Stats:
- Hometown - South Lake Tahoe
- Years riding - 12
- Height - 5'5"
- Bike Model - Beta 300 RE
- Bar - Howler 1/2" for Hard Enduro riding, Hard Ednuro 1" rise for longer adventures
Video: @jprigen
CFR - Any shout-outs to riders that inspire your riding (either mentors who you know personally, or anyone in the industry at large).
Pooch - I’d have to say Joe Neamith is a big inspiration to my riding. Mostly for the different lines and features he picks out to ride. And also the passion he has for riding on anything 2 wheels! And also Billy Bolt, I wish I had a fraction of the bike control he has!
CFR -Any favorite bikes that you owned in the past that you still think about?
Pooch - Ha, no, I hope and pray I never see any of my past bikes….
Video: @algerhythm
CFR - What’s unique about the trails and terrain in your neck of the woods?
Pooch - I say we are very lucky with our terrain here, we have riding year-round within an hour drive, epic desert drainages with waterfalls in the winter, and the summer epic grippy granite perfectly shaped into unique features. Out of all the places I’ve traveled to, it’s hard to beat what we have!
Video: @jprigen
CFR - A couple of years ago, you switched over to a Beta 300 from the Austrian brand. How does the Beta help your riding and overall moto experience?
Pooch - Yeah, I would say it definitely helped elevate my riding. Switching to the Beta, which is a slightly smaller bike compared to the Austrian bikes, has really helped a shorter rider like me feel more confident when tackling features. I also love the tunability and power delivery of the carb compared to fuel injection.
CFR - What is it about hard enduro that gets you the most stoked?
Pooch- Man, it’s just riding and challenging yourself, and see where we can take bikes! And also the community, I love going to the races and getting to ride with like-minded friends from all over the country!
Video: @jprigen
CFR - When you are first attempting one of your techy rock gaps, do you get very calculated about the physics involved, or do you ‘wing it’ and ride mostly based on feel?
Pooch - Haha, I like not to think about it! It normally goes better for me when I just see something and hit it. If I stop and think about a feature and question it for some reason, I kinda take that as a sign that my subconscious did a calculation that didn’t add up, so I probably shouldn't hit it. I would say tho a lot of the time my first attempt is the best and then it’s downhill from there…
CFR - How does an aftermarket bar setup help you when you attempt advanced maneuvers?
Pooch - I’d say when hitting walls and splats, it helps a lot having low bars that give you more room to pull up and also more room to get the bike closer to your chest to get your weight over the front. Also haven a comfortable sweep is key as well!
Video: @motomullet
CFR - Any important tips or skills for a rider who wants to ride rock and slab trials?
Pooch- Just do it! Over and over! Hit every rock or log you see on your ride, jump off stuff, and just have fun!
CFR - What advanced skills are you currently stoked to work on?
Pooch- Right now it’s mostly rear wheel hops! Really been on the hunt for set-ups where the rocks aren’t big enough to get both front and rear tires on, so you have to wheelie and hop or splat to the next!
CFR - Congrats on recently becoming a father! Has that changed your view on the sport? Does it affect how you train and get your hours in?
Pooch- Thanks, it’s been epic so far. We’ve taken Kenny to every race he loves it! Sharing the passion, young! I definitely don’t get to ride as much as I used to, but I’m getting it in other ways! I gotta stay in shape to stay ahead of Kenny, he’s gonna be kickin' my ass before I know it!
CFR: Thanks Nick, keep inspiring us with your awesome riding!
Vic and Kenny supporting Nick and the starting line!
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