Dan Stanbridge
Latest News
Kicking off the World Cup Season in Pietermaritzburg06-04-2012
World Cup Track Commentary
26-03-2012
Getting Dirty with the 2012 Norco Aurum
06-03-2012
Rider Bio
Who are some of the most important and influential people in your life and career?
Everyone I have ever met, or have heard of, who has put in the time and effort to be good at whatever it is they do. Everyone from my parents to sporting heroes like Lance Armstrong and Ricky Carmichael…
Do you have any hobbies outside of cycling? If so what? Motocross, climbing, guitar, loads really!
If you weren't a pro mountain biker, what would you be?
An amateur mountain biker and skint!
Usual Riding spot:
Small local tracks on the hills behind my house, and a local uplift spot called Cwmcarn in South Wales.
Where's your favorite place to travel?
Anywhere I haven’t been before.
What would you list as a career highlight?
Racing in front of a packed home crowd at fort William World Championships 2007. It was great to qualify inside the top 10 and be racing in front of such a madness of excitement on home soil.
What has been your best riding experience?
A heli drop onto the peak of Mount 7 in BC was one of the best but it is also hard to beat a bbq at the dirt jumps with your mates on a summers evening.
And the worst?
Getting the bike I had saved every birthday and Christmas for since I was knee high to a grasshopper stolen when I was about 15.
What band or song have you been listening to the most lately?
300 greatest rock anthems mix on my ipod. Couldn’t tell you all the bands but they keep me going through the long winter road rides!
What are your biggest strengths on the bike?
Downhill in general, but within that I don’t think I really have a biggest strength. Ironically this is probably the biggest advantage I have with so many different types of race track on the world cup circuit at the moment I think you need to be ably to turn your hand to whatever is thrown at you.
Do you have any advice to beginners?
Boring answer I know but just do whatever makes you smile and have fun because without that there is no point!
What's your best idea of having good time?
Riding my downhill bike when I know I am riding well, there is a track I like and no reason to think about anything other than the next corner.
One Thing You Can't Leave Home Without:
Pants.
Who/What gets you motivated to ride:
I enjoy riding my downhill bike so I don’t need any motivating for that, but on top of that I enjoy pushing myself, getting continuously faster, and stronger. So I need to train and that is where the motivation tactics come in! When it is raining and cold out side, your road bike has a puncture, everyone else in you house is sitting watching a film on TV and all your muscles ache from yesterday, I’d say its little things like memories of when I had the best result of my life, and how much I want to win when im sat in that start gate that motivate me. Or the thought process that says “what would you rather do, watch TV and be a bum for the rest of your life! Hell No!” that normally gets me off my ass and into the rain.
Do you remember what your first Bike was?
It was a green plastic tractor with pedals if that counts…..? I suppose technically it had 4 wheels but you have to start somewhere….
What first got you into riding?
My dad used to cycle a lot so I have always been riding some sort of bike as far as I can remember. When I was about 15 the Atherton family moved in next door and they were just starting out on mountain bikes too. After a while they went along to a little local race and liked is so persuaded me to go to the next one. The rest as they say is history!
What do you enjoy most about riding for Norco?
That everyone I have spoken to in the company seems as passionate about their work as I am about mine. I think that this is reflected in their bikes and is why I’m really excited to be working with them this year.
Key goals for 2010?
Number 1 is to keep having fun on a bike, but I also want to improve my performance every year and so following on from previous years I aim to break more consistently into the top 10 at world cups.
Sponsor Shout out:
Big thanks to all the sponsors that are supporting us with the Dirt Norco Race Team.
Norco
Dirt Magazine
SRAM
RockShox
Truvativ
Avid
Troy Lee designs
Gamut
Funn
Fenwick's
Sun Ringle
Everyone I have ever met, or have heard of, who has put in the time and effort to be good at whatever it is they do. Everyone from my parents to sporting heroes like Lance Armstrong and Ricky Carmichael…
Do you have any hobbies outside of cycling? If so what? Motocross, climbing, guitar, loads really!
If you weren't a pro mountain biker, what would you be?
An amateur mountain biker and skint!
Usual Riding spot:
Small local tracks on the hills behind my house, and a local uplift spot called Cwmcarn in South Wales.
Where's your favorite place to travel?
Anywhere I haven’t been before.
What would you list as a career highlight?
Racing in front of a packed home crowd at fort William World Championships 2007. It was great to qualify inside the top 10 and be racing in front of such a madness of excitement on home soil.
What has been your best riding experience?
A heli drop onto the peak of Mount 7 in BC was one of the best but it is also hard to beat a bbq at the dirt jumps with your mates on a summers evening.
And the worst?
Getting the bike I had saved every birthday and Christmas for since I was knee high to a grasshopper stolen when I was about 15.
What band or song have you been listening to the most lately?
300 greatest rock anthems mix on my ipod. Couldn’t tell you all the bands but they keep me going through the long winter road rides!
What are your biggest strengths on the bike?
Downhill in general, but within that I don’t think I really have a biggest strength. Ironically this is probably the biggest advantage I have with so many different types of race track on the world cup circuit at the moment I think you need to be ably to turn your hand to whatever is thrown at you.
Do you have any advice to beginners?
Boring answer I know but just do whatever makes you smile and have fun because without that there is no point!
What's your best idea of having good time?
Riding my downhill bike when I know I am riding well, there is a track I like and no reason to think about anything other than the next corner.
One Thing You Can't Leave Home Without:
Pants.
Who/What gets you motivated to ride:
I enjoy riding my downhill bike so I don’t need any motivating for that, but on top of that I enjoy pushing myself, getting continuously faster, and stronger. So I need to train and that is where the motivation tactics come in! When it is raining and cold out side, your road bike has a puncture, everyone else in you house is sitting watching a film on TV and all your muscles ache from yesterday, I’d say its little things like memories of when I had the best result of my life, and how much I want to win when im sat in that start gate that motivate me. Or the thought process that says “what would you rather do, watch TV and be a bum for the rest of your life! Hell No!” that normally gets me off my ass and into the rain.
Do you remember what your first Bike was?
It was a green plastic tractor with pedals if that counts…..? I suppose technically it had 4 wheels but you have to start somewhere….
What first got you into riding?
My dad used to cycle a lot so I have always been riding some sort of bike as far as I can remember. When I was about 15 the Atherton family moved in next door and they were just starting out on mountain bikes too. After a while they went along to a little local race and liked is so persuaded me to go to the next one. The rest as they say is history!
What do you enjoy most about riding for Norco?
That everyone I have spoken to in the company seems as passionate about their work as I am about mine. I think that this is reflected in their bikes and is why I’m really excited to be working with them this year.
Key goals for 2010?
Number 1 is to keep having fun on a bike, but I also want to improve my performance every year and so following on from previous years I aim to break more consistently into the top 10 at world cups.
Sponsor Shout out:
Big thanks to all the sponsors that are supporting us with the Dirt Norco Race Team.
Norco
Dirt Magazine
SRAM
RockShox
Truvativ
Avid
Troy Lee designs
Gamut
Funn
Fenwick's
Sun Ringle
(English)
