gnarly – what we lack in distance and elevation we make up for with rough, technical trails that trained talent like Sam Hill (5x UCI World Champ), Rick Boyer, and Bryn Atkinson, as well as young guns like Troy Brosnan. In recent years Australia has consistently been a source of strong competition for the rest of the world, and now we get to challenge the world’s best on home soil.
2014 brings a new UCI world cup. Another series of amazing trails all around the world, each testing racers in different ways, to show who is truly the best in the world. In 2009, the nations’ capital held the UCI World Championships at Mt Stromlo for mountain biking and trials. The event was a success, though Canberra is one flat area. Cairns however, is situated in the temperate zone, surrounded by rainforest and tropical weather. North Queensland is also a mountainous area, brimming with keen local (and travelled) racers, who are over the moon after the QLD Premier’s announcement on the 18th of May that Cairns will host two future rounds of the World Cup circuit. We believe there is definitely a chance that Cairns may hold the 2017 World Championships, which they last held back in 1996. What does this mean for Australian Mountain Biking? It means the world. This event will not only spur a drastic increase in local support for mountain biking, it will attract mountain biking heroes and companies from around the world, to discover the true beauty of the Australian landscape and see what makes the Aussie riders such good contenders in the racing circuit. At this stage Cairns will hold the first round of the 2014 season, the track itself should be ready to go by September this year, we would love to see a National race or something along those lines held there first. All there is to do now, is mark your calendars, get a crew together and get to Cairns, to cheer our riders on and see the world’s best throwing down for the rainbow jersey. Downhill247.com will be there and let’s hope there are thousands of Aussies there supporting the race.
The fastest Aussie mountain bike family and their new Polygon bikes!
The most succesful team at the 2013 Australian National Champs was the Hutchison UR team, which just happened to be a family affair, we are of course talking about the Hannah family! With Tracey returning from injury and both riders having to get use to their new bikes itA�made it all the moreA�impressive feat. With that saidA�we thought we would give you guys a bit more info about the setup;
We will be following the Hannah family keenly this year, Tracey won her return World Cup race in South Africa and the track suits Mic too, an Aussie family affair on the top step this year?! Lets hope so!
A big thanks to Mic and Tracey (along with the rest of the team) for taking the time to chat with us and pose for photos. Images: Jason Stevens.