Andrew Watson Interview

Andrew Watson, 26, has just returned from a solid racing experience at the Pan American Mountain Bike Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Watson wasn’t sure of how he would do in this early season race with some notable stiff competition, but the Norco Factory Team racer rode well, clinching fifth place in the elite men’s category.

Still a bit bleary-eyed from a long trip, Watson sat down and answered a few questions about his racing experience:

How was your race?
Excellent, I went in, as you know, with not a clear vision of a placing, just wanting to feel like I was in the race. I accomplished that and 5th was the result.

Tell us what it was like to race at the Pan Ams? Did it feel different from the other racing you do?
Everything was a little different, not bad, just different. The staff was awesome though, Scott Kelly and Kevin Haviland tuning bikes and giving foot rubs, Tara Baker and Dan always making sure we were fed and taken care of. The race itself was a very road style race for myself and the group I was in with Derek and Sam, lots of attacks and counter attacks with times when we were free wheeling and buzzing tires. Team tactics were definitely also a part of that race for us and the Americans.

Lessons learned?
Cool-down literally, should have doused myself with water post race. I haven’t raced in that kind of heat in years and with a bit of elevation it hit me a few hours after the race. I was curled up into a ball for a solid 8 hours. Still feel rough 48 hours later.

What do you think of Guatemala?
Beautiful country, people were friendly. My family used to vacation in Mexico when I was young and didn’t appreciate it. It was nice to go back to that part of the world and take it in a bit.

What’s next for you?
Get rested and healthy, Paris to Ancaster, then off to the first to world cups.

Anything you want to add about the race experience?
Again just a huge thank you to my teammates who are a great bunch of athletes and people and the staff who made everything stress free and easy for us to focus on the race.