Video: Brook Macdonald on What it Takes to Race DH World Cups in 'The Art of Passion'

Apr 24, 2019
by Thomas Falconer  

Here's a legend who has had bad days in the office but who has pushed through to overcome them and achieve outstanding results. In this episode of The Art of Passion, Brook Macdonald talks about his internal drive during the previous World Cup season.

photo
Photo credit: Boris Beyer

Special thank you to Brook for sharing his passion with us, and passing on some pearls wisdom to the next generation.
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http://www.youtube.com/c/theartofpassionnz

Author Info:
ArtOfPassionNZ avatar

Member since Apr 21, 2019
3 articles

53 Comments
  • 32 2
 The Art of Passion. Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty. (Derek Zoolander)
  • 5 2
 Down for a sexy cigarette lit gas fight? I know I am, haha.
  • 7 1
 Its MERMAN!
  • 4 0
 Brook Macdonald. So hot right now.
  • 26 3
 Dude he's 27. "Passing on wisdom to the next generation" makes it sound like he's gonna die of old age soon...
  • 4 0
 He's bad ass for sure, but letting go at 27? Valentino Rossi says NOPE.
  • 14 0
 @LoganKyleMcCallum: At 27 he’s only getting warmed up! He’s in top form for the season ahead, the bike is dialed in, his fitness is primed the headspace is clear... The Bull dog is ready.
  • 8 0
 @ArtOfPassionNZ: f*ckin' Oath mate!

Bull dog is here for decades at least. Man is a beast that makes rock gardens say their prayers.
  • 2 5
 @LoganKyleMcCallum: yay he is hasn’t won a WC in years. Hype. It’s called hype every year with this dude.
  • 14 0
 love his riding. fact: a rolled up alpinestars jersey makes you faster by 2.899 percent.
  • 4 0
 Thats 100% fact...
  • 8 0
 I love this sport as you don't seem to get any big egos at the professional end unlike some other sports. The only one I can remember was Palmer, but he was an exception and at the time as I think the sport needed it.
  • 6 1
 Has something special mtb pro riders grounded to the earth and accessible.. but if you go and live around the pits you know and smell big egos around... and it doesn´t surprises me... our society it´s still build around ego.
  • 7 0
 Brook Mac is an awesome dude.
  • 2 1
 Fuckin' oath mate, he is a genuine human.
  • 1 4
 @LoganKyleMcCallum: being a genuine human doesn’t win races and justify the hype around him every year.
  • 3 0
 @CaliCol: did brook personally hurt you or something stop hating! I dont see you getting podiums at wc or winning any crankworx... sit down and shut up!
  • 1 3
 @andydhteam: what is your problem, bro? People say worse about my countryman Aaron Gwin every year but I don’t throw a tampon between my legs and tell people to sit down and shit up. Seems like you’re butt hurt because someone stated a fact about your fellow countryman. Did I use harsh words or personally dig at him? I can think he’s overrated, because he is, and can state that in a comment without being a douche, which I did. Grow up, bro. You gotta be like 16 or something. Worse part is my name is Andy and you’re the andydhteam. My name is tainted with immaturity and snowflakeness.
  • 1 0
 @CaliCol: By saying that its his countryman.. is like saying Aaron is mexican...
Brook is a kiwi not an Aussie haha #proudkiwi
  • 2 0
 @ArtOfPassionNZ: we are all the same race. The human race. Let's all get together and sing!
  • 2 0
 @CaliCol: all good I know now why your taking digs at him its coz people take digs at your country man so by taking digs at someone elses it makes you feel better.
  • 1 3
 A dig is a criticism unfounded by relevant facts or observations. I made a fair assessment base on facts: Bulldog has hype surrounding him every year he doesn’t live up to and being a genuine human being doesn’t make him a better racer than anyone else. Go color in the corner with your crayons and let the adults speak, okay?
  • 2 0
 @CaliCol: criticism, color hmmm nice words buddy,looks like im not the one who should go in the corner and colour in it seems like thats all you did in school. maybe you should go take up english school. have a nice day nova.
  • 1 2
 @andydhteam: you’re a dumb ass. In America we spell it “color.” Where you’re from its “colour,” just like where I’m from we spell it “tire” instead of “tyre.” If you really want to did into it, what we call “vacation” here in the states you call “holiday.” The funny thing is my when I tried to be respective and explain the difference between our spellings of words my iPhone auto corrected “colour” to “color.” f*cking f*ggot.
  • 1 3
 @andydhteam: just stop, because I will continue to rip you a new one.
  • 2 0
 @CaliCol: hahaha triggered!! hook line and sinker
  • 1 3
 @andydhteam: that’s the best you got for me hemming you up? You triggered me? Hahahahahahahahahah

You’re the wimp that tells people “chill out, it’s cool” after insulting them and causing them to get in your face. You’re a pussy and a half, no doubt.
  • 1 3
 @andydhteam: you just got ripped, again.
  • 2 0
 @CaliCol I'll bet you learned to tie your shoes at 12.
  • 1 0
 @mattsnz: some would say at 40 he is still learning...
  • 1 2
 @mattsnz: that’s you’re come back? I learned to tie my shoes at 12? Wow, you’re making very smart people from Australia look pathedic with you comments.
  • 1 0
 @CaliCol: his from nz you idiot, you also carry on like a 12 year old your 40 and probably still live at home with your mum, grow up Smile
  • 1 2
 @andydhteam: you lost
And have been defeated. Are you still carrying on with this?
  • 5 0
 So many scared rocks, berms and trees in that film. Feel sorry for them they had to see Brook dropping in
  • 3 0
 Every sport needs a bulldog.
  • 1 0
 Awesome edit!
Does anyone know what the first song in vid is? I tried to Shazam it, but no luck. I wanna give itunes my $2.19 for this one.
  • 2 0
 Bloody beautiful mate, just like a good view to my eyes. Amazing!
  • 2 0
 Brook you rule man! cheers for an upcoming great season!
  • 2 0
 Young Gene Hackman can ride a bike!
  • 2 0
 dope bro!! Nik's been telling me about this series!
  • 1 0
 Optik Nik?
  • 1 0
 good luck at the World Cup you are going to smash it.
  • 1 2
 That has been said for the last umpteen years.
  • 2 0
 Fuck ya Thomas
  • 1 0
 Yeow!! now for the next one
  • 1 1
 It was so heartbreaking to see him crash in veli losinj. should have been the start of a great season that pinned he looked
  • 1 4
 Brook is like Luca shaw... massively talented but lacks that killer instinct. It's not something you can learn, either.
  • 2 1
 Interesting point but I don’t think I agree with you- there’s lots of evidence in modern sports psychology that a “killer instinct” can be successfully learned through developing an ability to increase attentional focus, learning to be fully present and learning to manage pre-competition anxiety. Unless your description of “killer instinct” has more to do with outright intensity? In which case there are many examples of failed (short) careers of people in sport who tried to place intensity ahead of skill mastery or technique.

I am just curious to if you have heard of the book “the rock warriors way”? While it’s about rock climbing, the book is based on applying martial arts techniques based on the experience of samurai (I think? Maybe it’s another type?) warriors who regularly faced death and applies those approaches to sport (mostly big wall climbing). Might be interesting to check out as there’s tons of examples of how that could apply to racing, which i think is a bit more accurate than thinking racers just go out there and giv’er or that these athletes haven’t worked exceptionally hard for years to get to where they are at, mentally. Smile
  • 4 0
 Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but, this is a dopey opinion....based in little fact. Luca is 21, Brook is 28. Luca has been on the cusp of winning 3 world cups in only his 2nd year as an elite, but his "Killer Instinct" (meaning, win at all costs) forced him into a crash 2 times and a flat on that 3rd time (meaning fastest splits and fastest qualifier). Luca is not happy when he f*cks up, that is killer instinct, he wants to win more than any rider ive worked with in my 30 years of working with athletes. As for Brook, I think he has the killer instinct as well, but he did lose a couple years while riding for his previous team.
  • 1 1
 @stikmanglaspell: don’t say stuff like that, andydhteam might get offended and tell you to sit down and shit up for staying an opinion based on fact. Beware, beware....







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