Training for his debut season in the elite ranks, Rob Fraser already has an impressive portfolio of international racing experience. In the middle of 2007, after years of riding his street bike, young Rob was convinced to go try some DH at an Ontario Cup. He never looked back. In 2008, his first complete season racing Junior Expert, Rob was racing like a series veteran dominating the Ontario hard tail and the Junior Expert classes. However, it was at the Canada Cup Mont Tremblant that Rob would make a name for himself. Rob walked away with the Junior Expert win and placed 11th among the best in the country. About a week later, he was selected to represent Canada at the World Championship in Italy.

Background info:

Age: 18 (1990)

Home Town: Pickering, ON, Canada

Top results: 2008 Provincial and Overall Junior Champion in Ontario in both Hardtail and Full Suspension. 3rd Place overall 2008 Canada Cup Series. 1st Place, Mont Tremblant Canada Cup.

Q: You won the Toronto Bike Show dirt jumping competition. How did you get into biking and more importantly what convinced you to enter your first downhill race?

A: Like most kids, I have always enjoyed riding bikes but it wasn’t until I saw my first episode of the popular television show “Drop In” that I realized that bike wheels were not always meant to be grounded. I started of jumping and dropping off anything I could find, from there I started learning tricks and jumps. My learning curve was not without a few bumps and detours. One year I spent more time in various fiberglass casts than without, but that did not discourage me nor stop me from riding. I thought I was going to be a pro dirt jumper and was building and riding dirt jumps in our local ravine with a friend named Tyler Skrinek. Tyler kept on talking about how much he enjoyed Downhill racing and finally convinced me to give it a try and I have not looked back since. Like most downhillers, I have a soft sport for dirt jumping, therefore, I decided to enter the 2008 Toronto Bike Show PRO dirt jumping competition because where else are you going to ride in Toronto in the middle of winter. I was very fortunate and won the pro side of the dirt jumping competition.

Q: What was it like winning Canada Cup Mont Tremblant? Did you have any expectations for that race?

A: In 2008 I had the privilege of being a member of the poinsonfrog.ca downhill racing team. My friends and teammates J.P. Crepeau and Dustin Leclerc and I decided that we would race the two eastern Canada Cup races. JP had raced a CC race before, but I had no idea what to expect. I had high expectation at my first Canada Cup in Bromont since I had just come off my first O-Cup victory with a 7 second margin. I ended up crashing in my race run and placing 15th, which was quite humbling and was an incredible learning experience. With that in mind, I attended the second Canada Cup race in Mont Tremblant with a mission. I practiced super hard, and worked hard on the mental aspect of my race. Practice gave me confidence and I felt super strong on the track and was eager to race. Placing first in Junior Expert and 11th overall exceeded my expectation, but also reinforced the payback for all the hours of hard work and practice both on and off the hill.

Q: Explain your experience with the World Championships (getting selected, the event, bike situations)

A: Based on a combination of my Canada Cup and my O-Cup results, I was named to represent Canada at the 2008 World Championships in Val Di Sole Italy. To be honest, I didn’t even know what the World Championships were all about, all that I knew was that I had to make arrangements to get out of my grade 12 final exams, arrange for a true DH specific bike, and make travel arrangements to Italy all within 8 days. My Dad took care of all the Canadian Cycle Association paperwork/details, travel, passport, documents etc, my Mom took care of getting me exempt from my final exams (thanks Mom!), and all I had to do was get a true DH specific bike to compete with because I had being racing a 5 inch travel slope style bike. I could not believe how much support the Ontario DH community gave me in trying to hook me up with a bike, everything from Distributors offering loaners to O-Cup racers offering me their prized personal bikes. I must again thank Jeff Fauld and Norco Performance bikes for setting me up with a solid Norco team DH bike.

Q: How did you find the track at the World Championships?

A: Okay, I will admit it, the course scared me. Imagine going over Niagara Falls with tall trees, roots and jagged rocks.... and that would be the flat sections! The track was wetter, steeper, and gnarlier then I could even have imagined. I had a hard time at first even riding down the course, but once riding it a few times, it was probably the most fun track that I’ve ever ridden….ever!

Q: How did you end up in Italy?

A: Unfortunately I did not place as well as I would have liked to. I took the whole experience as a great learning curve, mostly learning how to deal with the stress and pressure of competing at a world level. In my seeding run I finished 26th with a crash near the bottom, and finished 55th in the final with a big crash. Although I was not too impressed with my result, my parents and close friends were really impressed that I managed to fly by myself to Munich Germany, catch a connecting flight to Innsbruck Austria, hook up with the Canadian National coach and a few team members who I had never met, travel to Val di Sole Italy by short bus, practice, race at a World level with over 2000 athletes, survive a post WC party, and make it back home without getting lost or into any trouble, all at a ripe age of 17. It was an incredible opportunity and experience of a lifetime and I would urge any racer who is presented with the opportunity to do it.

Q: The Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) is constantly under fire for its lack of support and is often blamed for the lack of Canadian presence on the World Cup Circuit. How was your support once you were named to the team, throughout the trip and the rest of your season?

A: I can’t speak specifically about the Canadian Cycling Association’s lack of financial supports, but I would like to go on records as saying that National head coach Chris Colbeck and chief mechanic Mike treated me and the team with first class support. These guys do not receive any funding from the CCA and they take time off out of their personal lives in an attempt to make rider’s dream’s come true and to grow the sport. I can honestly say, if it was not for the generous financial support of both my parents and grandparents I would have not been able to attend the World Championships, therefore, I guess the CCA needs to step up and help out riders financially, because it is just too expensive to race on the WC circuit.

Q: You raced the 5th round of the World Cup in Bromont, QC. How was it racing in front of a home crowd? What have you learned from your international racing experience to date?

A: The most important thing that I’ve learned is that you must give back to the sport. I have had allot of help with my development and I have learned that without the help from others, most dreams do not come true. While participating at the World Championships in Italy, I befriended a fellow Banshee rider, Marcelo Gutierrez from Columbia, we talked about racing the Canada Bromont World Cup but he had no team or anyone to stay with in Canada, therefore, after a brief conversation with my parents, I offered him to stay with my family and that we would make all the arrangement for him to come to Canada and to travel and race the Bromont WC together.

The Bromont World Cup was awesome. To watch a WC on freecaster is one thing, to experience it in person whether as a competitor or spectator is incredible. I have to say that was super fun track to race, but I will getting a little pissed at practice that Sam Hill and Gee Atherton kept holding me up and would not move over J. But seriously, it was very very nerve racking riding and racing along with the top riders in the world. I felt great the whole weekend, but again, feeling the pressure of a world scene, I stumbled in my race run hitting a tree and placing 112th, therefore, unable to qualify for finals.

Q: Rumors are that you are racing a brand new bike on an expanded team with seasoned veterans and young talent such as yourself. What can you tell us about your plans and goals for next season?

A: I will be racing as a member of the Primary–Trek DH team and piloting a 2009 Trek Session 88 spec’d with team partners parts including Sram, Rock Shox, Avid, Truvativ, and Bontrager. My goals are the same as last-year; prepare and compete to the best of my ability while representing my team and sponsors in a professional and positive manner. My plans are to race the Ontario Cup and select Quebec Cup events, compete in the Canada Cup Series and to race at the Mont St. Anne and Bromont World Cups events. I am also aiming to be named to the national team once again and racing the world championships in Australia.

Q: How would you describe your off-season training; are you a gym rat or do you prefer spending time on your bike?

A: Training has been tough to balance with a first year university curriculum and being away from home. I try to hit the university gym 3 to 4 times a week to work on both my cardio and core strength. When at home, I work out of a sport specific facility called Athletic Training Professional (ATP) where I am trained by Jamie Hollins. I also race the Orangeville indoor 4x race series which is not only a ton of fun, but a good chance to catch up with riders during the off season.

Q: The Ontario Cycling Association has got funding to send their team, including yourself, to go race in Las Vegas, in the middle of the Canadian winter. How do you see this affecting Ontario’s presence on the National Circuit next season?

A: This is the sickest thing to happen in Ontario. I had no idea about this pilot program and was stoked to learn that I have been selected. I believe that this will push the limits of Ontario riders even further and I wouldn’t be surprised if the top results in CC’s are from a few of the Ontario boys!

Q: You’ve been racing both indoor and outdoor 4x in Ontario, how has that been going? Are you aiming to race the Canadian National 4x Championship in Bromont?

A: Indoor 4X is a new thing for me, and I love it. Each race I have been progressing, racing against racers who are both older and more experienced. I enjoy it because it allows me to ride my bike and is giving me great gate practice for the upcoming 4X championship in Bromont, which yes, I absolutely plan to attend!

I look forward to an amazing season with my new team and support!

A special thanks to Primary – Trek, Sram, Rock Shox, Avid, Truvativ, and Bontrager.

Thanks for your time Rob.