Part two of Trials Australia's chat with Jack Field winner of Woodstrokes - the first World Freestyle Trials Championship, recently held in France.
We pick it up at the start of Saturdays competition.
So how did the actual competition day pan out?
Well after such a hectic lead up Saturday came around and every one was excited. But being an automatic qualifier to the main event I got to have a sleep in! The rest of the qualifying riders made their way to the comp and got ready for their first practice session of the day. There were riders from all over europe eager to grab their spot as one of the 2 wild card entries for the main event. It wasn't to long and 1pm came round and its was time for qualifying.
How were you guys scored by the judges?
The riders go out with a 2 minute run and have to pull off the best tricks they can in that time. They are judged just like a fmx, skate or a bmx event with style, trick difficulty, course usage, and overall skill level.
With Julien, Tom Pages (Front flipping X-Fighters rider), Pierre-Eduard Ferry (World mtb Legend), Matthias Dandois (2 times world flatland bmx champion) and myself as the qualifying judging panel we quickly realised there was an extremly high level of riders for these qualifying rounds. After all the riders had completed their two x 2 minute rounds we came to a decision and 14yr old Romain Chalier and Bruno Glub both from France will go through to the main event.
So I assume now the qualifying rounds are over you change hat from judging to riding?
Yeah right, the Main event comes up and now we have 2 x 2min rounds to impress the judges, with the top 5 riders going through to the finals. All the riders go out hard knowing they have such a high level to compete against. Every one was trying for new and differnt lines, but there was some good and bad endings! Hampuz Fardby from Sweden came up short on one of his jumps - shooting himself over the bars and ended with a broken arm!
And what about your run, give us the skinny on that.
Well my first run came up, and I was scheduled to run before Julien DePont so I knew i had to pull something decent to impress. I went out with my planed run that i had been trying to memorise for the last two days and stick to it as much as possible. I went for a more flowing run than the others, and tried to use all the objects on the course. I also tried to keep the time between tricks as short as possible. I didn't pull any thing i felt to be too crazy, as i knew as long as i could stick the run, and stay on, i had a pretty good chance to go through to the finals. At the end of my run, after pulling a superman seat grab over the large freestyle ramp, I went straight into the quarter pipe, - and as I aired out of the quarter i got bag roll on my rear tyre and it shot the back of my bike across to the opposite side - that I really didn't want! It caused me to land all crossed up and threw me over the bars into the hard rocky landing!
Straight after me Julien came out for his first run and pulled off an awsome set with big tricks and used most of the course, so i quickly realise that he was the man to beat.
The second run came around and i went out once again with my plan. I really wanted to stick to it this time as I knew my best chance of winning was being consistant. It worked! I stuck to the plan and pull off a clean run. But it wasn't enough and Julien won the first round of the main event!
So that sounded like a pretty intense round, who was left standing for the finals?
It was cut down to the top 5 riders being Julien Dupont, Chris Braund, Johan Picas, German rider Adrian Guggemos and myself.
They scheduled a bit of time to have a short rest and prepare our bikes for the finals, but that rest time quickly turned into more of a media session with french TV channels and magazines doing interviews with us under the shade of the Red Bull tent.
The time came and all the riders were told to gear up - we had just 15min before the final round!
The whole place was a buzz! All the spectators were hanging over the fence trying to get a closer view as each of us came down for their first run. Adrian was up first - he came out with some big moves over the freestyle ramp and quarter, but then struggled on linking his run together, getting a little lost in the giant park, he hit the 20ft double to wallride and landed awkardly on the down ramp slaming himself hard into the ground. He had to lay there for a while trying to regain his breath. He walked back to the pits to try and recover for his second run. Next up was Johan Picas, then Chris Braund. Both guys had a similar run with small flips and lots of technical trials style, but not scoring big on the larger fmx style ramps.
And how did you fair?
My run was up and i rolled into the arena to make my way up onto the starting platform, my heart was really pounding, but i tried to stay calm and think of it as a show and have fun. I was trying to visualizing my run, then my time started and I dropped from the platform into the arena. I made my way around the course ticking off each obstacle and trick in my head as i went. It works for me have a structure and a plan. I tried to pull as many moves as possible, even when i was riding between obstacles i try to throw in something tricky to keep my run flowing. Then after what seemed an eternity my 2 minutes were up. I had managed to stick on the bike for the entire run and I was happy, but I knew i could do better.
Next up Julien came out with a more planed run and linked things together superbly, throwing flips in just about every where! I quickly realised I was going to have to really step it up for my final run if i was going to have any chance of winning. But while being an awsome run towards the end he threw the bike away, and landing hard on his shoulder.
The Final run was up and Adrian was first once again, he came out and threw in some more technical moves with his big fmx style and was really looking good, but once again half way through his run the fmx ramp took another casualty and Adrian came up short. He bounced from the top of the landing ramp almost holding onto it, but finally washed out and plowed into the dust. He lay there once again but pulled himself up and farewelled the crowd!
Next up was Johan and Chris, again they both pulled out a very similar run. Chris threw in some more technical flips and tricks on some new lines and clearly edged his way infront of his fellow team mate.
My final run was up and I knew i needed to keep it together! I went out once again sticking to my plan and trying to stay consistant, ticking off each trick and obstacle in my head as i go. I pulled off all the bigger tricks that any of the other riders had tried, and threw in some new lines that no one had attempted, including a 20ft step hip from behind the quarter, the backflip step up on the shipping container, and a backflip step up over the wooden northshore style double, but as my run drew to a close i knew i need something new and bigger! I pulled in for the final freestyle jump, I hit the ramp and pulled back for a flip combo. It was only a 1 handed flip and in Australia i had done it hundreds of times effortlessly so i wasnt worried. But once again as i leave the 8m radius kicker it shot my bike way higher and faster then i had expected. It turned out almost identical as the botched attempt on Thursday, thowing me into something that was definitely not going to end nicely! I bailed from the bike and land on the down ramp! My Gas Gas bounced down beside me, i pick it up, and completly out of breath, kicked it back into into life. With a hand full of throttle I clean it out and manage to finish my run with a few small flips. I saluted the crowd and it was amazing - they got right behind me and went crazy.
But next up is Julz, and being the country hero and godfather of freestyle trials, I knew he wouldnt go down with out a fight. In his final run he put it all together with some huge tricks and kept it consistant to finish it off. The crowd went ballistic and cheered every one on for putting on such a good event.
It was a really tough wait while they tallied up the scores, so all the riders headed to the Red Bull tent for a signing session and a few cold drinks.
30 min later they called every one to the presentation stand to announce the winners......... I'd WON!
I couldnt believe what had actually happened and it wasnt untill i got back to my room and had a shower ready for the after party that i had a chance to stop and think of what this win meant. Still now its hard to believe!
Congratulations Jack. It's incredible that some aussie kid from the east coast can take it to the best and come out number #1. You have every right to be proud of your achievement.
Now your back home in Australia I suppose it's your normal hectic life working on new events and travelling the country performing freestyle trials shows!
Sure is. We have a pretty hectic schedule of events coming up around Australia, a show in New Caledonia and another huge one in Singapore at the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Julien DuPont, Chris Bruand and Jonan Picas are coming over to perform with me at the Singapore grand prix. That's the first four placegetters from Woodstrokes! Should be a hoot!
I really want to thank every one for all the support and help, I really couldn't have done it without them. Especially all the guys i ride with - Jack Kavanagh, The showtime Team, Bayard and his parents for the compound to train at, Paul and Karen at The Hell Team, Gas Gas Australia, Jason and Marissa at LKI, my Parents and sister Kate, and of course the one who keeps me sane and motivated Rhianna.
Thanks for the time Jack, Trials Australia and I'm sure all the trials community in Australia wish you all the best.