Sam Hill Interview

What in the Sam Hill was that?

"What in Sam Hill" and/or "What in the Sam Hill" is a phrase that has been in use for the term hell since before 1839. Did the Americans of the time prepare their citizens for the slaughter of their current day cyclists by our very own "Sam Hill"?

The explanation of the term "Sam Hill" is actually pretty simple -- it's an early 19th century American euphemism for "hell" used as an oath. Perhaps due to their Puritan ancestry, Americans have always been especially creative when it comes to inventing linguistic detours around oaths and blasphemies. "Heck," "drat," "darn," "gosh," "jiminy," "gee-whiz" and "goldarn," for example, all started out as euphemisms for exclamations of surprise or rage no newspaper would print and no proper dinner table conversation would tolerate. To digress a bit, I have always wondered whether Walt Disney knew, when he christened his little cartoon creation "Jiminy Cricket," that the name was a rather transparent euphemism for the blasphemous oath "Jesus Christ."

I'm guessing they were preparing themselves for THE Sam Hill, the Aussie DH superfast-guru; World Champion to boot! We at SR decided to hunt him down for a bit of Q+A plus to get him to answer the Q on everyones lips... Can he beat Rennie in a wedgie comp?

SR: What in the Sam Hill happened to your arm earlier in the season? We heard you got to pash a nurse in hospital and get 7 stitches as a bonus, is this true?

SH: Yeah at the us open I got a front flat and tried to keep going with it and ended up having 3 crashes and sliced open my arm a bit. It felt like I got mugged and then beaten up. The nurse had a moustache and I wanted to jump off my bed and hit them, they were going wild with the needle.

SR: What has been your worst injury? On or off the bike.

SH: I've had a few concussions when I was younger and smashed my face up a bit, they have probably been the worst. I was dirt jumping and my forks snapped and i smashed my face. My eyes were bleeding and I was knocked out, my brother thought I was dead.

SR: What inspires you to throw your leg back over a bike after an injury?

SH: I'm a slow learner I guess... I just enjoy riding so much that the ups beat the downs.

SR: Who/what made you decide to get into competitive DH in the first place?

SH: I basically grew up on a bike, its all I did as a kid, I went to my first mtb race at home when I was 12 and just watched, I thought it was cool and then decided to try racing myself. I have never thought about doing anything else since then.

SR: You have a very strong view for flat pedals [So do we at SR], how good was it to win the WC on flats after so many people said that it wasn't possible?

SH: Yeah it's awesome, I have heard people my whole career saying that you cant win on flats and I did it on one of the more pedally tracks. I just laugh at people who think they are at an advantage with their clips and funny shoes.

SR: The kids will kill me if I don’t ask these; What's your favorite track?

SH: I am going to have to say Schladming Austria, just a big wild rough natural track. Thats the way they should be!

SR: Do you think these “tougher/scarier” styles of tracks could be killing the sport for new comers to DH? I realize you sick-quick dudes can pin it at speed and with commitment that plain scares the crap out most normal people, but what about the children? Think of the children! FFS, the bloody children...

SH: Well, I think we need to have challenging tracks but they can be made so that everyone can ride them. I think a good track can be easy to ride slow but really hard to go fast on. If all the tracks didnt have any hard/challenging stuff then no one could progress.

SR: What's your forte? What "sections" are you better at than most...

SH: I think I am better suited to technical tracks, I really like to find lines and try to find the best way through a section. I think some people just dont take the time to find the best line.

SR: What's your favorite terrain to race on?

SH: Technical and as rough as possible

SR: How do you like the wet?

SH: I love riding in the wet, just drifting and slipping around. When its wet the track gets rougher and gets big ruts, its awesome just railing through the ruts and getting all sideways.

SR: Take us through your run at the Champery World Cup Round a few weeks back?

SH: It was pretty fun, I just rode it like i would have in the dry, I knew i would have to be cautious in a few sections and they worked out well. There was a triple into a right hand berm and everyone was only doubling even in the dry. I was still tripling and did it in my race and just could not slow down for the turn. I thought i would just get all sideways and try and hang on but when i hit the berm i exploded off my bike and had to run back up the hill and grab it again. I am pretty pissed that happened, i dont like these tactics people play.

SR: After winning the 2006 World Championships, what new goals have you set? Do it again?

SH: My main focus is to win the worlds again and defend my title aswell as win the world cup series.

SR: You were absolutely ecstatic after winning the World Championships, how'd you celebrate? Was it a weight off your shoulders?

SH: It was just a huge relief that i pulled it off, i wanted to win so bad and to achieve it was awesome. i didnt party too hard.

SR: Who did you look up to when you were a junior?

SH: I looked up to Scott Sharples when I first started riding, then he retired and I have always admired Steve Peat, I would have never guess he would still be racing now and one of my hardest competitors.

SR: Who has been the biggest influence in your success?

SH: My parents and Scott Sharples

SR: How do you think this years Aus. Juniors will go when they head to the World Championships later in the year at Fort William? [Hetherington, Maltman, Patton etc.]

SH: The juniors this year seem to be tougher than the past couple, there are alot of fast guys but the Aussies are definatley amongst the fastest of them. I always get excited to see how the little fellas go. I hope one of them can bring home the gold and hopefully we can fill the podium.

SR: Who is your biggest threat this year?

SH: Greg Minnaar

SR: How do you like your race kit this year? All matching etc.

SH Yeah I think it looks cool, I have seen on the internet a few guys calling it a clown suit but I think its way better that most.

SR: Come race day, what is your secret preparation routine?

SH: I have no idea..... I'm pretty mellow, just do a good practice run and check anything out if I need to and relax until the final. I always warm up and sink a Monster before the race though.

SR: What runs through your head before the race run?

SH: I try not to think about it really, my mechanic Jacy hangs out at the top and keeps my mind off stuff. we just have a good laugh.

SR: How do you take it on a bad day of racing? Do you beat yourself up about it or try and move fwd and focus on the next event?

SH: I get pretty upset but i keep it to myself, I get annoyed at people who get all pissed and chuck hissy fits after the race.

SR: What's in the CD player at the moment?

SH: Cd player??? I got the ipod hooked up

SR: Any hobbies outside of pushies?

SH: Moto, sleeping, eating chillies

SR: Any pets?

SH: Ryan

SR: How'd ya think he'd cook up on the barbie?

SH: A bit chewy

SR: What in the Sam Hill is in the future? Are you hitting up any Oz races this year?

SH: I dont really get much support to do the Aussie races and they are so far away from Perth. If they get a good series that is a 'National' series and goes to all the states then i would be more inclined to do them. I think the race series they have right now is pretty pathetic.

SR: What's in store for you after DH? Got any dreams/wishes?

SH: No idea at the moment, there are lots of other things I would love to try so we will see what happens.

SR: We have a few "keen-as" upcoming DHer's on SR, can you give them any words of wisdom to help progress their skills/confidence at riding at an international level?

SH: Practice your weak points and try become a better all round rider, and always keep it fun.

SR: If there's anything you could change about the Oz DH scene/operations, what would it be?

SH: A better race series that went to all the major states and more promotion to get it on tv. I would love to be able to just stay and race in Australia if there series was big enough.

SR: So, here it is, we've all waited for it, and I have 10 bucks on this one - If yourself and Rennie [Nathan] were all greased up, in g-strings, who would win the wedgie comp?

SH: I reckon Rennie would just pick me up in the air by my G banger and I would kick him in the balls. Me, Rennie, lube and G bangers wont happen!!!

SR: A huge thanks for chatting to us and listening to our dribble Sam. We all wish you a Huge amount of Luck for the rest of the season, the crew at SR are rooting for ya.

SH: Thank you, let me know when you get Rennie and the lube together.

SR: Will do... cheers