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Interview: Haley Smith looking forward to first Commonwealth Games

Norco racer hoping to capitalize on momentum from a strong 2017 season

Haley Smith

Haley Smith
Racing hasn’t even started, and 2018 is already off to a good start for Haley Smith. The Uxbridge, Ont. racer was recently named to Canada’s Commonwealth Games team, which will be the the first time Smith represents Canada at a major international games. She’ll be headed to Gold Coast, Australia in April along with Emily Batty, who won silver at the last Commonwealth Games, and Canadian Olympian Léandre Bouchard.

Smith showed steady improvement all last year, as the Norco Factory Racing rider is starting to feel at home in the ultra-competitive elite women’s field. In 2017 she was 23rd at Lenzerheide World Cup, and 22nd at Mont-Sainte-Anne, before breaking through and finishing 16th at mountain bike world championships in Cairns, Australia. Heading into her third year of elite Women’s racing, Smith is looking to capitalize on the momentum she built all last year.

Before leaving for Spain to race the Copa Catalana Banyoles HC event, where Smith had a sixth place finish in a strong field of international racers, the Norco Factory Racing rider talked about being named to the Commonwealth Games team, breaking into the top-20 internationally, and the intense travel schedule of a World Cup racer.

Canadian Cycling Magazine: This will be your first major games, what are you looking forward to that wouldn’t be part of a normal world championships?

Haley Smith: There is definitely something different about representing Canada at a Games versus a world championships, although I don’t know if I can quantify it. I am really looking forward to pulling on that extra special Maple Leaf for the occasion! I think I’m also looking forward to the whole experience of it – the village, the other countries, the camaraderie between sports within our own national team… I’m excited to meet some new people and be inspired by all the other athletes.

CCM: Along with you on the team are Emily Batty and Leandre Bouchard. Last time Batty came away with silver at the Games 2014 in Glasgow, U.K., and both were at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Does it make a difference going into your first Games on a team with as much experienced like that?

HS: It’s huge for me to be able to go to my first Games under Emily’s wing. It does make the whole experience less daunting, because I know that I have two other athletes who have lived through the mayhem (and come out the other side quite successfully!). I also feel a lot of confidence going with Dan [Proulx] as our coach. He’s been to three Olympics now and has enough experience to write an encyclopaedia!

RELATED: Canada’s squad for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia announced

CCM: You’ve had success in Australia lately, at worlds and at the Crocodile Trophy. Are you looking forward to racing in the land down under again?

HS: It’s funny, actually. A few years ago I would have never thought I’d end up in Australia, but this will be my third trip down there in about 24 months. Racing somewhere so exotic is always exciting, and the heat and humidity do tend to suit me. Plus, I made several new friends at worlds and at Croc that I’m excited to reconnect with.

CCM: That is going to be a good amount of travel, between South Africa and the Gold Coast. As a World Cup racer you must be quite used to that, but is there anything you’re doing to prepare for the extra travel? Or any tricks you’ve learned to help with traveling and racing?

HS: I can’t say that I have any special tricks or tips, other than keeping a “go with the flow” attitude. I tend to have issues with anxiety, so that is always my biggest challenge when traveling. Sleeping in new places, crossing time zones, dealing with unfamiliar foods… it can all be a bit overwhelming. But, I’ve learned that the best way to get through it is to simply relax and expect that things will go seriously sideways at least once! If I’m prepared with that eventuality in mind, then the travel really never seems so difficult.

CCM: Is the plan to go from Stellenbosch World Cup directly to Australia? Or stop at home first?

HS: I will come back to Canada after Stellenbosch and spend a few weeks training in Victoria, B.C. I’ll race the Bear Mountain Canada Cup before heading over to Australia.

Hailey Smith focused and on pace for her best season ever.
Photo: Matt Stetson

CCM: After Commonwealth Games, it’s right back into World Cup racing. This will be your third season racing in Elite at World Cups. Is it starting to feel different? Is it still as exciting to line up against the fastest women in the world?

HS: It is still as exciting, terrifying, and exhilarating as ever. I think if it stops being that way, then someone needs to give me a good shake! I suppose it feels a little different now in that I’ve started to believe that I belong – and that I can race at the front. But yes… still exciting and I hope it always stays that way.

CCM: Last year you improved steadily throughout the World Cup season, working your way closer and closer to the top 20 before breaking through with a 16th at world championships in Cairns. Was there something that clicked last year? Or does this feel like part of a steady improvement?

HS: I would say both. My results last year were the product of several years of steady work, but things also clicked in that the work I’d done started to show through. After 4 years of very high volume and very specific training, everything finally started to come together in racing. I felt like the potential and level I’d shown in training started to cross over into racing. I hope the momentum continues, but it would be foolish not to expect a few hiccups along the way!

CCM: Do you have any specific goals you’re looking for this season in terms of results? Or is there other goals you’re focusing on more than specific placing?

HS: I always try to focus on process and improvement goals, rather than results. There are always so many different, small goals that I’m working on, from technical elements, to physiological, to tactical. I think if you focus on the process and set your sights on the controllable variables in your daily environment, the outcome (i.e. the results) take care of themselves. I am definitely motivated by improvement, but that being said… the thought of a World Cup podium, a national title, and (down the road) an Olympic nomination are heavy motivators!

CCM: What would you consider your strengths as a rider? Do you find this changes at all going from the domestic circuit to international racing?

HS: Coming from a background in hockey, I’ve always been a pretty powerful rider: starts and extremely high-speed efforts (like, for example, in a short track) have always been strengths of mine. In the last several years, I’ve really upped my technical riding, as well. And I do believe that I am a strong climber. I don’t think these strengths change from domestic to international racing, but those races do change what strengths I choose to play to. For example, at a World Cup, starting a little farther back in the field, I really have to use my start to move through traffic. In a domestic race, I can sit in and relax on the start more – effectively saving energy.

CCM: Dropper posts are starting to show up more and more at the XC World Cups. Are you racing with one, or do you have any plans to try one out?

HS: I actually raced with one on my hardtail last year, and will do so again this year depending on the demands of the course. I’ll use it when the pedaling sections call for a hardtail, but the technical elements call for a bit more agility on the bike (ex. large drops or techy rock gardens where you need more room to move). I think Mont Sainte Anne is the perfect course for a hardtail+dropper combo.

Haley Smith leads Canadian national champion Emily Batty on the rocks

CCM: There’s a significant amount of travel time involved in a pro racing calendar. What’s on your reading list going into a fresh season?

HS: I LOVE to read, so the list is always changing. Basically whatever is new, but I like historical fiction. I was raised on Harry Potter, so I always have the full series on my kindle with me for when I need a little metaphorical comfort food.

CCM: Kindle or paperback?

HS: I prefer reading paper books, but bring my Kindle when traveling because of space/weight. You’d be amazed at how much luggage we have to travel with when racing, so the Kindle is a lifesaver.

CCM: Will you still be racing any Canada Cup events this year?

HS: Yes, of course! They’re great training opportunities and good to snag some extra UCI points when we can. I’ll do Bear Mountain, and then likely the two Ontario Canada Cups in June. I’ll hit the Kentville, NS round as well.

CCM: Do these Canada Cup series races feel any different now that you’re focusing on a World Cup season?

HS: Yes, definitely. Last year was the first time that I truly trained through the Canada Cups in preparation for the World Cups, and it really changed my focus. Showing up to the start line with 20-25 hours of riding in your legs from the week’s training – and often at the end of a long training block – doesn’t really feel all that good. These races are more about getting quality training in now, for me. But they’re still super fun!

CCM: What is the first Canadian race on your schedule this year?

HS: Bear Mountain is the first Canadian race, over Easter weekend. Then I won’t race in Canada again until June!

CCM: Norco just launched their Women’s Ambassador Program (#limitsbedamned) – is this something that you have any connection to?

HS: As part of the race team, I’m separated from the Ambassador program, but I’m really excited to see this develop. Norco has put some great work and research into developing their women’s strategy and I love what they’ve presented. I suppose I have a connection to it at the research level, and I’d love to connect with any Norco Women’s Ambassadors that pop up in the GTA or on Vancouver Island (my second home). A key element of Norco’s mission is to get more women on bikes, and I’m excited to see the impact this will have.