Riding the edge means balancing the possibility of injury on every run for an elite-level athlete
As the two-time winner of the Crankworx Whistler Canadian Open Downhill, Smith never stops nudging past his own limits and this year, the 25-year-old Cassidy, B.C. native paid the price for riding the edge. After winning the Canadian downhill championships in Kamloops, Smith suffered his second ankle injury of the year, forcing him to watch the Crankworx event, rather than defend his title.
“Being injured is tough for me. I see everybody here having a great time and it’s just, I’m jealous I guess,” says Smith, who shares his story, and his thoughts on mountain biking, as he watches his friends compete. Smith was at the very first Crankworx in 2004, as a Juvenile rider, and has steadily climbed the ranks of the UCI World Cup circuit by refusing to take it easy. “As soon as you surpass one of your goals, that experience is no longer anything to you,” he adds. “Back in the day, I just wanted to qualify for World Cup. Nowadays, if I’m not number one, it’s disappointing.”
Watch Steve's story below
Photo: © Bryn Scott
Source: http://www.crankworx.com
