Andrew Watson - Leading the Way
CXO: For the 2 years that CXO has been around, you've been at the top a lot of that time, How's it been?
AW: It feels pretty good to be a strong contender in the series, there's a lot of competition, so it's not an easy series to race in. There are a lot of races to do throughout the season and there is stiff competition, so you've got to be on your A game for two and a half months.
Last year, not to sound arrogant, I was fairly dominant, consistently in the top three at least, but the year before I was mixing it up a bit more, usually fifth or sixth. It took me a few years to get the strength to ride away from guys like Nathan and Peter, because they're super strong.
CXO: Your main focus is still mountain biking though?
AW: Mountain biking is where the career could possibly come from, so I do put a lot of focus into that and my goals are usually to go to World Cup, Europe, more international. With 'cross I really love it, but the sport is limited, so I try not to put too much emphasis on it and I try to keep it in perspective too.
CXO: Ever raced ‘cross in the US?
AW: No, I've never been outside of Ontario for 'cross. I'm hoping too this year, something within driving distance - I definitely want to for sure.
CXO: What about mountain biking outside of Canada?
AW: I've probably raced in Europe more than I've raced in the states. I'd like to go to more NORBAs in the US, but the racing in Canada is pretty good, we have two world cups and a national series.
CXO: You helped to design some of the course in Barrie, have anything to say about Ontario course design?
AW: Course design in Ontario has come a long way in the past three or four years it's really cutting down on any kind of single track or anything like that and really utilizing the terrain to make it hard. For example, in Guelph, the switchback corners were tough - I couldn't even pedal through - they were bang on.
Otherwise, in Ontario, the whole series is growing - 14 races on the calendar, when a couple of years ago, there were 6 or 7. It's great that there are organizers like these guys in Guelph, the same organizers as the Kelso race that are excited to put on a race.
CXO: For the last or so, you’ve been racing for the Barrie Cycling club, after racing for Gears, are you more independent now? AW: At the races I’m pretty much independent. The club really supports me and has really helped me out. It's not a typical team, but they've been really supportive. We're more looking at it as a short term stop-gap until I can find another team to ride for, but they've really stepped up.
CXO: Did you see some of the Cross Vegas or Star 'crossed pictures or videos?
AW: Yeah, it looked really awesome... It's a pretty spectator friendly sport - like at Guelph, looking out, I can see the entire course. So it's just a matter of getting people out and get them excited.
CXO: The more people out on the course, it helps the racers too, doesn’t it?
AW: For sure - Having everybody on that hill was a little motivation to push a little bit more.
CXO: Did you ride it every time?
AW: Except for the last lap, I ran it the last lap. I was kind of messing with my pedals and got lazy, but I wasn’t too worried.
CXO: Well, you had a little bit of a buffer... Is that where you put your attack in?
AW: Yep, the first two laps I kind of rode fairly conservatively, then I rode the hill and I was able to go from 5th or 6th into the lead. Every lap I was able to put a couple more seconds on and was able to just ride the rest of the course.
I think the organizers wanted this as a run-up, so I felt kind of bad, but I'm not a runner - I try to ride as much as possible.
CXO: How did you like the twisty - taped stuff?
AW: Tape helps keep you on line and stop cheating. I found the turns on the baseball diamond were pretty tough; like riding on marbles. The turns today were definitely the emphasis and really a challenge.
CXO: How are you involved in cycling in general?
AW: I'm involved n the Barrie club - I want to get into broadening the general public's view of cycling. Barrie's a good place to do it because we don't really have a ton of commuters. The city infrastructure isn't great for cycling - they have bike routes planned, but they're on the busiest streets around, so it can be improved and hopefully through the club we can get something going.
CXO: What about coaching?
AW: I haven't coached anybody, I'd maybe like to get into it, but I think it takes a lot of commitment and I'd want to make sure I could be committed for at least a year with an athlete, but I have enough problems with myself. I'm not coached myself formally, but there are people I talk to and I do have support that way.
CXO: Had much involvement with OCA projects?
AW: I was on two projects this year - a Canada Cup race and to Nationals - as a senior rider with a mentor aspect, which I really enjoyed. Riding with the younger juniors and cadets, passing along some wisdom, watching them race, it egged me on a little bit to perform well.
CXO: So, why no 'cross nationals?
AW: A few different reasons - I guess if it was a goal of mine to go to 'cross worlds and to go to Europe and do that whole thing, I'd be there. Other than that, I'd rather stick around and do the races here - it satisfies me enough. Nothing against Nationals and maybe in the future I’ll go. I seem to get asked that question a lot.
CXO: Well, everyone wants to see you there and doing well.
AW: It's not a big priority - I have X amount of dollars to spend each year and I can probably spend that somewhere else a bit more useful. It's early this year too, if it was a bit later, maybe, but it's not long from now and I don't think I'd be in it for the win. You'd have to have committed to it at least a month ago. I wish everyone good luck out there, all the Ontario boys, I'm sure they'll get it done this year again.
CXO: So can you give our readers a hint as to what your Halloween costume will be like this year? Will spiderman be making a return?
AW: I think you look at the bike I'm riding this year and the colour of it, the Norco CCX1, I think that's a good hint towards the costume.
CXO: Anything else you’d like to pass along?
AW: Vote Obamma.
CXO: So you're following the elections?
AW: A bit - I watch CNN a lot, and I watch Colbert and Jon Stewart. I get a lot of my stuff from there, so maybe I'm not the best person to talk to.
What about the Canadian elections?
Yeah, I actually watched a two and a half hour local debate on my local television channel and I was right into it yelling at the candidates. I do care about that and I plan to vote and it's important.
CXO: Okay, Thanks Andrew, and good luck with your season.
