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Jess Stone Keeps On Rolling

Posted by Neilson Rachel at 04:02 on 2 February 2012

Jee Trek

Jess Stone is an enigma, a sporting powerhouse and a shining light the UK’s future sporting success. The 21 year old started making waves playi ng football for Crew Alexander. On the cusp of promotion to the big leagues she made the life changing decision to be a professional Mountain Biker. The risk paid off and in 2010 as Tre k Bikes Gravity Girls team captain she became the UK Elite National Champion. Team Neilson go behind the bike shed…

You played football for Crew and were doing extremely well, why did you give it up for mountain biking?
It was the hardest decision I have ever had to make. I was so close to getting to the top in Football, people thought I had lost ambition and was giving up, reaching the top was something I had aspired to achieve. However, I believed I could be good at cycling. I knew what I could do and nothing else mattered to me. Downhill is just amazing and everything about it is incredible - the places it takes you and the people you meet gives a terrific buzz. I am here now for the long run, whatever happens I will always be riding a bike. Leaving Football for Moun tain Biking is a decision I will never ever regret making.

You travel a great deal with the Gravity Girls but where is your favourite travel destination?
My favourite place so far to ride has to be Colorado. I was fortunate to go there after a World Cup race and I was invited to do some coaching with Trek Dirt Series. At first I couldn't breathe from the altitude but the riding was awesome and it was a beautiful place to be.
  
What is the most extreme thing you have ever done on a bike?
I think riding down a volcano in Tenerife, throttling absolutely flat out on my downhill bike amongst all the lava rock was a cool experience! 

When you are not on a bike where do you like traveling too?
My first experience of travelling was when I got into mountain biking, so I've only really gone to places with my bike, but I love being in the Alps. The Mountains are such a spectacular place to be, I absolutely love Chamonix.

What is your ultimate goal as a Gravity Girl?
I am working hard everyday in order to reach my potential as a racer and as a bike rider. So everything I do is to increase my level of experience, gaining good bike handling skills and a good race head is something I've had to spend a great deal of time developing.

What has been your biggest challenge so far?
Overcoming fears and pushing myself to do things that don't feel natural, when racing on the World Stage, making big jumps crossing gaps or taking gnarly lines can be the difference between 15th or 10th place. Making yourself do the things that scare you the most is a difficult thing to get your head around, and coming from a football background where there is little personal risk involved, it takes time and experience to get used to such challenges.

What is your exercise routine like?
Bike riding, not just downhill but also cyclocross, cross country and BMX. Everything helps to develop skills. I am also a Boxer, and joined when I started University just for something different to do. So I box 3 times a week and compete occasionally.

What are your top 5 travel essentials that go with you when you tour with the Gravity Girls and why?
1) A change of clothes,
2) my hair straighteners – there is nothing worse than a bad hair day!
3) book - in case I get bored when travelling
4) My laptop - so I can do my Uni work when I have some spare time.
5) A pillow - so I can get comfortable and have a half decent sleep!


Find out more about Jess at jessstone.com or on Twitter @jessstone  
Or have a go out mountainbiking on Trek bikes at any Neilson Beachclub!
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