Boaz or commonly known in the competitive mountain bike scene as Big Nugget (@b1gnugget) has recently joined the Hyperformance Hardware National competitive team. Boaz maintains the youthful essence of the team by bringing his 20 year old self to the programme for the 2021 national season of racing and beyond. If you want to know more about Boaz, head over to the People page to find out more on his background.
After travelling internationally for UCI World Cup events during the 2018 and 2019 kiwi winters and representing New Zealand at the 2017 Mountain Bike World Champs, Boaz has had a fair taste of international racing. This year has been challenging for athletes across the world and perhaps more so for kiwi athletes who fund the bulk of their own international travels from the base of the earth. We put some questions to Boaz to dig deeper into how he has used his time based in New Zealand this winter and his b1g plans for the 2021 international racing season.
Photo: @freeridenewzealand
Cam Cole: This year has challenged athletes around the world on a number of levels. Perhaps more so for New Zealand athletes since you are some distance from the bulk of the international racing. How have you managed these challenges this year?
Boaz Hebblethwaite: With the situation around the world this past year it gave me the perfect opportunity to take the time and make a proper plan for 2021. With the sole focus being on the 2021 season it was an awesome time to prep but still stay in the loop by keeping up with the few races that went ahead overseas.
Cam: What are your views on being unable to attend the 2020 international season?
Boaz: For me it was a great time to set new goals and put a plan into place but I definitely feel for the racers who had put all their time and efforts into racing in Europe this past season. To have everything ready to go and be so close to then pull the pin would’ve been super hard.
Photo: @htvisuals
Cam: What have been the main positives and negatives have you noticed from having to negotiate these times as an athlete?
Boaz: I think finding ways around the changes and cancelled events was definitely hard for a lot of people and short term that was for sure a negative but moving on through the next few years I’d say people can take a lot positives from how they found ways to still train and keep on pace throughout these times and it will have only made them quicker.
Cam: This coming international season 2021 is an important season in the context of your development as a racer. How has this influenced your thinking and approach to your transition into the elite category?
Boaz: I made the decision around March that if I could earn the funds in the New Zealand winter I would put basically everything I’ve got into the 2021 season so for me I just want to go in with the attitude that whatever happens, within reason, I couldn’t have done anything more.
Photo: Sven Martin
Cam: The V10 29er was all new at the end of 2018 and New Zealand had their first delivery of them prior to the 2019 NZ National series. Since then, the bike has proven that it is very capable under a variety of rider styles. Since you first got on the V10 29 what aspects do you think contribute most to the performance of the bike?
Boaz: The V10 29er was by far the most stable bike from the get go that I’ve ever ridden. I was blown away by the grip that it had without even doing any set up changes. Opting for the large frame with the rear in ‘short mode’ it feels ‘flicky’ while still keeping that planted, classic 29er feel.
Cam: Have you made any major set up changes to your bike for this coming season compared to last season?
Boaz: After trying the Extra Large and the Large my goal was to find a happy medium incorporating my favourite aspects of both. As I’ve gone with the large frame in the short mode it’s got a really agile feel that I like. Then I put a 7mm Reach Adjust cup in the front just to get slightly closer to the ‘roomy’ ride of the Extra Large frame where it feels like I can sit in it nicely in the rough straights.
Photo: @freeridenewzealand
Cam: What other types of riding have you been enjoying so far this season?
Boaz: Here in Christchurch we’ve got a tonne of amazing riding on the doorstep. From the local dirt jumps, to the Christchurch Adventure Park for Downhill runs and Craigieburn for some trail bike missions I couldn’t think of a much better spot to be in!
Cam: How is your preparation going for the 2021 New Zealand national series? What have you changed in your prep this year compared to pre-season last year?
Boaz: So far I’ve been enjoying it a lot, we have a really good series of local races from around October to December every year that is great prep for the national series. I’ve made quite a few changes in my prep since last year, a lot more riding and actually taking the time to properly dial in the downhill bike has been a huge help already.
Photo: Sven Martin
Cam: What specific part of your fitness, mental ability or technical skill set have you been working on in the lead up and in the first part of the New Zealand season?
Boaz: In the past years I’ve done a lot of strength work in the off season. Downhill, although being on the shorter more intense side, I’ve found that I really lacked the endurance so this year I’ve put a lot more effort into my sprint capacity and just being able to keep my energy levels up throughout the race weekends.
Cam: What races in the New Zealand national series are you most looking forward to?
Boaz: I’m super excited to be heading back to Coronet Peak for the 4th round of the National series. The track there is amazing and always brings some pretty wild racing with a super well-run event so that’s always a highlight of the season! National Champs this season is in Christchurch too which will be awesome as well.
Cam: Looking beyond the 2021 New Zealand national series, how are your plans shaping up for the 2021 international season?
Boaz: Really looking forward to it, goal is to race as many world cups in 2021 as I can get to. So far the preps been great and now the main focus will be getting the necessary points to race the international season.
Follow Boaz 2021 season here