Video: Behind the Scenes of Aaron Gwin's World Cup Preparation

Apr 19, 2019
by Ed Spratt  

Catch up with Aaron Gwin and go behind the scenes as he prepares for the 2019 season and launches the new Intense Factory Racing team.

Video: Red Bull

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Member since Mar 16, 2017
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126 Comments
  • 169 2
 Give that drone operator a raise.
  • 8 0
 Some of that footage was nuts! It was really in stark contrast to all those fly by / pan shots where it was obvious Gwin just rode by the person on the camera. I guess it shows the limits of current drones in more forested areas.
  • 6 0
 I won't be surprised if that drone operator name is Trevor Philips. It looks like Sandy Shore lmao !!!
  • 3 0
 @Euskafreez: Unexpected GTA on Pinkbike lol
  • 8 1
 Was moderately impressed until he dove into the trees, flying sideways, Gwin still in focus.
Then I was flipping dazzled. Mad props (see what I did there?)
  • 1 0
 Serious!!
  • 93 2
 Obi-Wan Gwinobi
  • 2 1
 Still laughing!!!
  • 66 2
 i can go faster, but my fitness holds me back. Ummm what? He is one of the fittest guys out there and has won 20 world cups...just nuts
  • 23 4
 That's AG playing the mind games! Same as Armstrong with his "it felt like there was no chain on the bike today". Can we get this freaking party started already?!?!
  • 150 1
 @WasatchEnduro:

Armstrong: “It felt like there was no chain on the bike today.”
Gwin: “Watch this.”
  • 61 1
 I think fitness holds everyone back with DH racing in the absolute sense, ie not just relative to other riders. Anyone can smash 10 seconds of trail at 100% effort with no real compromise due to fitness (ie it's just down to technique/skill/courage and maybe also outright strength), but try doing that for 3-5 minutes and even the fittest guys in the world are having to pace themselves to some degree. If you've ever raced DH you'll be aware of how utterly destroyed you are (or should be) by the end of a race run.
  • 2 4
 thought he was referring to one of his first world cups
  • 9 0
 @generationfourth: he was but then he said it still limits him from going faster.
  • 6 3
 @Socket: All true. Fitness will make anyone faster, and it's free!
  • 29 5
 @drunknride: Its not free, its the most expensive thing you'll ever earn
  • 4 0
 @drunknride: Right here is where you start paying...in sweat.
  • 7 1
 @metaam: Sweating makes you lighter. Lighter is faster
  • 1 0
 Surely we all think this? It’s just our levels are different? Assuming we’re all putting in the effort??
  • 1 0
 I think he is mostly referring to the strength and stability portion. Not just just the endurance to make it the whole way. To dive into corners and hold on through repeated hits at the speed those guys go requires monster stability just to hang on!
  • 3 1
 Not nuts. Just means courses are physical. It's also fitting since in about every sport the fitness is holding back the athlete no matter how fit he is. Of course that in here it's not just the fitness element, but it's not less important because of it. One other thing, the faster you are able to go technically, the more you get tired doing it, and consequently the more fit you need to be. If technically you are able to push really really hard, you will always be riding on your physical limits.
  • 3 1
 @DavidGuerra: I think Gwin is going to kill it this year like he did in 2012 or whatever it was. I predict 3, 4 or 5 world cup wins... But not the world championship.

Fresh motivation with the new setup and personal stake. A lackluster year in 2018.

It will all add up.

I think maybe Gwin will take four and the overall. Gee, Minnaar, and maybe Bruni or Vergier will win the others.

World championships who knows?

I'd say one of Hart, Bruni or Minnaar.

It's almost time!
  • 11 0
 @jaame: Not a single Amaury Pierron? I think your predictions are too conservative.
  • 5 3
 @neimbc: it's very unusual for someone to smash it one year and surprise everyone, and then do it again the following year. I'm not saying he won't, but I think history has shown it's unlikely
  • 3 1
 @jaame: like Gwin did?
  • 4 0
 @jaame: But Pierron had some pretty good results previously and was young, so his emergence fits pretty well with what we'd expect of a downhiller's early prime.

PLUS his jump to the top coincides perfectly with the arrival of Commencal's 29in Supreme DH super bike which seems to work really well for him.

Both of those factors are either unchanged or bettered, so I suspect we'll continue to see him at the top this season. He smoked Danny Hart and Gee Atherton at the last Portugal Cup (well Danny was only a second or two back), so he seems to be entering the season in good form.
  • 1 1
 @jaame: I think the lackluster 2018 was due being a little irritated not having a 29'er. He is gonna smash it this year
  • 8 0
 @shnboardman: or maybe having a broken and dislocated thumb had something to do with it
  • 6 0
 I can’t believe Gwinn and I have something in common. My fitness holds me back too!!!
  • 2 2
 @BenPea: Gwin was something of an anomaly. No one else that comes to mind has had back to back stellar seasons.

If I oculd choose one of Pierron or Gwin to smoke everyone, I would choose Pierron. I'm not a big fan of Gwin the personality, but it's hard to deny his class as a rider.
  • 2 0
 @hamncheez: maybe he should have rested instead of forcing it until it became a major issue.
  • 38 0
 Hey whoever is plugging me into the matrix... I'll take the Gwin training file upload... please thanks!
  • 12 0
 Access Denied
  • 29 0
 Crazy how much style Gwin can ride with when just riding for fun. Really shows how he's in total control of his bike. It's gonna be a good season!
  • 12 6
 He rarely rides practices burly descents - only 3-4 in socal. Hart and some of the other guys live at bike parks year round and Gwin just rides MX, hits the gym and eats ice cream in freakin yoga pants all day long. I don't get it....
  • 5 0
 @Loamhuck: ummm... where do you get this? I see him all the time at the trails and parks. It seems like the guy rides every day.
  • 3 0
 @Loamhuck: Big bear and Tahoe offer plenty of burl. Carrying speed with composure is so important for racing, and in tight technical forest runs I tend to be more cautious, but whenever its loose, wide open trails like Cali, I find myself pushing comfort zones. SA and Aussie are similar to Cali, if not less burly, and produce riders like Minnaar...
  • 2 0
 @Loamhuck: riding motorcycles at speed makes DH seem slow, whether it's you, me or Gwin. He also doesn't seem to be the type to get seriously hurt in the off-season...
  • 29 1
 I've got Moir on my fantasy team rather than Gwin. I think Jack will benefit by watching AG ride and race this season. Big things for Shark Attack this season.....YEAAAAAAH,
  • 22 1
 I like Jack. He's got a cute kinda Frankenstein look about him.
  • 3 0
 Love the Wyn TV episodes with Moir
  • 1 0
 That's just being cheap! You're the Giant of the Fantasy WC.
  • 1 0
 @Rubberelli: haha you have a point but Gwin failed me last year.
  • 18 0
 Can’t wait for the season to start!

Intense has 3 fast guys and a vpp 29er, Santa Cruz has 3 fast guys and a vpp 29er. It’s gonna be cool to see the teams fighting for points this season.
  • 14 1
 “We’re going all the way with this one for sure. (w/ Nervous Laugh)” Read as: “Holy f*ck we are sinking every dime we have in to these salaries- it better f&$king pan out!”
  • 9 0
 Ok, I'm not the only one who heard the fear in that laugh.
  • 2 0
 haha for real tho
  • 16 1
 Makes me want to get an intense now and do push ups
  • 14 3
 I had no idea Barry Manilow was part of Intense
  • 5 0
 Honestly really respect the part Gwin said about supporting and riding for a hometown brand. When he first joined intense I thought oh this is a money thing or this a publicity thing. Not that I don't like intense cause I rode one for years but more haven't seen the intense hustle as much on the DH circuit the last few years so thought it was a way to get more brand recognition. At the end of the day, riding for a team that is your hometown team is something I highly respect and resonates with me. Tony Gwynn and the Padres, Rivers and the Chargers and Gwin now, all legends that seem to be standing by their hometown teams and that something I really respect.
  • 1 0
 Yo I've been making sports-biking analogies all day so this is right in my wheel house. My Pinkbike WAR is going up, and I'm going to throw a savage bat flip after this one. Tony Gwynn is from Los Angeles, and Philip Rivers is from Decatur, Alabama. How is being drafted by and playing their entire careers for one team that's not from their actual home town the same as Gwin signing with a brand that's from his actual hometown?
  • 12 2
 6:53... So rad
  • 1 0
 @davetrumpore Agreed.. 6:28 got me in the feels too
  • 3 0
 1000% agreed. he does things that are so subtle, yet dangerously fast. at 6:53.. looks like he pre-jumps and scrubs into the sweeping corner. jeez..

P"
  • 1 0
 same...watching the video all chill and listening to everything then saw that, got pumped and said what a fucking nutter......dude is freak fast and loves it!
  • 6 0
 Home gym sales just went through the roof as every pink-biker thinks that all that's holding them back is having pecks like the Gwinner
  • 7 1
 Love the Carmichael Reference. 2 GOATs He is so fast and smooth, it's mind-numbing. Must find those trails up in Crestline.
  • 6 0
 Stoked for this all around: Intense, Gwin, the team...all of it.
  • 9 4
 I'm turning into a total frigging fan boy about this team- USA USA USA! #sorrynotsorry
  • 8 3
 Gwin is going to be nuclear this year. Best bike he has ever been on no question. So stoked for the season!
  • 4 0
 2:52 "we are going all the way with this one" Translation: We have GWIN on the payroll.
  • 2 0
 and "please God let this turn out well". i hope it does. gwin and intense seem like a cool pairing.
  • 3 0
 "he costing us a lot of money"
  • 1 0
 Nice little insights! I wonder if he’d benefit from a maes frankenbike? I say benefit I mean be even more unhumanly fast. He certainly moves his weight around on the bike too, kind of quick ninja moves to the inside on certain corners.
  • 5 1
 Good luck intense, Aaron seems like a top guy so I really hope he does well this year
  • 1 0
 SOOO good to see Gwin back the machine. I have to agree about Intense even though I have never owned one. If you are Old School, you may remember how Intense stay true to the game and always stick with their riders, just like kickarse brands such as Santa Cruz.
  • 1 0
 Ok I’m gonna get it started here. First, I should mention I rode a 6.6 for four years back when it came out and it was the best time I’ve ever had on a bike. That said, does anyone but me think it’s lame that Intense names their bikes after automatic weapons, bombs, snipers etc? Not trying to be PC, it’s more like as an adult I’m just don’t respond to a branding strategy that seems designed to appeal to 10 year old boys who play with GI Joes. Not seeing the connection between our sport and military grade weapons anyway. Someone enlighten me.
  • 3 1
 isn't even hitting 100% speed top to bottom yet! Great to hear things will only be getting faster. Very dialed and fun to watch rider. And honest
  • 2 0
 incase anyone forgot Gwin reminds you of his speed, precision and smoothness.!! bring on the World Cups!!!

P"
  • 2 0
 Gwin will ride like Gwin always does. I'm really stoked to see how much Jack and Nico improve alongside him.
  • 10 8
 That ginger guy ain't a bad rider he might win something soon
  • 10 9
 Right? Imagine how fast he would be if he had a soul....
  • 2 0
 Incredible insight into what it takes - awesome.
  • 1 0
 Probably personal, but I was always curious about the scar on Aaron's neck/jaw. What's that from?
  • 2 0
 Gwintense, what a rad pairing, expecting good things from them this year.
  • 1 0
 I have been to Crestline quite a few times and have always thought it would be a sick place to ride. Now I know!
  • 1 0
 The most stressful drone flying ever.
  • 1 0
 7:38 Good advice! An entire philosophy!
  • 1 0
 This year is going to be LIT
  • 2 3
 Was this filmed in April? As there should not be snow on the ground in SoCal in April?
  • 3 0
 San Bernadino mountains still have snow. The lifts are running through the weekend.
  • 1 0
 We had a ton of precipitation this year, so there is still some snow in the San Gabriel’s, the local mountain range.
  • 1 0
 It was dry as a bone up there in late March. Would have to have been late Feb or so.
  • 1 0
 This was filmed when they got together to announce the team.
  • 1 0
 can Freakazoid come over
  • 1 2
 Wondering if he's missing YT ....
  • 1 4
 The first set of trails were at Lake Elsinore, but where was that second set of trails in the woods?
  • 3 5
 Looks like they are in top form, this season is going to be Intense!
  • 1 3
 Great stuff. Especially music. Someone please tell me artists and songs!
  • 1 1
 Marlowe. He's dope.
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