Braydon Bringhurst – a man who loves to climb as much as descend, as is big on figuring out the technical side of riding just so – is at the Sea Otter Classic racing Dual Slalom. To help with the motivation and mental focus, he’s been given a specially decorated bike. We had a quick chat about what makes it so special, and how he’s approaching the race.
How’s it going, how’s the racing?
Oh my gosh, it’s so technical up there! The course is unbelievably raw and very, very loose and technical and I’m just… chunking out bit by bit trying to memorise it, trying to get my lines, trying to kind of get it dialled. It’s a very tough one though.
So you’re only doing dual slalom this weekend?
Yeah that’s all I kind of feel like I have the capacity for. I mean, I brought the family and I’m trying to still be dad
But you’ve been pretty focused on this and practicing?
Yeah, I love it, so I practiced quite a bit leading up to this. I’ll keep you know, pursuing the dual slalom, because that’s a segment that feels really fun, without all of the risk of cliffs and massive, certain death if I screw up! So, yeah, it’s fun. And I get to ride my favourite bike, which is the trail bike.
Right, so, what have we got here with your kids’ drawings on it?
Canyon is just amazing, and they, you know, wanted to make me something special, just because they, I guess, appreciate me, and I was very honoured. My wife sent over some photos of the drawings that our daughters would draw on the kitchen table, and it was kind of piling up in the pantry, on the pantry shelves. She just laid them out, took pictures and sent them over. And then they put it together and painted a special bike up and here it is.
And you’ve been practicing on an e-bike for Dual Slalom?
You betcha, yep. I built up a slalom e-bike so I can get my skill work done without having to burn up my legs, and then I’ll do my sprint work on a separate day or later on in the day.
So this is the Spectral that you’re riding here with your kids’ drawings on it, is it a Spectral:ON that you’ve been doing the practice on as well?
Exactly, yeah. The Spectral:ON is a practice bike and then this is the trail and race bike.
And the two are translating well, are they?
Absolutely, yeah. I think there’s such a need for both of them when you’re trying to maximise what you’re doing and that’s what I’m going for.
What’s your goal for the dual slalom then?
Oh gosh, this is where I struggle. I really just want to… I’ll be proud of myself if I just can hit my marks and ride fast and smooth, do everything that I have planned in my head. If I get ahead of that and I start riding bobbily and sketchy… know, even if I podium and I’m riding that way, I’ll be a little bit flustered. I just want to hit the marks and feel confident in my head and do what I plan to do.
Okay. But you’re good friends with Mitch [Ropelato]? He’s got to be your arch-rival at this, surely?
Oh gosh, not even an arch-rival. He’s so far ahead of me, I can’t even put myself at the same level. He’s helping me a lot. He told me what tyres to get on, he’s telling me what settings to do. He’s definitely a mentor and somebody that’s helping me and wants to see me succeed. If we go together we’re gonna be high-fives, and then each doing the best we can and it’ll be fun.
You’re not gonna let him win though?
Oh, I’m gonna give it my best. I’m gonna give it my best and he is too. So it’ll be fun.
