Bruce from Wentings sits down with the newly crowned BC XC Champ Ricky Federau

This past weekend, Ricky Federau took the win at the BC XC Championships, so I got ahold of him for a few questions about his season. Here's a look at what he's been up to and what he has planned for 2007 and beyond.Bruce: Hi there! I thought it would be good to sit down and get caught up before you head to Brazil for the Pan-Am Games. It seems you organized your season into 3 parts, your Poland trip, the Eastern Canada round and now the Games and Nationals. Is that how you planned it?

RF:Yeah kind of. I think Poland was the first part then Hardwood/MSA/Felician/Pan am/Nationals is the next part then the 3rd part is like TransRockies/Worlds/World Cup finals

Bruce: How would you rate your season so far? Are you satisfied with your racing?

RF:Yes I am happy with it so far. I just keep getting better and better every week and I just think racing every weekend is really helping my form. I am racing well but I think there is still some more to come

Bruce: This weekend you captured a BC Provincial MTB title. How was that race? How important is the win for you?

RF:Yeah its fun to race at home and some friends that I don't really ever see came out to watch so that was nice. I have never won Provincials before so its nice to do. The course was unreal, tons of singletrack, my arms are so done.

Bruce: This season you are competing as a privateer. How is that going? Do you think that you will look for an established team or continue as you are?

RF:Yeah the privater thing has its pros and cons. On the one hand you got a ton of freedom to do what you want. But on the other hand its a lot of work, I am doing like 3 jobs when I am on the road, Bike racer/Mechanic/Manager, so its a lot of work.

Bruce: You are currently 42nd on UCI points and 50 in World Cup rankings, how important are those rankings to you and your long- term goals?

RF:Yeah Points don't really mean anything to me this year, I need to get a top 16 at Worlds/World Cups to get in the Olympic pool. And right now thats all that really matters to me.

Bruce: We noticed in your photos that you started the season on a hardtail and have been rolling a duallie lately. How do you select the bike to use? Are you directed by sponsors to showcase one over the other?

RF:Well the hard tail was nice in Poland, on those brutal courses. But in north America the Trek Fuel is King! Its so nice. My fuel is lighter then most guys hard tails anyways so its full advantage Ricky. As for the sponsors dictating what bike I ride, well thats a benefit of riding as a privater, I can ride what I want.

Bruce: That is all for now, have a safe flight to Brazil and we’ll check in before Nationals.