Most emotional performance?
1st SA Short Course Title back in 2000. Was my first national title and I won that day against all the odds
Genie gives you 1 wish, what is it?
Winning Xterra World Champs
What other sports do you respect?
Any sport where you can't smoke a cigarette while doing it.
Short quote on Red Bull:
Changes destinies
Red Bull useage in training/comps?
During training I normally have a half a Bull before a big speed session in the afternoon. It just gives me that extra edge to stay focused throughout the set...especially when you get to that 12th hill repeat and its still 30min down the mountain to get home!When racing I mix one Bull with water in a 750ml bottle.
Best Results?
I have found that this mixture 250ml Red Bull to 500ml water (1/3 : 2/3 ratio) water makes me kick some serious butt.
What has been your personal best?
Getting into the Olympic squad in 1998 was awesome. Winning the SA Short Course Champs in 2000 was my first win and very special. And being on the podium, 2nd in ITU (International Triathlon Union) in Portugal in 2001 was amazing, it’s one of the bigger races in the world.
What’s your favourite discipline & why?
I like all three, but if I had to pick a favourite it’s running. I feel good when I run. There is nothing like just running and not getting tired. You feel free when you run and you are fit.
Which part of the race do you hate and why?
I don’t like the cold so the swimming can get to me a little bit. In triathlon there can be a washing machine in the swim, with 70 or 80 guys racing round the same buoy at the same time. In XTERRA I tend to be one of the better swimmers so I’m ahead and not normally in it.
Is Conrad Stoltz your arch rival?
Conrad went to the Olympics both times, and has been the XTERRA World Champion twice. Although I won this year’s XTERRA SA series overall, he won the last race. He’s a good athlete. I do not really race any specific individuals though. I want to win every race I start, which means you have to beat every other guy on the start line. Having said that; when the two of us start a race together we bring out the best in each other.
What piece of equipment will you be lost without? Definitely my Giant dual suspension bike.
Do you prefer to race on- or off-road?
I like off-road, it’s more exciting, more extreme. I like the people and love being in the environment. XTERRA has potential, 2005 was the 1st XTERRA series and it got huge coverage. The prize money is bigger than triathlon already and the organisation is great.
What’s your training schedule?
I train 3 to 4 hours a day. I’m working a 9 to 5 job so during the week I train 6am to 8am and then again 6pm to 8pm. On Fridays I’ll only swim. On weekends I’ve got more time so can train longer and go for nice long rides and runs. I usually train by myself and it gives me lots of time to think and mentally prepare for racing.
What do you eat, any special diet?
I love to cook and eat healthy, but I don’t always have the time. When I am forced to eat take out food I make sure it’s still some kind of cooked food, and not junk that leaves me running empty the next day. My diet is nothing special, but basically trial and error over the years have taught me what works for me. I just make sure I always have protein, carbs and veggies, and a lot of it, during every meal.
Do you ever try and psyche out your opponents? I’m not an aggressive person but I do go out to win, so don’t mess with me on the start line.
Do you have a pre-race routine?
I do a normal warm up: some cycling to check if the bike is fine, a quick run to tick the legs over and then finally a swim, as we start with swimming. I often take a few sips of Red Bull just before the start, to give me an edge during the first couple of hundred metres of the swim, where everyone is jockeying for position.
Who is your role model or inspiration?
I don’t have one, I don’t look at other people, I do it for myself. But when I see people I know in other sports, who make it after working really hard for years, I really dig it and that inspires me quite a bit.
Biggest ever downer?
In 2000 I had qualified for the Olympics and had the first time, but they only sent one guy and it wasn’t me, it was the 2nd qualifier. At the time I was gutted. Then in 2004 the same thing happened, I qualified, was 2nd in the world rankings and they sent the 3rd guy. But it was worse for me in 2000.
Any serious injuries?
I broke my arm in March 2005, but that wasn’t too serious, I could still run and cycle on the stationary bike, but I couldn’t swim. In January 2005 I cut my knee and had 14 stitches. It was raining, and I slipped on a bridge whilst running, (it always happens at the furthest point in your run). I stumbled to the road and tried to hitch a lift. It was 7am, I was dirty, bleeding, no-one stopped, so I jumped in front of a car. The guy was on his way home from a party. I don’t know what he was on but he almost crashed twice. It was quite surreal.
Any other way you kick-start your endorphins?
I’ve tried skydiving and bungee jumping. I really liked the skydiving, and would perhaps someday pursue it a bit further, a course or something radical. On terra firma I’ve tried golf, but really suck at it. It gives me time with the family though and if I had more time available I would love to get better at it, you know maybe not lose 18 balls on the back nine. I would like to learn to play the guitar, definitely a goal for the future.
Your favourite saying?
“You gotta love it.”
How do you speed things up in the transitions?
In XTERRA transitions aren’t as crucial as triathlons where you need to get with the main pack in the ride. There are lots of tricks though, like having your shoes in the pedals, gloves on the handle bars, glasses already in the helmet.
What pumps your adrenalin or really scares you?
I’m not too fond of heights, so I went sky diving and bungee jumping which really got the adrenalin flowing. To me a race isn’t scary. It is exciting, and I love the butterflies in my stomach before every race. It makes you feel alive!
Ever hum a tune while you’re racing?
Normally it’s something I just heard on the radio that just sticks for the entire ride. It’s very blood sugar related though, and normally wears off after a while.
Red Bull gives me ……”the edge that everyone wants.”
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