Live web chat replay – Geoff Kabush

Kabush will compete at the national mountain bike championships in St-Felicien June 16-17.

Canadian Cycling Magazine June 5, 2012

Thanks for joining Canadian Cycling Magazine for our live web chat with mountain biker Geoff Kabush (Scott-3RoxRacing) on June 5.

Kabush has put forth strong performances this season. He won two races at the Whiskey Off Road in Arizona. He also placed second at the Mellow Johnny’s Classic in Texas, won Sea Otter’s long course and finished third in the short course in California. He placed eleventh at the second World Cup in Belgium.

He will aim to secure another national title at the Canadian mountain bike championships held from June 16-17 in St-Felicien, Que.

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Canadian Cycling – KF:

Good afternoon and welcome to our live chat with Geoff Kabush.

3:27

3:29

Canadian Cycling – KF:

This year, Geoff won two races at the Whiskey Off Road in Arizona. He also placed second at the Mellow Johnny’s Classic in Texas, won Sea Otter’s long course and finished third in the short course in California. He placed eleventh at the second World Cup in Belgium, among other accomplishments.

3:33

Canadian Cycling – KF:

Geoff just competed at the Canada Cup #3 at Hardwood Ski and Bike. Now he’s taking a little holiday up in cottage country. Let’s hope he can find an internet signal up there!

3:33

Geoff Kabush:

Hi Kirsten, I am online straight from Canning Lake up in Ontario’s cottage country. Got some fishing in this morning and I am ready for some questions. Thanks to everyone who is joining us today.

3:34

Canadian Cycling – KF:

Did you catch anything?

3:35

Geoff Kabush:

On the third cast Mr. Ruppel caught a 46in Musky. It was pretty impressive.

3:36

Canadian Cycling – KF:

Are you going to grill it or did you throw it back in the water?

3:36

Comment From Cam

Nice, is fishing your preferred way to unwind?

3:37

Geoff Kabush:

It was catch and release today. I haven’t done a lot of lake fishing but it was a beautiful day out on the water. I grew up salmon fishing out of a canoe at my family cabin on Hornby Island.

3:38

Comment From Ed

Spin or Fly?

3:38

Comment From Mossey Oak

Were trolling of casting?

3:39

Comment From Mossey Oak

Plugs I bet.

3:39

Geoff Kabush:

We did a bit of both casting and trolling. The big musky was caught casting from the dock before we even got out on the water.

3:40

Comment From Mossey Oak

You get any pic of that wall mount?

3:41

Canadian Cycling – KF:

Congratulations on winning the third Canada Cup last weekend at Hardwood Ski & Bike, What is the mountain biking like at that venue?

3:41

Geoff Kabush:

We did get some pics and video of the big fish. Will try to get them up on twitter by the end of the day.

3:43

Geoff Kabush:

Hardwood was a great event and I really enjoyed being back at a Canada Cup. With my International schedule I don’t get to do a lot of Canadian events. Usually fast the wet weather made it more challenging. It was fun racing with my teammates from Scott-3Rox as it ended up being fairly tactical.

3:44

Comment From Luke

How is going with 3Rox? With the team being built around you, does that give you added motivation or pressure to perform?

3:46

3:47

Geoff Kabush:

3Rox has done some great work developing and building up the team over the years. It has been exciting to join the squad this winter and help take things to the next level. The support from the sponsors has been excellent and we are having a lot of fun and laughs on the team. Everything feels like it is in place for success and I am really looking forward to the future with Scott-3Rox now.

3:48

Canadian Cycling – KF:

The national mountain bike championships are going to be in two week in St-Felicien. Will you be there? Do you hope to win another championship title?

3:49

Comment From Vicki

Hi Geoff, what does your training routine consist of? Are you feeling ready for the championships?

3:49

Geoff Kabush:

I am going to be in St. Felicien and I am definitely looking forward to our National Championships as well as the couple World Cups that follow. It is definitely going to be a challenge to win the jersey back and I am looking forward to it.

3:50

Canadian Cycling – KF:

Who do you see as your main competitors this year?

3:52

Geoff Kabush:

My training routine varies a lot depending on what point of the season I am at. During the season it is really a balance with the racing, travel, and fatigue. After logging over 50K air miles already I am taking this little break in racing to try to build a bit more endurance riding back into my training. I’ll ease off a bit before Nationals and hope to carry good form through Nationals and the World Cups.

3:52

Canadian Cycling – KF:

You’ve had some good results on the World Cup circuit, are you satisfied with your performances this season?

3:53

Geoff Kabush:

Max Plaxton has definitely proved he will be one to watch at Nationals for sure. I also know my teammate Derek Zandstra is motivated to get back to a high level after some challenging races recently. It will definitely be a battle.

3:55

Geoff Kabush:

My World Cup results have been okay. Had a couple decent results but I feel I have a lot more to show at these events. My training has been excellent and I hope to get a bit more out of the second half of the season.

3:55

Comment From Gary Fisher

Are big wheels really better Geoff?

3:59

Canadian Cycling – KF:

What’s been your worst crash in your cycling career?

3:59

Geoff Kabush:

I recently put down some of my thoughts about wheel choice on my blog on SCOTT’s website: http://www.scott-sports.com/us/en/news/bike/geoff-kabush-says/

I had the choice to ride any bike I wanted to this year and for me the Scale 29 and Spark 29 made the most sense to me.

4:00

Geoff Kabush:

I’ve only had a couple bad crashes racing. One that definitely comes to mind in the DH stage at the Hawaiian Mountain Tour in 98. I high-sided into a jeep rut and it was on ESPN bloopers for several years.

4:01

Geoff Kabush:

I’ve never broken anything but definitely have a few stitches here and there.

4:01

Comment From stevenu

If you crash do you hop right back on or hunker down for a spliff first to get back in the groove

4:02

Canadian Cycling – KF:

I believe marijuana is on the World Anti-doping Agency banned substance list, no need to answer that one!

4:03

Canadian Cycling – KF:

Are you confirmed to race at the Olympic Games in August?

4:03

Geoff Kabush:

Unless I’ve hit my head I usually get straight back on and then sort myself out and take a look for any serious injuries.

4:04

Geoff Kabush:

The Canadian Olympic selection doesn’t get announced for a couple weeks but I believe I have done what is needed to make the team. Luckily for the selection committee I think the riders sorted things out on the race course so the decisions won’t be too difficult.

4:05

Canadian Cycling – KF:

Will performances at nationals influence the Olympic selection?

4:05

Geoff Kabush:

The Olympic selection period ended after the last World Cup in La Bresse, France.

4:06

Comment From Seb

Is the Olympics a big goal for the second half of this season? What would you consider a good result or looking to do there?

4:08

Geoff Kabush:

The Olympics has definitely been a focus for the last couple years. A lot of planning and work in my training has been building towards it. Any International race I do I go in with the goal of being on the podium. The Olympics is no different.

4:08

Comment From Ed Welsh

You’ve always been highlighted as one of the best bike handlers and descenders on the world cup circuit, do you see yourself participating in any international gravity events in the future?

4:10

Geoff Kabush:

One event I am really looking forward to this year is the Trans-Provence enduro race in September. I grew up racing downhill so I am looking forward to getting back to the gravity side of things a bit.

4:10

Comment From Plutonium

What kind of 29er tire you can suggest for an allround use?

4:12

Geoff Kabush:

One of the most versatile 29er tires we use is the Maxxis Ikon. It has a huge bandwidth and you can use it almost anywhere. Both Catherine Pendrel and I raced the 26in version for the entire BC Bike Race when we won. If you are prone to flatting I highly recommend getting the EXO series tire with a bit more sidewall protection.

4:12

Canadian Cycling – KF:

You’re also a three-time national cyclo-cross champion. After a long mountain bike season, how seriously do you take the cyclo-cross season?

4:14

Geoff Kabush:

I really enjoy the camaraderie of the cyclocross season and I used to be able to coast through it on my MTB fitness. It is great to see the health of the sport growing but it also means I have to take it a little more serious if I want to compete. I still really enjoy though and it is a great way to get through the fall without getting fat and out of shape.

4:14

Comment From Seth

What about cyclocross? Do you think you might focus on the cross season at some point down the road? Make it your focus for a year, instead of contesting cross after a full season of racing MTB?

4:16

Geoff Kabush:

I would love the chance to do a bit more cyclocross but I don’t think it will ever become my focus. MTB racing is where my heart is. Doing a bit of CX in Europe is definitely on my bucket list. There just isn’t enough months is the year to do everything.

4:16

Comment From Mossey Oak

What sorta product do you use to tame those ‘burns? Mustache wax?

4:17

Geoff Kabush:

No product for the ‘burns’. Just a bit of trimming to keep things under control every so often.

4:17

Comment From Brad Patterson

Hi Geoff, it’s great to see our Mtb scene and all cycling in Canada really stepping up. Thanks too you and Derek, also Emily and Ryder. Good luck for the rest of your season. Great job!!

4:18

Geoff Kabush:

Thanks Brad. I think the health of the National Team program is really great right now too.

4:19

Canadian Cycling – KF:

Are you going to stay in Ontario to train for nationals?

4:20

Comment From Tom

Speaking of the National team programs, do you see any rising stars that we should keep an eye out for?

4:20

Geoff Kabush:

Yes. SCOTT-3Rox is based in the Toronto area so I am hanging out and training in the area for the next week before we head for Quebec.

4:20

Canadian Cycling – KF:

Just a reminder that our live web chat with Geoff Kabush will be ending in five minutes.

4:22

Geoff Kabush:

Hi Tom. I think we have a tremendous group of riders coming through the U23 program right now. There is 6 or 7 guys at a high level and I think they are really going to be able to push and learn from each other as they develop.

4:23

Canadian Cycling – KF:

Thanks for joining us today, Geoff. Enjoy the rest of your time up in cottage country. Good luck at the national mountain bike championships.

4:23

Geoff Kabush:

Thanks Kirsten. Looking forward to the next month and hopefully I’ll see some of you at the races.