Sam Gerrett: Mountain Bike Racer & Ski Instructor

MTB racer in summer & SkiCross racer in winter

featured in Meet the locals Author Gemma Hunt, Val Thorens Reporter Updated 17 August 2016

Sam Gerrett has the kind of lifestyle a lot of us would be jealous of, although having said that you need a heck of a lot of talent and nerves of steel to race in his two chosen sports.

During the summer months he's competing in enduro mountain bike races and in winter he's battling it out on ski cross courses.. What does it take to compete at this level? What kind of kit do you need and how did it all start?

Tell us a bit yourself and your connection to the Belleville valley?

I work as a ski instructor in the winter in Saint Martin de Belleville. My connection to the Belleville valley is the World Cup Skicross course as I train there in the winter season and race Skicross at FIS level. In the summer I race Enduro MTB for the Orange Factory MTB/Misguided Fools team in the Enduro discipline all over Europe.

When did you first get into MTB racing?

Three years ago I did my first race in downhill at European cup level, it's been a steep learning curve but I'm catching up now and getting good results. After getting a good season of results in 2014 I was offered a deal with Factory Orange Mountain bikes and will be racing the Orange Alpine 160 for 2015. It's an amazingly capable bike over all of the crazy terrain that the French Cup and World Cup races throw at me, it just ploughs through it all with ease - have a look at the bike.

How many competitions do you have during a season and at what level are you competing at the moment?

I am racing all of the National French cup Enduro races and there are six altogether. I also competed at the Enduro World Series in Scotland and will be competing in the Enduro World Series in Finale Ligure in Italy. The last race was the Roc de Clusaz that I came 15th out of 200 racers.

What would you say is your best biking achievement so far?

I am currently the 2014 Coupe de Rhone Alpes Enduro Senior Champion.

Is it competitive amongst the other riders or are they a friendly bunch?

A mixture, as I work my way down the rankings the competitiveness is increasing but everyone is still friendly.

Do you ever look down some of the tracks and think flippin’ heck?!

Yeah there have been a few like my first race in Pila when I pushed my technical limits but managed to get through it all. It's a constant test of mountain bike skill so that’s what keeps me racing and pushing myself and past the limit at times.

Have you managed to successfully avoid injury over the years?

Yes (touch wood) just cuts and grazes in mountain biking so far.

How frustrating is it when it’s the bikes fault and not yours?

It's all part of Enduro racing, knowing your bike limits and not ruining your chances by damaging the bike. It's a very fine balance between getting a good result or not being able to finish!

Do you have a coach or trainer?

I am currently working with Chris Kilmurray who is pretty big time in the downhill, Enduro and Bmx industry for Coaching, he is also works with the UCI who are the world governing body, running training camps. (Have a look at his website if you are interested in using his coaching services). The combination of support from Orange bikes and a top coach means that I am improving all the time, keep progressing and the results are coming.

What’s your view on the bike tracks in the Three Valleys?

The best in Europe to be honest! I have been all over Europe and the vertical drop combined with the variety of terrain in the Belleville Valley always surprises me. To race some of the best tracks in Europe, enter the Enduro Des Belleville.

Which other areas do you enjoy riding?

La Thuile is up there with the best; steep and loose!

The Three Valleys isn’t as well promoted as a summer destination perhaps as other resorts, do you think it’s a good or a bad thing?

Having been out for the opening weekend on Sunday 12th, the amount of people riding was impressive and great to see the interest in the area after the Meribel World Cup. The disappointing things are the lifts to access Meribel aren't open all week and the Three valley lifts are closed on Saturday, this means that the Weekend Warriors won't come to this valley and would go to Les Arcs. Also the season starts very late compared to Morzine which starts in Early June compared to July in the Three Valleys. Hopefully they will catch up here.

Where’s your favourite place to ride?

The new track called Le Loy dug by hand by a Local MTB Legend Baptiste Jay, he can been seen all over the Belleville with a pick axe (Pioche) creating new Enduro Tracks.

How do the bike tracks in France compare to those in the UK?

The length and vertical drop is huge in France compared to the UK, but the UK has good terrain and tracks but the sheer amount in France is hard to beat.

You ski race during the winter too, do you prefer two wheels or two skis?

The best thing is the change as I think if I just did one or the other I wouldn't appreciate them as much and lose motivation.

Which do you find more difficult Ski racing or MTB racing?

I have been into Mountain biking since I was 12 years old but Skicross I have only raced for two years and there is a lot to learn, they are very different sports but with a lot of similarities. The best thing is they terrify me at times but when the weekend of racing is done and dusted, there isn't a better feeling.

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