10 for 10 - #4 Sam Hill

Apr 6, 2015
by Nathan Hughes  
10 for 10 interview series




SAM HILL


Age: 29
Nationality: Australia
2014 rank: 4th
Experience: 13 years elite
Current Team: CRC Nukeproof


Sam Hill probably doesn't need an introduction, but as the word count's on the slim-side we're happy to bulk it up a bit. Maybe some people haven't heard of Sam Hill after-all... Like the very northern-most Inuit tribes-people for example. They finally got broadband and a Pinkbike account and they want to know some stats... 'Tunngahugit'! Well for your information father of Bam and most recently, Drake, is a 3 time World Champion (2006, 2007 & 2010) and has taken the World Cup overall twice (2007 & 2009). Last year he found his way back to the top and it really looked like he meant it. Something many people may not know is that apparently you can say 'what in Sam Hill was that?' and it means 'what the hell was that?'. It's a Google-approved phrase. Should be useful the next time you see the man himself riding a bicycle.


Sam Hill hasn t won here since his Word Champs victory in 2007. Seven years later he will be looking for that little bit of extra pace after qulifying 3rd.

PB: 1: Where and how have you been spending your off-season?

bigquotesI've been at home in Perth, West Oz. My wife and I welcomed our second little boy into the world and I've just been enjoying being a family man at home. I've had Mike Jones out the last two months also training for this season - Sam


PB: 2. What was the highlight of your 2014 season and why was it so significant to you?

bigquotesWinning Mt St Anne World Cup was my highlight. It's something I was trying so hard to do again after a long drought from winning - Sam


Not a steep enough track for Sam Hill but MSA is still to come and will be looking for a win.

PB: 3. Was there a moment or period you considered to be your season ‘low’ and for what reason?

bigquotesNot really. The only race I feel I should of done better was at Leogang. I just rode too tight and that annoyed me - Sam



PB: 4. Are there changes you are looking to make to your approach mentally or physically for 2015?

bigquotesI'm always trying to be a stronger rider - Sam


If all goes to plan Sam Hill and his Kangaroo will be celebrating with Champagne tomorrow.

PB: 5. How have you split your time between ‘on’ and ‘off’ the big bike training?

bigquotesI pretty much get my training done for the day and spend the rest of my time with my family. I don't get to see them when I'm away racing so I cherish all the time I can with them when I'm home - Sam


PB: 6. When inspiration has run low lately, to whom or what have you turned to kick your motivation levels up a gear?

bigquotes My two boys give me all the motivation I need. I want to do good for them - Sam


Sam Hill celebrates

PB: 7. What bit of kit are you looking forward to using most at the races?

bigquotesAll of it to be honest. I love my Nukeproof bikes and all the equipment on them - Sam


PB: 8. Which rider do you see as the biggest threat to the 2015 title?

bigquotesHopefully myself Smile but I think there is going to be a few guys in the mix - Sam


Sam Hill just ended his dry spell in MSA and stated he was just getting started soon after. Hill qualified in eleventh but was he holding his cards close today

PB: 9. Which race or single moment of the coming season are you most excited for?

bigquotes I'm looking forward to pretty much every round this year. I think most the tracks are going to be good but I'm most excited to be heading back to Andorra for World Champs - Sam


PB:10. Complete the sentence: ‘I won’t be racing a single World Cup without....'

bigquotes ...my bike - Sam

Coming in hot after over four and a half minutes slaying boulders but ya still gotta have a bit of look to see if you re in the green. Sam Hill checking the numbers mid flight.

MENTIONS: @Nukeproof-Bicycles / @ChainReactionCycles / @troyleedesigns / @FiveTen / @mavic / @schwalbe


Posted In:
Interviews Sam Hill


Author Info:
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Member since Jul 19, 2007
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75 Comments
  • 178 1
 Has no one discovered these articles yet?? I can't handle the pressure of first comment so... Flat Pedals Win Medals
  • 4 0
 nailed it!
  • 10 1
 Let's skip all these guys and get Eddie Masters on here.
  • 3 10
flag danonow (Apr 7, 2015 at 17:23) (Below Threshold)
 clip pedals win medals?
  • 5 0
 @danonow "Nah" ~ Sam Hill 2015
  • 112 9
 lets be honest the sam hill interview was the one everyone was waiting for.
  • 28 89
flag fracasnoxteam FL (Apr 6, 2015 at 22:15) (Below Threshold)
 Not everyone.
  • 72 6
 nah, everyone.
  • 16 7
 I wasnt. Waiting for the Rat. Lets be honest. Not everyone is waiting for the rat interview.
  • 32 0
 Lets be honest, the only thing we are all realy waiting for, is sunday.
  • 27 0
 Why wait?
www.pinkbike.com/u/natedh9/blog
  • 1 0
 LOL! Talk about spoiler alert. Thanks, trailblitz... and I mean it in a good way. =)
  • 4 2
 I am just waiting for next years, when Stevie is back at #1
  • 1 0
 Just a few more days wait now! Can't wait to see who's hot this year
  • 44 3
 "nah"
  • 42 7
 ‘I won’t be racing a single World Cup without...my bike'
Haha classic Sam, short answers and saying it how it is. Think the tracks will suit him well this year, with Val di Sole and Andorra returning Smile
  • 56 0
 I'm surprised the whole article didn't consist of one word answers.
  • 24 3
 Really isn't that part of why we like him.
  • 10 1
 ye
  • 7 2
 Meh...
  • 5 1
 Aight
  • 9 1
 People's champ, get her done this year son!
  • 1 0
 I'm i the only one wondering what he would do on a new and updated (carbon) Iron horse Sunday? Yes I know they suck now. It's hypothetical.
  • 24 0
 "I just rode too tight and that annoyed me" - Sam
Every other rider would be happy to ride tight, but not Sam, he´s loose as f*ck
  • 19 0
 Did anyone else think he was older than 29? The way everyone speaks about him being old school and stuff makes him sound ancient. The dude is still way young and will be a top contender for the podium for a loooong time.
  • 5 0
 He's been elite for 13 years and was Jr champ before that. So he was on the circuit in 2000. That's old school era in DH.
  • 1 0
 Perspective from another article today: He won that Jr on an M1. & they're releasing the M16 this spring. & that's Intense, think about how many DH frames have come & gone on brands that refresh every year.
  • 2 0
 I guess what you have to keep in mind, is that Sam was no late bloomer - he scored podiums as a 17/18 year old junior (back when the juniors raced in the same category as elite, think 2002, 2003) and got the bronze medal at world champs in his first year as an elite rider, along with second in the world cup overall (2004). He followed that up with silver, then gold, and being runner up in the world cup overall for the next two years too (2005+2006). He was shaking things up at a really young age, so yes, he has been at the top for a long time but as you said, he could still have a while left in him
  • 25 11
 10for10 is a great concept but i don't feel like asking each rider the exact same questions works quite right.
  • 30 3
 Why not? It's the best way to compare, and they're generic enough to apply to every rider while still being interesting. I'm a fan.
  • 1 1
 Not everything needs comparison, sometimes just trying to actually feel the riders emotions and thoughts on races, bikes, family and other off season shenanigans need no comparison rather more a contrasted approach. Well at least IMO just adding a hippie's 2¢
  • 5 1
 CUZ EVERYONE WONT BE RACING WITHOUT THEIR BIKE!
  • 1 0
 would love if each rider would speak less conservatively on the same set of q's, then it would work right
  • 10 0
 I like this series, its interesting. I'd be intrigued to know why there isn't a parallel series about the women's racers, or if that even occurred to pinkbike? I mean, we've been hearing for a while now about women stuggling for sponsors and exposure etc. This seems like a cheap and easy way to give exposure parity.
  • 10 0
 "Hopefully myself" - I smiled at the honesty of that. Up there with his now-famous "nah" Smile
  • 8 0
 Quintessentially Sam Hill. Lets his riding do the talking! Here's hoping he has a good year from a fellow West Aussie.
  • 6 1
 I think that's the best PB8 answer so far. I hope he gets his revenge in Val di Sole this year. Its going to be a victory against the track and against himself.. Good luck Sam!
  • 19 15
 I like Sam Hill, he's an incredible rider and true professional. But... why does everyone lick his arse so much? I get the whole wild riding and flat pedals thing, but he isn't the only rider who does this. He just seems pretty boring and he's painful to watch and listen to in interviews. Here come the neg props from the fanboys.
  • 12 1
 Yeah, I hear you but Gee is also quite difficult to like going on interviews. Gwinn doesn't possess a bottomless pit of charisma either. They can't all be Ratboys or Warners I suppose but at least their riding is brilliant to watch.
  • 6 0
 You are asking why people lick his arse and then complain about how boring his interviews are. He is not treated as a god in DH because of his interviews (nor is anyone else). His arse is licked because he revolutionized the sport. After he came on the scene people started to ride different and the bikes fundamentally changed to enhance this style of riding. I'm no historian here, so it would be nice for PB to do an article documenting all the influence Hill had on the sport and industry.
  • 4 0
 Long before DH racing was well televised online, Sam Hill always had some of my favorite segments on Bike DVDs. That, for me, is why I started liking him. He's more exciting to watch than a lot of other riders, IMO. Nobody came around that last grass corner at Merribel like he did, for instance. He's also a strong voice in favor of truly rough tracks, which I think a lot of riders really want the WC to cater to.
  • 4 0
 While his interviews are guarded I think the reason we all love Sam Hill is his ability to ride lines that nobody else does. Also things like coming in second at word champs after slamming the ground like a ton of bricks. He is one of the most exciting rides to watch and if they tape Lourdes ecspect some race run only secret lines going down!! Best of luck this season Sam!
  • 3 1
 Pure inspiration, sick riding style, really looking forward to Sam's bag of tricks, always great to catch his runs and bite my nails on every corner, best of luck man..! P.S. Not a fan of riding on Flats, but this guy makes me wonder...
  • 5 0
 It's like reading a Kimi Raikkonen interview.
  • 2 0
 that first paragraph was entertaining. too bad the interviewees don't get as absurd and funny, thank you nathan hughes, great series!
  • 4 1
 Sam lets his riding speak for itself!
  • 3 0
 Anyone knows what kind of font on the first photo?
  • 6 0
 "Sam doesn't need a berm" font?
  • 3 1
 When you're on top, your worst enemy is yourself.. Everyone else is just in the mix Smile
  • 2 0
 Good luck Sam!!! you're the man!
  • 2 0
 I think this year is going to be dominated by Sam Hill!
  • 2 0
 he has a tough rival.. which happen to be himself
  • 2 0
 lets the riding do the talking.
  • 4 2
 "Should of"? Come on, editor.
  • 3 1
 "I won't be racing a single world cup without... my flats"
  • 2 0
 Glad to see he can balance family and riding so well.
  • 1 0
 Good luck Sam!!!! Rock n roll...
  • 1 0
 long life to the king!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 I love how Sam's extremely proud of his bike.
  • 1 0
 What's looser, Sam Hill or a hot dog down down a hallway?
  • 2 0
 Noice! Good luck Sam!
  • 2 1
 Apparently he doesn't like getting beaten by Gee-string.Haha.
  • 3 2
 the opening paragraph is atrocious
  • 1 0
 Sam clearly lets his riding do the talking...
  • 1 0
 Zzzzzz sorry but the answers where predictable and boring
  • 1 0
 Hey Sam! Do you miss your old Iron horse bikes?
  • 1 2
 ‘I won’t be racing a single World Cup without... My flat pedals Wink
Flat pedals win medals !!!
  • 1 0
 The legend
  • 1 0
 My favorite rider!
  • 1 1
 Nuff said! Looking forward to Sam crushing it this season!
  • 1 0
 Sam Freaking Hill!
  • 1 1
 Legendary
  • 1 1
 that helme tpainting
  • 1 1
 He's the man.
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