The Interview: Taylor Vernon - The Young Elite

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THE INTERVIEW: TAYLOR VERNON - THE YOUNG ELITE

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Taylor Vernon is one of the new generations of downhill World Cup riders that we're going to see a lot more of in years to come. He's the young gun in the GT Factory Racing team, riding and training alongside two of the best downhill riders in the World. Despite the limelight the team is under, Vernon is the quiet, unassuming type, hiding his light under a bushel until he's out riding his bike. Despite being such a young athlete on the world stage, Vernon has experienced both the highs and lows the sport has to offer. From adversity - after breaking his back at Crankworx L2A in an horrific crash in 2013 - he climbed back on his bike with the support of those around him to turn things around and build himself back up. His efforts secured him the top step at a World Cup in the USA last year.

2015 was another big year for Vernon - though perhaps one he'd gladly see the back of - because in making the step up to Elites, he found that the jump from Juniors wasn't as easy as it appeared. Having broken his thumb in New Zealand on a pre-season training trip, Vernon had to start from scratch yet again. But the experience of being a new Elite rider has made him all the wiser for it. Combining that with his skills on track, Vernon is a bright and talented rider who will be on the scene for many years to come.

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2015 was your first year in Elites. How did you feel going into the year with the step up from Juniors? Did it turn out how you expected?

I didn't know what to expect! I’d had a winter of training harder than ever before at camps in New Zealand and California with coach Alan Milway and I was really fit, I felt in great shape, had loads of practice on the bike under my belt so I was pretty confident going into the season, I just wanted to crack on and see how it panned out. But I guess I put too much pressure on myself you know? I thought I needed to be higher up the rankings. Injuring my thumb (on the last day of riding in New Zealand) definitely put me back - though actually my first race of the season at Lourdes went pretty well! I have to admit it's been a much tougher rookie year than I'd have liked. I've tried really hard to pinpoint why that is but apart from what was in my own head it's hard to pinpoint anything…

Other than the obvious (riding with the top riders in the World), what other differences are there for a rider in Elites?

More time to practice! That and following the top boys down make a real difference, just being around them, like when Minnaar smashes through a rock section and I can take that line - you don't get that half as much in Juniors, I'd be looking at GoPros from the team back at the pits! Apart from that, the biggest difference is seeding. I know that I should easily be able to come in the top 80 but somehow it's really nerve racking. I have found it tough adjusting but it seems to be getting easier to manage, the more races I do.


You failed to qualify for Lenzerheide this year. What went on, and how did you pick yourself up? Would you have done anything differently?

I dunno, I just couldn't get on with the track. I struggled all through practice and then in my (qualifying) run I went off track and that was it. It was real hard watching the race , it's just sh** knowing that you'll be watching that weekend instead of riding but it's a fair enough system and something I won't let happen again now I've had that experience. I've put it behind me and cracked on. The thought of it's not completely out of my head yet but it's almost gone! Yeah this season's done and I'm going into next year fresh now.

What injuries have you suffered from this year? How did it impact your season?

At the very start of the season, last day of training in NZ I broke my thumb. We had loads of timed training sessions out there and I was feeling so fast. Because of that, I missed the first scheduled race of the season at Crankworx Rotorua, then Round 1 of the British Nationals, and loads of training. I know a broken thumb doesn't sound that much, but try holding on to the bars with a messed up thumb! It hurts bad! I guess it was in my head as well that I wasn't 100%. Having said that, I got it together for Lourdes and finished 30th. My thumb had completely healed by the time I raced Fort Bill but I just put in a sh** run!

More recently I did a great case on a massive jump at Affy’s awesome Red Bull Hardline. I was loving it so much until then! Anyway, I damaged a ligament in my ankle which put me out of Hardline and saw me limping round the BDS round at Antur Stiniog a couple of weeks later.

Ouch snapped wheel in half and my foot ???? that hurt !! #hardline done me. @veroniquesandler

A video posted by taylorvernon67 (@taylorvernon67) on Sep 11, 2015 at 2:28pm PDT

Do you think being in a team as a new Elite with arguably two of Britain's best riders put extra pressure on you, and did that pressure help or hinder?

It takes the pressure off. The spotlight is on them so I can just crack on and do my thing in their shadow! They help me loads and with those two seeing the team right for big results and UCI points, there is less direct pressure on me.The pressure on me is mostly from me.

Neil Stewart, Jacob Dickson and a few other top Juniors are going to be entering Elites next year. What would be your advice to these guys as they start riding with the big guns?

Same as I'm saying to myself - relax, enjoy it and don't expect too much too soon.


Looking back, 2014 was a pretty successful year all things considered?

2014 was awesome. It started back in 2013 with the doctor saying I wouldn't be racing that season...to then go on to win the World Cup at Windham, and finish third overall. No one could ask for more than that. I had such awesome support from the team, my family and Harris & Ross. Their support got me back out there a whole year earlier than the doctors had thought. [After the L2A crash] I remember getting on an XC bike to ride a cycle path and it felt amazing!

I went into the 2014 season with a plan to just suck it and see. I literally rocked up at the first race with no bike practice and kept building on the plan we had in mind. Before I knew it, I was pushing for a podium spot at the World Cup in America, and then going into the final round, I had a good chance of robbing a title. In the end I was third in the overall, it was amazing! Even going to Worlds that year I was in with a pretty good chance, but like many others I went down early in that one!



It hasn't all been plain sailing for you. 2013 definitely wasn't your year. Can you remind us what you went through?

2013 was pretty eventful. I started well with a British Downhill Series win, then I went to my first ever World Cup at Fort William where I seeded in first place but then I got a puncture in the finals. From thereon, everything went pear-shaped. I think I was panicked into playing catch up with the others. I crashed out at Val di Sole, then a few weeks later at Crankworx DH Air was the one that could have ended it all - strapped down to a hospital bed in a foreign country with spinal injuries being told it was going to be at least 18 months till I could ride again was a BIG 'UN.

Your massive crash at Crankworx L2A almost ended your career. What were your feelings returning to the event this year?

It was a chilled weekend this year at L2A. I would have felt a tit if I did the same again! It was exactly two years and two days after I'd had the incident up there. I was fine about it too till I got given the same race plate; L2A #21. I didn't tell the rest of the team because I didn't want them to freak out too. Next thing, I'm in the start gate and the air ambulance starts hovering over my head! I just wanted out of there. Anyway, the track was dead rough, the result wasn't good, but I've laid that ghost to rest now.

How did you and your family deal with that big crash? It must have been hard to convince them that you wanted to get back on the bike?

Nah, they were always behind me 100%. They wouldn't have let me stop racing, they know what it means to me, that it would break me if they said "you’re not to race again". I'm bloody grateful that they stick by my side, this is what we do as a family. I put them through stress and we don't do any of the luxury holidays and stuff like that since I started racing 15 years ago. If they do get a holiday, it's at a World Cup! All of my racing achievements come from them being right there behind me.

If chicks dig scars then I'm doing alright.. #scar #huge #memories #motivation

A photo posted by taylorvernon67 (@taylorvernon67) on Jul 20, 2013 at 11:21am PDT

What is it like travelling with the Athertons? Is it intense to be in such a close-knit team with really strong characters?

It's eventful isn't it! Nah it's good fun. Races are serious but we have a laugh as well. There's a real close bond there and we're all good mates - riders, mechanics, physios, support team - I've known Tom Lloyd who helps look after us on the road since I was a nipper. He's the man. If Gee and Rach kick off, I just sit back and watch...it can be pretty funny! They aren't half so serious and super-pro as they are made out to be. We've had some pretty hectic experiences like when Gee took us to the wrong airport on the way home from Windham. We dropped off the hire car and were wandering round the airport looking for Terminal 8 but there was no Terminal 8! An hour's drive through the Bronx with some crazed taxi driver putting down the passes got us sorted though!



Going back to the beginning of it all, how did you get into riding bikes?

I've always ridden something since I was five. I had my first moto at Christmas 2001 when I was six. I was British Schoolboy Champion and had second at World Minis. Then when I was about 12, my dad opened Bike It Cycles. I'd always ridden a BMX and DJ bike, it's all we did as kids, but when I saw these mountain bikes coming in and out, we built up this little 4-inch travel slopestyle bike into a DH bike and I've been hooked since!

How did you make the jump into racing at the national and then international level?

Having a great season in 2012 with BDS overall and National Champs wins got me noticed. I was lucky to bag a deal with Atherton Racing which was a massive step - a dream. I became a Junior, faced faster riders, World Cups, travelled with the big rig and the GT crew, it was a bit different to when it was me, mum and dad (Rachel and Jase) in the van!


If you weren't a professional mountain biker, what would you have done as a career?

An F1 driver. Those guys live the dream! What I wouldn't do is what I've been doing a bit these last few weeks; helping my uncle on a building site. That's the hardest job I've ever done!

Where's your favourite place to ride in the UK?

There's loads of stuff in the Welsh valleys, it's full of good tracks and there's never a shortage of people to ride with either.


What’s your favourite World Cup track?

Lourdes. It's fast, technical, flowing, it always has you on your toes. It's physical but the crazy French fans give you the boost you need when you get to the bottom!

When you're not riding bikes, what else do you get up to?

Moto, Go Karting...to be honest, I'm most often on my bike!


Who's your inspiration and why?

Ricky Carmichael. He was the greatest of all time. Flat-out and taking crazy chances that somehow always paid off - he was the man!

What's your target for next season?

To have fun on my bike and to ride like I know I can. I've been racing tight all year and can't really say why. It's going to be 110% pushing hard for some British podiums and hopefully shaking up some World Cup results but hopefully I'll be a bit less hard on myself!

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Follow Taylor via his Facebook page, Twitter account and Instagram account.

Taylor Vernon's racing history
2015 - Elites // 30th at Lourdes World Cup // 33rd Leogang World Cup // 46th overall at end of World Cup season.
2014 - Juniors // 1st at Windham World Cup // 1st at British Downhill Series Round 5
2013 - Juniors // Signs for GT Factory Racing // Seeded 1st at Fort William World Cup // 1st overall at British Downhill Series
2012 - Youth // British National Champion // 1st overall at British Downhill Series // 1st at iXS Cup Round 3 // 1st at WMBDA Rheola
2011 - Youth // 1st at WMBDA Rheola Round 1 // 1st overall at British Downhill Series
2009 - Juveniles // 4th at Simply Downhill Wentwood Trophy (Vernon's first ever race)

Photos by Nathan Hughes, Matthew Delorme, Dave Trumpore, Yasmeen Green and Sven Martin.

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MENTIONS: @GTBicycles / @natedh9 / @mdelorme / @davetrump / @TheHillsAreAlive / @geebeebee / @ContinentalMTB / @iXSsports / @shimano / @BellBikeHelmets

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