Mountain Bike Videos

Olie Burton PRO Downhill MTB Rider

We recently caught up with Oliver Burton, pro Downhill Mountain Biker, and one of our Drift sponsored athletes to find out how his season has been, and the thrills and spills of the 2011 World Cups. Olie has been mountain biking since he was 16, and now at 21 has been competing professionally for the last 3 years. 2010 was his first entrance on the international stage, gaining a respectable 62^nd in the world cups rankings, and 4^th in the UK championships. So 2011 promised to be an exciting year, here we talk to Olie about the highs, lows, and his hopes for 2012.

Drift Innovation: This has been your second year on the World Cups circuit, are you pleased with this year’s results?

Olie Burton: This year has not really gone how I had hoped. Coming into the season I spent the first three months of the year on the couch injured so missed a key part of my training. I did have some good results during the year but my main goals were  better finishes at World Cups and so I felt that I didn’t perform as well as  I wanted to.

 DI: What has been your highlight of 2011?

OB: I think I would have to say winning the Pearce Series overall. It is held in Shropshire and Wales. Not the most well-known series but I had to beat some top elites and be consistent throughout to get the title.

DI: You’ve gotten some great videos from your Drift camera, how do they help you as an athlete?

OB: Thanks. I use my Drift all the time during training and racing, When I’m racing its really helpful to be able to watch back your practice runs and compare lines and to see where I might be losing time on the track and where I can gain time too. It makes training fun because when the camera comes out everyone tries to go as fast as possible to look good on camera.

 DI: How has being part of a team this year been? Has it given you the boost to going Pro full time?

OB: It’s been great. Being part of a team especially one sponsored by a major car company like Abarth has opened up lots of possibilities including being part of different media opportunities. It also makes things easier when it comes to organizing things pre-season. It has, for sure, made me realise what support I could have as full time pro and where I can be if I work hard.

DI: Tell us about your current bike set-up?

OB: I currently don’t have a downhill bike as I had to return last season’s bike so I guess my main bike at the moment is my xc bike. Its current set-up is very muddy as I have just got back from a local ride with good friends Joe and Matt from Team CRC. I try and run it as much like a downhill bike as possible. Short stem and the same with bars like on my DH bike. I have fitted a slightly longer fork to make it a bit slacker as well.

DI: The current season has just come to an end, any plans to relax or are you training hard for next year already?

 OB: The teams schedule this year saw me participating in lots of different events. This meant that I didn’t do a full national series making my last race about a month earlier than everyone else.  I spent a couple of weeks chilling and doing some wakeboarding in Italy with my sister who is as enthusiastic about wakeboarding as I am about downhill (addicted in other words!)  But I’m now in full training and its going well. I have been mainly working on my base fitness and have just started doing more interval work as well.

DI: Away from MTB what do you like to get up to?

OB: I ride allot of motocross for training but away from anything two wheeled I’m I really into skiing and enjoy wakeboarding when I can.

DI: What advice would you give to anyone thinking of getting into MTB at a professional level?

OB: Anything’s possible, and if you believe in yourself and work hard you will make it.

DI: What is your schedule for 2012 looking like? Anything you’re particularly looking forward too?

OB: My schedule so far is only filled with races but I really want to get to some of the more unique events next year like Crankworks. I have never been to Wistler before but its looks amazing. I really want to do allot more video work next year so I’m hoping that comes together.

DI: Lastly, what are you hoping Father Christmas brings you this year? 

OB: As usual, I have a pretty big list of bits and bobs I would like but I’m not sure if I’m getting a bit too old for Father Christmas? I am also told that the recession has hit Father Christmas too but I’m not sure if I believe that, I guess we will see on Christmas morning.

 For more information on Olie, and to follow his progress please visit www.olieburton.co.uk, hit up his twitter feed @OlieBurton or on Facebook.