Bike
One of the brightest talents on the dirt jumping scene becomes a Red Bull athlete.
Matt Jones was in for the surprise of his life at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. Unbeknown to him he was about to get welcomed into the Red Bull family. We find out more about the 19-year-old rider who's taken the slopestyle scene by storm.
On getting his Red Bull helmet…
I had no idea that I'd be getting my helmet at the Goodwood festival, so I was in complete shock when Anthony Napolitan smashed up my old helmet and gave me the Red Bull one!
It was such a full-on event with the fastest cars, planes and bikes all thrown in together, making more noise than I've ever heard in my life! It was rad to be amongst it all, and to get to ride with some of the best dirt riders from around the globe.
When did you get into riding?
I grew up around the town of Woburn, Bedfordshire, riding mountain bikes at my local trails for the past nine years. I only started competing internationally in 2013, and since then I've travelled the world riding in the FMB World Tour.
At what point did you decide to pursue being a professional rider full time?
It was often difficult balancing school work with riding because exams left no time to get out on the bike, so it was when I chose to take a year out of education that I realised I could pursue riding as a career, and I've not stopped since.
Which trick do you love to hate?
The tricks I love to hate are always the ones that I can't quite pull…at the moment is 720s that are killing me man!
What do you think about just before you're about to drop in on a big run?
I tend to try to enjoy myself, not think too hard about what everyone else is doing, and focus on my own run. I like a good whistle, so I make my own music up on the start tower.
If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Typically the best places for me are the furthest away. I've been lucky enough to ride in New Zealand this year, which was the best time ever! But it has to be Whistler Bike Park in Canada that I'll always go back to. Whistler literally has everything, and it's all in one place!
What would your ideal event look like?
My favourite course has been at the Bearclaw Invitational on Vancouver Island, and I think if a course emulated that set-up, then it would suit me pretty well.
What advice would you give to kids today who look up to you as their inspiration?
My inspiration growing up was a UK dirt jump rider called Glen Coe, who had his own unique style and brought new tricks into contests that nobody else was doing. So I'd say your focus should be on the elements of riding that you enjoy, and from this will come your own style, and tricks that you'll enjoy learning.
If you have 30mins free what do you do with your time?
My compound is only five minutes from my house, so I'd drive there and do some digging usually.
A year from now, what would you like to have achieved?
A lot has happened in my first year on the FMB World Tour, so I'm keen for the trend to continue with more podiums and wins at gold and diamond events. The most prestigious contest of the year for me would have to be Red Bull Joyride, so to be on the podium in Whistler would for sure be a reason to celebrate a year from now!
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