Catching Up with Geoff Kabush

For most Canadian cycling fans, even those who have never mountain biked, the name Geoff Kabush is a familiar one. He is Canada’s top male mountain biker and can often be seen in the pages of cycling magazines on the podium or in advertisements for his sponsors Rocky Mountain and Maxxis.

Between traveling, racing, training and recovering, Kabush sat down to answer a few questions for us:

Perhaps you can get our readers up-to-speed with your season so far. You’ve raced at the early World Cups and in North America. How has the racing been going for you?
My season so far has been a little average by my standards by overall I am happy and I feel like I am building momentum as the season goes on. I haven’t won any domestic races but I am leading the US ProXCT, and have finished second in six national level races so far. My fitness has been pretty solid but the World Cup campaign got off to a rough start with the Volcano travel disruption and a bit of sickness putting a wrench in the first couple World Cups. I regrouped in Europe and with a bit of a rough start I was happy with 15th at the final World Cup in Germany. I would have liked a little more as far as results out of the first half of the season but I am confident with the way things are building for the second half of the year.
You’ve got a pretty big schedule this year, capped off with the World Championships in Canada. Do the World Championships have an extra level of importance for you since they’re in Canada?
The World Championships are of special significance not only because they are in Canada but also because I am at the peak of my career and it is a course I have had success on.
What about pressure? You’re Canada’s best known male mountain biker (and cyclo-cross rider) – how do you handle the pressure to be always on the top of your game?
The only pressure is what I put on myself. I could arrive ready for the race of my life but anything can happen in a mountain bike race. I make sure I am having fun as I pursue my goals and if I don’t achieve them my world is not going to end.
Can you flashback to your first elite Canadian championship title and tell us what that win was like for you? Do all your subsequent wins have the same feeling?
The first time I won the Nationals Championships it was more of a break through and a major accomplishment for me; I wasn’t the favourite and it was of great significance. This year I am heading to Mountain Bike Nationals after winning it five years in a row so it is a different feeling. There are expectations that I should win it again but every year is a new challenge and this year will be difficult to defend with some tough competition. Canmore is a classic venue and it should be an exciting race.
What is next for you in terms of goals – what would you still like to accomplish?
I have achieved a lot of goals so far in my career but I still have a medal at World Championships or Olympics on my list. I feel like I still have room for improvement and I am optimistic if things come together I have a chance to win any race.
A few years ago you spent part of the season racing on the road. How did this road racing experience come about? Is there any chance we’ll see you racing on the road again?
I have raced on some road teams previously and I really enjoyed it. The big problem is just that I have so few weekends off racing a full World Cup schedule. It has also been more difficult to find a team that I can ride part time for and make the squad for anything more than some crits. I would love to get a chance to do some more big road races but I really enjoy my job on the mountain bike so I don’t envision switching my focus.
Do you have any advice for the younger guys and girls coming up through the ranks who are thinking of a career as a professional mountain biker?
I have a few points of advice for young riders coming up through the ranks. First I would say make sure you are enjoying it and racing because you love it. The sport is too hard to survive if you are not having fun. It is an endurance sport so it is impossible to get fast in one year so it takes a steady measured effort to make it to the top. Secondly I would also suggest working on a “Plan B” as you develop. It is very difficult to make a career in the sport so I always encourage riders to continue going to school or another distraction. I finished a Mechanical Engineering degree and it really was nice to have a distraction from racing as well as having a back-up plan if something ever happened.
Can you tell us about your favorite race course? What about your favorite training grounds?
My favourite races and trails are in definitely in BC where I grew up. This summer I am really looking forward to ride a bunch of those trails during the BC Bike Race. I got hooked on mountain biking riding on Hornby Island, where my family has a cabin, and it is one of my favourite places to head for some fun trail rides.
Away from the bike, what do you do to relax and recharge the batteries?
When I have a chance to hang out at home, which is a luxury with my schedule, I really just enjoy spending some time with my wife Keri and our dogs. Other hobbies off the bike are espresso nerding, eating good food, Belgian beer, specialty cheeses, fresh bread, relaxing, watching hockey, skiing, listening to music, learning, and reading.