Exclusive Interview with Steve Peat!

With the World Cup Series drawing to an end, the current World Champion Steve Peat manages to take time out to speak to MoreDirt about his upcoming events, preparation for the Worlds and recreational 'out-time'. We get up-close and personal with Steve to bring you the latest. MoreDirt brings you an exclusive!! Hi Steve, thank you for taking the time to talk to us here at MoreDirt, I appreciate that you are extremely busy right now… I want to start by asking you how does it feel to be the current World Champion as well as the UK National Champion? "It feels great, I have always liked being the British Champion and this 9th title doesn't feel any different to my first one, to be able to wear the Worlds champs stripes at the same time is a massive honour to me" Totally, how does this impact on you mentally while you are preparing for this year's DownHill championships? "I feel quite good and relaxed about the whole Worlds experience now, there is not as much outside pressure from people now I have been World champ for a year." And what will winning it a second time mean to you? "It will mean I am still World Champion!! I have found out in this last year what it means and I am planning to do my best to keep hold of it!" So are you still riding for the SANTA CRUZ Syndicate team for next year…any gossip? "Yes staying with them for another 2 years at least, we have a great package with great people here so it's a good place for me to be." That's good to hear…ok having achieved everything there is to win including an X Game medal, what ambitions have you got for your future in the industry and how do you keep motivated? "I still love to ride my bike and also race my bike, that's motivation enough for me but on top of that I like to hold records and make history, I am very proud of my achievements and I want to be involved in this sport for many years to come!" We know that you are in the process of sponsoring new talent with the intention of providing them with a window into the DownHill industry. Are there any updates on how these plans are progressing? "The SPS is a buy in package where we will try and pass on our experiences to the 10 selected riders, we will help them with training, race preparation, bike skills and a number of different things to help them achieve their potential" It all sounds interesting and looks as though you are planning a good future for the next generation of riders. Moving away from the competition now onto a more personal level, what do you do recreationally on your days off and do you have any/many considering you are a professional athlete? "It seems like I don't have much time for myself these days or my family for that matter, but in hind sight I get way more time than I would if I had a normal 9 to 5 job." People know you as the social and 'Fun loving Peaty'!! But what does a typical day in training mean for you? "Each day is a little different for me but here is a rough idea of how they run: 6.30am rise, S and C session at Sheffield Hallam Uni, back for coffee and help get kids to school, catch up on e-mails and business commitments. XC lap of Wharncliffe woods, executive lunch with the wife, a few chores around the house, get the kids, ride the pump track with my eldest and help bath and put the kids to bed. Have a beer and maybe do a few more catch up e-mails." Busy then!! Will round up with one last question about the latest for all our MoreDirt members, You recently rode at Windham, has the crash knocked your confidence at all? What's the insight into how you mentally deal with a crash like that especially when you were over 1 second up on your split time to Gee? "It feels really good to me to know that I have finally got back up to my normal speed this year, it makes me more confident on my bike and I feel like I am right up there with the fast guys now" Once again Steve, thank you for talking to us and for being so frank and honest. It's good to see that you are 100% committed and a real pro. GOOD LUCK from us all at MoreDirt and the UK!!