Rider Check with Will Soffe

Mar 11, 2010

Will Soffe is a South West pinner who's been doing well on the race scene. I recently got the chance to talk to him about riding, racing and life.

Enjoy his interview and the pics inside,

Name:
Will Soffe

Age:
23

Where do you call Home?:
Chudleigh in Devon


How long have you been riding for?:
I started riding XC when I was 12 and then progressed through trials, BMX, freeride and finally started racing downhill when I was 19.

What’s your local spot, what sort of riding is it?:
My local is Haldon and there are some fun XC hacks and some light DH. I also have a secret track which is 30 seconds of pretty intense terrain!

Fav place to ride:
Whistler, best summer of my life. Just the sickest place to ride and live. In the UK my favourite tracks are Bala and Fort William.


Fav riders:
Sam Hill, loved his style since he was on the Ironhorse-Madcatz team with Rennie and Atkinson. Justin Barcia (MX) just so aggressive and stylish, and loose as anything!

What bike/s you riding at the moment?:
2Stage Elite9, Balfa 2Step FR, GT Zaskar, Fly Pantera.

How do you have them set up:
Low bb, wide bars, and short back end.

How’s racing going for you:
Awesome; couldn’t be happier! Did my first full NPS this year and got way too stressed about results and didn’t have fun, so I’m just not putting any pressure on myself and enjoying hanging out with my mates. Seems to be helping me go faster!

Highlights/low points of the season:
-Seeding top 10 in Expert at Ae forest NPS but then crashing in my race run.
-Walking away from a massive crash at Fort Bill from over-jumping the last hip and landing in the trees on my head.
-Winning the Kustombikes race at Bratton, it was just a little local race but it was an awesome day.
-Getting thrown out of the FOFO2 premier because Mono decided that pulling my jeans and boxers down was the best idea ever.


Best result to date and where:
Third at the British student champs two years running has to be up there!

Been on any good road trips?
I once went on an epic road trip around Europe with Matt Pinches, John Morley and Amy Dix. I as in the back of a Transporter with no windows on a seat that wasn’t bolted in. Lots of crazy Swiss and French tracks and some messy nights out. I was the highest placed Brit in Senior in the Maxxis cup at Mont Genevre too.

Best trip/ride of the year?
Went for a ride at Llantrissant, seriously hungover with Greg Hampton and Rob Hinds and we met up with Adam Price. It was just a super mellow day, getting loose and riding some mint tracks.

Got any funny stories from the summer?
My birthday was pretty rad. Had a barbeque and got drunk. Rode mini-bikes and got the slip and slide out. Threw some shapes on the trampoline bike. Ash Mullane danced so hard that he dislocated his knee. Don’t really remember a lot after that actually!


You got any sponsors you want to thank?
-Pete at 2Stage has been the man sorting me out with kit and parts. He and Trev have kept my bike running sweet all year.
-Ben at Torico has been great at sorting me out parts and race entries and kit etc.
-My parents for repeatedly driving me to Scotland and Wales for the NPS!

Who are your main rivals?
Adam Price: I love riding with this boy; aggressive rider. The most sarcastic person ever!
Ash Mullane: He always gets so competitive it’s hard not to want to beat him. Hopefully he will come back super strong when his knee is sorted.


What are you aims for next season?
Just have fun, I ride so much better when I’m doing cutties and scrubs and not worrying about times or results or who’s giving it the big one about winning. I love being on bikes and I really want to make the most of it.

Where do you hope to be in 3 years both with riding and in life?
In riding: I hope I’m still having fun on bikes and racing. And hopefully by then I can afford a mini-bike and an MX bike too!
In life: After I graduate I’m planning to do teacher training, so hopefully in three years I will be educating young minds. And I hope I will be living with my girlfriend Rosie.

Few randoms:
-I can wiggle my ears.
-I hate shepherd's pie. I do not know why anyone would eat it.


Fav colour:
I had a Cove Shocker that I liked because it was pink. I then found out it was actually blue - I’m color-blind.

Fav band:
Hilltop Hoods, Billy Talent, Late of the Pier.

Fav food:
Cheeseburgers!

Fav saying:
Anything from Nitro Circus.