Catching up with Brent Smith - Interview and Video

Brent Smith, from Southern Sydney, has been into bikes for the majority of his life. Previously he has been on Green to Gold Race Development program, but now things have moved on and he's now team-mates with Graeme Mudd on Summit Cycles Devinci Racing. With a great season to look forward to some goals to achieve, we caught up with this rising star of the race scene to find out more...




Who are you?

My name is Brent Smith, I am 22-years old and I am from Woronora Heights in the Sutherland Shire of Sydney.





How long have you been racing bikes?

I have been racing since I was 14. The first time I raced was at the Australian Interschools MTB Championships in 2009. That was a long time ago haha!





Why do you ride?

That sense of freedom you experience from taking the bike out of the shed and letting go in the bush is amazing. It almost feels like reality stops until you get off the bike. I ride because it gave me something to do while I was growing up and being an only child. I still ride today because it continues to excite me and it provides an escape from the troubles that you have to face in the real world.





What influenced you to start riding?

You could say it was in my blood. My Dad was a motocross racer back in his time. Mum says that she had no choice and by the time I was 18-months old, Dad had already gotten me onto a small electric moto. From there I started to race motocross and then BMX but Mum thought they were too dangerous which led me into the path of downhill. Looking back on it today, Mum regrets that decision because she thinks that moto is way safer.





What have you achieved through riding?

I have managed to achieve a bunch of personal goals over the years that I have been racing, those include:

- 2013 Australian Junior Worlds Team (South Africa) - Top 30 result
- 2012 U19's Oceania Champion (Held in New Zealand)
- 2012 Crankworx Whistler - Canadian Open U19's 3rd
- Full Elite World Cup Season in 2014: 65th South Africa and 67th Mont Sainte Anne
- 2014 IXS Cup - 29th (Mechanical)
- A number of Junior National Podiums
- A number of State Series Overall wins





What are some of the problems you have faced in your racing career and how did you overcome them?

I have had more than my fair share of mechanicals over the years. I used to think that they were my fault that they were occurring, so I tried to change my riding style to compensate for them. This ended up badly with it messing with my head and taking my riding backwards to where I didn't want or need to be. These days I have come to terms with the fact that mechanicals can happen to anyone and everyone so there is no point of letting it build up inside of me. I just let it go and try to make the best of the situations that come my way.





Who do you ride for?

I ride for the new Summit Cycles Devinci Team. Based out of the Summit Cycles shops from both Sydney and Melbourne, we have an unbeatable set up for this season.





What's your best memory from riding bikes?

When I was three years old, for Christmas, Santa got me a PeeWee 50 moto and all the gear that I needed. I couldn't even touch the ground with my toes extended so my Dad welded up a set of training wheels for it. I have never forgotten that first experience of adrenaline going through my whole body. I have been hooked ever since that day!





Who do you look up to?

I mainly look up to Ricky Carmichael and Ryan Villopto. These guys were switched on when it came to training and eating. They were driven and it is mainly because they were the ones to change my thoughts about succeeding; notgoing out, partying and drinking each weekend is going to set you behind and you can't expect the results you want without putting in the time, effort and hard work.




What are your goals for the future?

In the coming years I want to finish my car mechanics apprenticeship (currently in the final year), go to the US to race their National Series and Europe for the IXS Cup and hopefully during that time, I get my desired results so that a big team recognises me, which will take me on to the World Cups!

For the rest of my life, I would love to keep coaching kids and being a mentor for them, someone to look up to - I wish I had someone like that when I was growing up.





Sponsors: Summit Cycles, Devinci Cycles, Maxxis Tires, Joes No Flats, Sram, RockShox, Troy Lee Designs and GU energy
Instagram: @brentjcsmith @mattstaggsvisuals

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MENTIONS: @MattStaggs / @devinci / @Maxxis / @SramMedia / @troyleedesigns

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