In this episode, we sit down with Alex Cairns, a former Paralympian sit-skier who’s now carving his own path in adaptive mountain biking. From technical climbs to Squamish’s iconic slabs, Alex shares how his approach to sport is rooted in calculation and control rather than reckless abandon. We explore his journey from ski racing to MTB, the nuances of adaptive trail design, and how mindset plays a critical role in both performance and progression. This one’s packed with insight, grit, and a good dose of trail talk ..read more

In Episode 48 of Grit with Wisdom, we’re diving headfirst into the mental and practical side of managing risk in mountain bike racing. Jake is joined by two special guests: Dylan Smith, organizer of the iconic Squamish Enduro, and Matthew Smith, a medical risk expert from Canadian Outdoor Medical Consulting. We cover everything from choosing the right course for your skill level to situational awareness, the concept of 'risk creep,' and why blue flow trails see a surprising number of incidents on race day. Whether you’re preparing for the Squamish Enduro, tackling your first race, or just look ..read more

Today on the podcast, I got to hang out with Dr. Ryan Darcy to dive into the intersection where neuroscience meets mountain biking. Ryan’s a neuroscientist, president of NeuroCatch, and—like the rest of us—a stoked mountain biker. We chatted about everything from the science behind flow states, personal anecdotes from Ryan's riding experiences, and actionable advice on concussion protocols and brain health. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a pro rider, tune in to learn how to ride safer and sharper. Ryan also breaks down how NeuroCatch's portable brain scanner is changing the game when it ..read more

In this episode, we caught up with Natasha Bradley, an English rider making waves in Queenstown, New Zealand.  Natasha is a standout multidisciplinary rider known for her infectious enthusiasm and versatility across BMX, Enduro, Freeride, and DH racing. A true force to be reckoned with, she secured the 'true blue' award at the Dark Horse Women’s freeride event last year, and more recently won the annual McGazza Fest crainless race - as well as putting on an impressive show at the Dream Line freeride jam. In this episode, we delve into: Harnessing nervous energy for peak performance. N ..read more

On this episode, I sit down with Steve Vanderhoek. Steve is a North Shore-born and bread mountain biker, trailbuilder and a professional firefighter/paramedic. He is known for building and riding some of the most precise, exposed, and high-consequence lines in the area, and along with his long-time partner Kelsey Toevs, makes some of the most creative and jaw-dropping mtb films around. (Hear from Kelsey in the previous episode).  After recovering from a year-long string of injuries that occurred while riding his own North Shore feature, the pair went on the win the 2023 Crankworx Dirt Di ..read more

Today on the show I’m sitting down with Adam Van Luu, a Squamish local Physiotherapist and Concussion Specialist. Through his clinic which is part of Union Health & Performance,  Adam works with people ranging from everyday enthusiasts, all the way up to elite-level athletes including a lot of the Blueprint crew. Outside of work, Adam is an avid Mountain Biker, Climber, and Trail Runner. This has been a conversation I’ve been wanting to have for a long time now, as I feel like by now we all know how important it is to take concussion seriously, but the specific Do’s and Don’ts of ma ..read more

In this episode, I chat with Matt Bolton. Matt is an insanely talented and creative rider and trail builder from Squamish, BC. Known locally for pushing the boundaries of physics as he pioneers and rides new near-vertical slab lines in areas that have historically been only for rock climbing - Matt is not one to let fear hold him back from riding what most people would consider off-limits on a bike. With a host of rad films and projects to his name, Matt not only rides inspiring lines, but he also builds them too. We dig into the mindset behind his various riding, building, and filming project ..read more

In this episode of Grit With Wisdom, I sit down with Alex Chapellier, a mountain biker, mechanic, photographer, and videographer. Alex shares his journey from growing up in France, where he was captivated by any two wheels, to living his mountain biking dreams in British Columbia, Canada. He talks extensively about his passion for mountain biking, the importance of mental performance, and how he transitioned from behind the camera to being an influential rider in his own right. Alex dives into the details of his early days of riding and racing, including how learning to ride on a basic bike h ..read more

We had the incredible opportunity to spend the week at the 2024 Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival in Whistler, where we mingled with some of the world’s top riders! Tune in for an insider's view into the lives of MTB athletes, pushing their limits at the highest level. In episode 2, we caught up with an insightful bunch of riders in the village and on the course during the Adaptive DH, Garbanzo DH, and Red Bull Joyride events. A big shout out to @vinceh03_ and @grooverinvancouver for filming the action!  Riders Featured:  Jayden Glentworth Amanda Timm Alex Cairns Aaron Gwin E ..read more

We were lucky enough to spend the week in Whistler at the 2024 Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival, where we connected with some of the best riders in the world! Take a listen to get a peak into the world of mtb athletes, performing at the highest level. In this episode, we caught up with as many riders as we could in the pits of the RockShox Canadian Open DH, on the Stevie Smith Memorial, 1199 DH track. Keep an eye out for episode 2 dropping next week, with interviews spanning riders and events from across the board. A big shout out to @vinceh03_ for filming the action!  ________ ..read more