Colin Westeinde - Up and Comer.

Colin had probably one of the best seasons I know of, he killed it and traveled to many FMBA competitions, and in the end it resulted in an invite to the biggest Slopestyle competition in the world. Kokanne Crankworx's Monster Energy Slopestyle and VW Best trick, I would say he killed it this year and plans to come back and do even better next year!

Read on for the full interview,

Colin lived the dream this year for any one who rides, travel to all of North America's top riding competitions and placing considerably well. I got the chance to interview him about his riding season, what his goals are for next year and much more. He is pretty stoked on the sport and I don't blame him. He's living the dream.


Introduce yourself to our readers.
My name's Colin Westeinde, I'm 17 years old and live in Whistler/Vancouver, BC (back and forth).

Your 2010 season was unreal, tell us about it?
I started out riding the foam pit 'til the snow cleared and the Whistler municipality jumps as soon as the snow cleared. First competition was GoatStyle BikeJam and I learned most of my big tricks 2 weeks prior at the CoC compound and was putting them on real dirt for the first time there. I was so stoked that I made 2 runs clean for a second place. After that I headed off to the Claymore Challenge at Highland's Bike Park, unfortunately a handlebar in the gut in practice left me pretty sore and I didn't end up qualifying.

Then I took a week to come back to Whistler and get used to my big bike (hadn't ridden it until I got to New Hampshire the week before), which paid off as I qualified 8th for the finals and placed 16th over all at Crankworx Colorado. I returned home stoked to watch everyone shred Crankworx in Whistler, when I got an e-mail asking me to be a standby in case anyone got too hurt to ride the qualifier. Unfortunately the course claimed a few riders however, fortunately for me enough spots opened up to let Brett Rheeder and I ride in the Qualifier. That was a great experience to be able to ride with all the top pros in my home town too. And now I am training and getting ready for AT's Showdown on November 6th in California.


What was it like competing in front of your friends and family and Crankworx Whistler?
It was an awesome feeling seeing them cheering you on in the crowd as you are hiking back up the hill, I guess you get pretty 'into the zone' focusing on getting your line down so, I at least, don't remember too much other than the jumps. But I do remember my dad being out there with water and a camera psyching me up every time I rode the course.

Wow, you had a stellar year, what was your favorite competition to ride in?
I'd have to say Claymore Challenge; hands down the longest, smoothest course out there.


Ya that course looks really fun. Now coming from Whistler you must ride lots of trails, how do you like it?
The most fun I have all year, unfortunately I spend a little too much time on my hard tail to get up the mountain as much as I should, and when I do I tend to stick to Dirt Merchant; it just got rebuilt by the way, trail crew's killing it, too much, but plan on riding a lot more until the mountain closes the rest of the summer/fall, is it fall yet?

I'm not to sure, for me Fall starts when school does. Any plans for winter riding?
Whister's Airdome, and we (my family) just bought a farm in Squamish, which I'm getting free reign on to build my version of your Dreamland in Kelowna. Tonka time! I'm also going down to AT's showdown so I'm looking forward to riding at least a bit of dry dirt there.


Awesome, I didn't know that the Airdome was open during the winter. What's you biggest Goal in 2011?
Two, well similar ones: Start getting podiums (at least one) in pro level and get into the Crankworx Whistler finals!

That's awesome! What competitions do you plan to attend?
AT's Showdown, Teva Mountain Games, Goat Style, Claymore Challenge, Crankworx Colorado, Crankworx Whistler, and we'll see from there...


Are you going to enter in the FMB World Tour? What are you thoughts on that whole organization?
Yes, it's exactly what the sport needs/ed for it to grow, slope-style is still less 'organized' than even downhill, a universal scoring method will help so much too!


Where is your favorite riding location and why?
Right now I'd have to say Dirt-Merchant up in Whistler, it just got re-build, completely smoothed out and a bunch of optional lips added making it feel more like a set of tech dj trails than just a bikepark's standard jump line.

Sweet! I heard there is a new trail, Fade to Black - stumbled upon it in July hiking randomly some where, what's it like?
I haven't gotten a chance to ride it yet, but by all reports it sounds amazing - road gaps, root sections, gaps, ladder jumps ect...


If you had to ride one place in the World that you haven't yet, where would it be and why?
Aptos. Need I say more? But no, I've been watching videos of the Post Office jumps and other trails in and around that area dreaming of making it down there to ride, and haven't had the chance yet, just looks like some of the smoothest sets out there and I want to experience them.

As a competitor would you say that you ride better under pressure or just riding with friends?
I'm honestly not sure; I learn a lot more under pressure, but I don't know whether I ride better because that means I fall more as well, when riding with friends I tend to take it easier, comfortably working my way up to something for so long I know I can do it before I try it. In competition I know I have one day to get my line down on a fresh course before my runs, so I push myself. For example the first time I attempted flip tucks outside of a foam pit was during the Crankworx Whistler best trick. I guess in competition you know you have to step it up, so you do or get hurt trying to.


That's a true statement. I'd say you had a banger season! What are your thoughts?
You always want to do better than you have, I wish I hadn't hurt myself at Claymore, but there's not much you can do after the fact. With the exception of Goat Style I was the youngest competitor at everything I attended, so considering that; I'm proud of my season.

Any last shout outs or words of wisdom?
I'd like to thank my parents for helping me out this year (still don't have my N, so my dad drove me to everything I attended), and James Wilson at Obsession Bikes for helping me out and getting me connected with Scott USA, looking forward to riding for both of them next summer.


To see more photos of Colin in 2010 click here.

-Colin Westeinde

Scott USA
Obsession Bikes

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Words and Interview by:
-Harrison Mendel

Transition Bikes
Demon Dirt
Race Face
Cyclepath Kelowna