From backyard bike trails to a career on two wheels, success is only as good as the fun you’re having for this Tasmanian mountain biking pro.

▼

You grew up on Hobart’s eastern shore. What was your childhood like?

Our house was at the top of a hill on a bit of land at Mount Rumney. My brother and I built tracks that went down one side of the hill, and created a little mountain bike park in our own backyard. I eventually started racing at club level, then state level and eventually national level. By the time I was 17, I had done my first overseas trip to race as a junior. I’d watched the international competitions my whole childhood, so to get that opportunity to see it up close and be competing myself was an amazing experience and a bit of a shock.

Back then, the local racing scene in Tassie was great, but our tracks didn’t really translate on the international stage - things were much more difficult overseas. It’s incredible to look at how far the state has come. Today, we’re on a par with the international heavyweights, and hosting world cup events of our own.

*Dan (right) and brother Nic (image supplied)*

You’re now in your late 20s, and still based in Hobart. Did you ever consider moving away from Tassie?

I actually spent three years in New Zealand from 2021-24. It was meant to be a three-month trip, but Covid-related border closures near the start of my visit kept me there for much longer than planned. I bought a van, started on the north island, and travelled all over, eventually ending up in Queenstown. I enjoyed checking out another part of the world, but the plan was always to end up back in Tassie.

Everything is here: my family, awesome mountain biking, a bit of city life, proximity to the coast for surfing. Tasmania has all of the things that I love in such a small place. I haven’t found anywhere else in the world that delivers on that.

This year alone, I’ve already taken 30 flights, and been to 12 different countries for competitions. It’s intense. So having that sense of familiarity when I come home to my friends, family and the environment I grew up in is really relaxing for me.

What sets the Tasmanian mountain biking scene apart from its counterparts around the world?

One of the big things is the geography and topography of Tassie. It changes so quickly as you move around the island, so you can get so many vastly different riding experiences in one small area.

Maydena is one of my favourite places to ride. Over the 800-metre drop, you descend through so many different sections of forest, and the wildlife and soil keep changing. It feels like you’re riding in multiple places over just this one ride.

When I first started travelling and riding overseas, nobody had even heard of Tasmania as a place to mountain bike. Then there was a phase where people became curious and would ask me about it. Now, it’s one of the most iconic mountain biking destinations in the world.

*Dan at Crankworx, Rotorua, New Zealand (image:* *Sven Martin*)

What have been some of the greatest challenges of your mountain biking career?

I used to take a really rigid approach to my training and performance. I was so strict about how I spent my time. I’d turn down opportunities to socialise so that I could focus on riding, improving and getting fitter. I ended up burning out from pushing myself so hard and putting so much of my life into it, so I took a big break. It was an opportunity to actually experience my late teens and the things that I’d missed out on.

About three years later, I was doing some work with a professional trail-building company out at Maydena, and ended up dipping my toes back into racing. It was interesting - even though I’d taken this big break and my focus had moved away from riding competitively, my results had improved. It taught me that I was better off approaching riding as something to enjoy rather than as this strict regime. That was where things changed, and I was actually able to make a career out of racing. I still make sure that I’m prepared going in to each event, but I’ve zoomed out from focusing on every little intricate detail of the race. Now, I try to take a moment to feel a little bit proud and really grateful that I’m even able to do what I do.

What’s involved in your training?

I actually try to do all of my training in the gym. I have a coach based in New Zealand, who programs three days a week of weightlifting circuits and mobility work. When it comes to the bike, it’s really just about volume. I rarely go out and do specific intervals or timed race simulations - it means that I can treat riding as something to enjoy, and helps to avoid burnout.

Mental training is also really important, and I’ve had mentors from the industry who have been critical in helping me to understand what works for me. Mental strategy is a hard one to articulate, but - for me - it’s about being in a positive headspace where I’m not too relaxed, but I’m also not putting too much pressure on myself.

*Dan at UCI Enduro World Cup, Morillon, France (image: Sven Martin)*

What are three must-dos for every visitor to Lutruwita/Tasmania?

Get into the Styx Valley and walk through the tall trees in the old-growth forest. It’s like nowhere else in the world, and definitely worth the trip out.
Take a ride at Maydena Bike Park, regardless of your experience on a bike. The trails range from beginner-friendly to some of the most advanced in the country.
Spend a day or two taking it easy at Friendly Beaches on the east coast.

Where are your favourite local haunts for eats and drinks?

I used to live across the road from Ginger Brown in South Hobart, and I still go there often before or after a ride for coffee and something to eat. I’ll often drop into Sush Track for great fresh sushi on the waterfront, and I love the saag paneer at Annapurna in North Hobart.

Where do you get away to for a Tasmanian staycation?

It’s a toss-up between the east coast and Bruny Island. Either way, I’d pack my own food and drinks, and set up camp close to the ocean.

▼

Q&A: Dan Booker