Jackson Goldstone's Pint-Sized Custom Trek Session - Bike Check & Interview

Jackson Goldstone is a household name in mountain biking. He's part of a new generation of athletes that, unlike many of those before them, has the opportunity to consider mountain biking as a viable career choice to pursue with their talents. He's now being supported by Trek, and we caught up with him at our Squamish HQ to check out his new custom extra-small Trek Session.

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Congrats on the new ride! You’ve ridden a bunch of bikes over the years, how does this one compare?

Jackson: Thanks! I’ve always ridden what I could fit—which has always been pretty much the smallest bike a brand makes. I’ve ridden lots of bikes, from Lil Shredder, Spawn, Norco, etc., and they’ve been great, but it’s been hard to find a bike that is the right size for me and what I want to do. So the fact Trek was willing to do a custom DH bike for me was huge.

Also, Trek has always been a dream brand for me. I’d always stop and see the booth at Crankworx and I’ve always wanted one of their bikes. I look up to Brett and Brandon a lot, and I’ve known Shandro for a while, so I think being supported by them is a great situation.

So what’s different about your Session?

Jackson: Trek made a custom sized DH bike for me, so it’s the first time I’ve been on a DH bike that actually fits. They took my measurements and designed the bike to fit me perfect. It’s about an inch shorter and quite a bit lower than normal. I tried a regular small Session last year and it was fun, but it was way too big.

We’ve had a lot of snow so I haven’t been able to ride it too much since I got the bike, but I’ve done some short DH laps and my initial impressions are that it’s so smooth. It’s like riding on soft pillows!

I’ll also be on a Fuel EX Women’s frame with 27.5 wheels, because it has lower standover and is a smaller frame overall. I’m still going to be riding a Spawn for a DJ bike until I grow into the Ticket and Ticket S. But I’m fully committed to Trek.

You kinda kicked your dad’s ass in that video… What is your dad still better at?

Jackson: Going up hill.

When we shot photos of your bike you were pretty excited about the colour. How did you come up with it?

Jackson: Once I knew it was coming I was on the site 24/7, using the custom builder [Project 1] to find the colour combination. I was thinking blue and white, or maybe a light blue and yellow, but decided “Pacific Blue” and “Old Style Gold” look good together. I already had the bright blue Chris King stuff and it totally worked out I think.

Who are you stoked on watching ride these days?

Brett and Brandon for slopestyle obviously, those guys are next level. On the DH side I look up to Minnaar a lot—literally too because he is really tall. Finn is inspiring too, I kind of think he’s blazing a path for other young riders like me.

I also really like Danny Macaskill’s riding, I wouldn’t be riding without him I think. When I was super young, like 3-4 years old I’d type D-A-N-N-Y into YouTube and I’d watch those trials videos on repeat.

You’re in public school, how does that work?

Jackson: Well, a lot of my teachers are mountain bikers so they understand I think. They give me a lot of homework though, I’m going on a big trip this weekend, and I have to do a week’s worth of homework on the flight…

Ron, now that it’s got potential to be an actual “career” for him, how have you approached Jackson’s riding as a parent?

Ron: I’ve seen a lot of really talented kids, especially in BMX, where they get pushed too hard and it ends up killing the joy for them and they quit riding. I’ve worked to make sure he has opportunities without pushing him, but he’s had to work to capitalize on those opportunities. If he stops loving it then so be it, but for now he rides harder than any other kid I know. He just won’t stop riding.

Jackson, at this stage in your riding you have a lot of options in front of you. Downhill? Slopestyle? eMTB YouTube channel? Where are you going to take your riding?

Jackson: Honestly I don’t think about that a lot… mostly because it probably changes a lot. When I’m riding DJs a lot in the off season I’m all about being a slopestyle rider, but then when the chairlift opens I start to want to race world cups. Never XC though. I’d rather golf.

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Reviews and Tech Bike Checks DH Bikes Trek Trek Session Jackson Goldstone