Rhys Atkinson - The Interview

May 30, 2011 at 10:37

Rhys stepped up in the 2011 domestic series after a disappointing 2010 World Cup season. Here at Mount Baw Baw he qualified 1st, but ended up 2nd in the finals. Photo: Peter Karas

Name: Rhys Atkinson
Age: 23
Live: Sydney, Australia

Hi Rhys, thanks for chatting to us. Let's start with some questions; When did you start riding mountain bikes?

I started riding mountain bikes when I was 16 years old, I did BMX for a few years before that.

Did you start with downhill?

Yeah I did, I started off riding on a dually, most of the time you hear about people starting on hardtails.

Where you grew up was it a good area for riding, did that help?

We were living up in Townsville which isn’t too far from Cairns. Everyone knew back in those days that Cairns was the Mecca of Australian mountain biking, there were a couple of good tracks in Townsville, but not as many as Cairns.

Rhys' riding style is fluid and smooth. Photo: Peter Karas

You won the overall Australian National Series in 2010/2011 by 4 points, after a strong showing in the past few years and at other races, what was the goal leading into the start of the season and your expectations?

Last season I finished 6th overall I was kind of working with that and trying to better my result. I wasn’t expecting to win the series in the end, I just wanted my times to be up there with the fast boys. I came into Tassie (1st race) and got third and that just kick started the season.

You were massively consistent, with three 2nd places and one 3rd place, but you missed out on a victory, I remember at Baw Baw after seeding 1st you were excited by the prospect of a win and being the first Atkinson to win a National Series race. Is not winning a race something that worried you?

At the start of the year it wasn’t on my mind, but it grew throughout the season. As the season went on my riding and training was going well, once you get the confidence right it’s what you're there for. Baw Baw was good as I qualified first, but didn’t back it up in my race run and that’s what happens in racing.

Rhys had a solid National Champs result, being the competitive type he was searching for more though. Photo: Angus Meek

Coming into the National Championships, a one day race where there are no points for the overall season, what were your aims?

We had 2 races before Champs and my confidence was up. I knew I could run with the fast boys and all the pros would be there, so it would be a good opportunity to race against those boys again and step it up. I was feeling good, my bike was riding well and I had a good team around me. It payed off in qualifying, I qualified 3rd, which I think surprised a lot of people, but certainly not me. I slipped up in the final and finished 8th which comes down to experience I think, straight out of the gate my hand slipped off the bar and it went downhill from there. I think I have to work on keeping my nerves under wrap, I think that’s all experience and learning.

That weekend I saw that you were riding with your brother Bryn, what is it like having a bro that you can ride with and hang out with at races?

It’s pretty unique, we have a laid back relationship, it's rad riding with him as he’s a world class athlete. We feed off each other and it's pretty crazy riding with him, seeing the lines he takes, he’s a bit crazy with lines! I just go out there and have fun, it’s really competitive when he’s at a race, in my head I feel like I am chasing him down and I block out other competitors. I think that’s a good thing for me, I just want to ride as fast as he is, I chase him and it’s a big positive for me if he comes to races.

Do you feel as if you're stepping out of his shadow more now?

I am kind of known as Bryn’s little brother and that’s what I was known as in the industry, I took that on board and it was a good thing as I got the feel of things from him. I feel like I have stepped it up a fair bit, I am coming out of my shell and showing people what I can do on the bike. So, yeah, I like to think that I have stepped out of that shadow and I am starting to make a name for myself and hopefully people recognize that.

Rhys taking one of the more extreme lines at the National Championships, only a handful of riders took this option. Photo: Peter Karas

After a successful Domestic season what are your plans for 2011, are you heading overseas at all?

Backtracking a little bit, it was kind of weird coming off the 2010 World Cup season where I had an average year and to be honest I was down in a ditch. I came into the National Series feeling like that, but then I started getting some good results and that kept happening and so by the end of the season I had got my confidence back and am keen for it again. I have been hit up by a few European companies to come race the World Cups, but the 2010 World Cup season stressed me out money wise and riding wise, so I thought I will take this year off. For 2012 I definitely want to progress as an international rider and that’s my ultimate goal to be racing against the world’s best. I think I can get there if I have a good team around me and the support. I think that’s a big thing for the future to take my time and get into it when the time feels right. So this year I am going to keep it low key and do some state rounds until the Nationals are on again.

Rhys has a host of experience riding trails and conditions within Australia and Internationally. Photo: Peter Karas

You work/race for the World Trail crew, do you think working for a trail design and construction crew have any benefits for your racing?

It has benefits for your riding, we are a riding company and involved in the industry in the way of designing and constructing trails. It does help as a rider, I get to ride more often with some good crew. I get to work out in the bush, all the terrains and get to know what the bush is doing. That might sound a bit hippy, ha ha, but for me it’s definitely a positive working at World Trail.

Working with World Trail allows Rhys to continue to be around bikes even when not racing, sounds good to us! Photo: Peter Karas

Finally, is their anyone you would like to thank?

Bryn, Glen Jacobs, Laura my girl, Jill Kintner, Matt O and the crew from Specialized, my family and my sponsors; Specialized, Specialized Tyres, SRAM, World Trail and Alpinestars.

The last round of the National Series in Shepparton would be the decider, Rhys was the victor with another 2nd place ensuring he took the series overall. Photo: Peter Karas.

All the best Rhys and good luck in the future, watch out for the rest of 2011 and into 2012 as Rhys continues to grow as a rider. Thanks to Jake Lucas and Glen Jacobs for their additional images. Stay tuned to Pinkbike for Jake's film documenting the 2010/11 season and Rhys' overall victory.

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7 Comments

Score Time

skippy888 (Jun 2, 2011 at 0:17)

When you see the blue and white plus demo whip past you know it's Atkinson.

Joebohobo (Jun 2, 2011 at 0:32)

soooo true lol

Empire-Matt (Jun 2, 2011 at 7:11)

lad

[Reply]

Jakeytrickster (Jun 2, 2011 at 2:03)

Good read, check out the teaser for Rhys' segment http://vimeo.com/22804200

shastasc (Jun 2, 2011 at 7:39)

i wanna see a demo in the color of his clothes

DickieB (Jun 2, 2011 at 4:02)

Well Done Buddy... Hope to get to more rounds next/this year.. JB and I have been talking about how fast your getting... look out Bro... All the best to u and him...

downhilldj127 (Jun 2, 2011 at 8:25)

I just wanna know why he has a New York Mets sticker on his helmet, I thought only Americans liked baseball...