Jessica Stone was last year’s top UK junior and this season has stepped it up to Elite with the help of the TwoStage Factory Team. And she’s absolutely pinning it, scoring two second placings in her first two races in the Maxxis Cup – nice! So we thought we better have a chat and find out who she is and what drives her to huck those big jumps and ride so fast…

Podium - Vigo round, Maxxis Cup 2009.
Photo: See watermark - used with permission from Jess Stone

Hi Jess! Congrats on kicking off your first season in Elite with two great results. How stoked are you right now?

I’m chuffed to bits! I only went out there with the intention of getting some valuable experience and maybe a 4th place, not really expecting much for my first official race in Elite. I knew I was up against Tracy Moseley and Katy Curd who are both very skilled and talented riders and I expected the local girls to be good too! So to come away with 2nd at both rounds… yeah, I’m stoked!

And you did some BIG jumps in Vigo and Gouviea. What’s your process for hitting up something that scares you?

Oh my days… they were pretty big jumps – the biggest I have ever done anyway! In Gouveia, I followed my team mate, Tom Deacon, so I knew the speed I had to go to clear it then I just sat on my bike the section before the jump and waited for ages by myself and talked myself into doing it, then I just peddled as hard as I could into the jump and went for it. Vigo was the worst as there were two Northshore jumps and the road gap to get my head round. But similar to Gouveia, I waited the section before and made myself do them. I did both the Northshore jumps and the road gap in one run. It was a full on run!! It’s pretty hard making yourself do it, normally riders follow people into them but it doesn’t seem to work for me!

How’s your 2Stage bike going? And how did you get hooked up with the 2Stage team?

I first went on this unique bike at a local race and I fell in love! It was really weird trying to work out why a bike with two shocks worked so well – it peddled like a cross country bike and was so nimble around the corners. It was also so easy to jump it was unreal. When I finished riding for Trek after a very successful debut season, I got speaking with 2Stage and things moved on from there. I am now riding for their 2Stage Factory team on their DH bike, the Elite 9, with Tom Deacon and Alex Powell and I also have personal sponsors- Five.Ten and Loeka.

Jess Stone on her 2Stage Elite 9.
Photo: See watermark - used with permission from the rider

Are you picky about how your bike is set up? What special things do you HAVE to have?

I’m not fussy yet, I’ve not got the experience to know what set up works best, though I’m starting to now experiment with tyre pressures etc. My bike has two shocks, instead of your typical one shock, but I find it so easy to set up – I just set it up according to my weight (50%sag in the first stage) and then I’m good to go! Oh and I have to put a touch of pink on the bike, sad I know!!

What’s the riding like where you live, do you have a bunch of friends you ride with?

The riding where I live is very good. I live in Shropshire and surrounded by hills. I go riding at Hopton or Bringewood. I usually ride on my own and normally get the train down to Bringewood (about 15mins) and its an hours push to the track. However, there’s always people there I know so I end up riding with them! It’s great fun, but not as technical or varied as Hopton. I go with a group of friends to Hopton as it’s awesome there. Loads of tracks!

What are your goals for the 2009 season? Are you feeling any pressure?

I definitely feel pressured, but not from my team as they are so relaxed, but from myself as I’m so driven and determined. I want to qualify in the world cup rounds that I am doing and get a good placing, somewhere within in the top 15 would be good!! It’s a pretty strong field in the women’s race as there are so many awesome riders. I’m just going to keep pushing myself this year and try and get some results under my belt. Moving from junior into Elite is hard work!!

Maxxis Cup round 1 - Elite Women podium.
Photo: www.photolanvo.com, used with permission from Jess Stone

So is racing your whole life for this season, or are you still studying?

I’m in the last year of college now, studying full time in Sports and Exercise Science, but they are cool with me having the time off to race as it is related to what I’m doing. I’m hoping to get into Worcester Uni doing a Sports Science degree, but I’m still debating whether to take a year out before to concentrate fully on the racing… pretty hard to decide! I’m also full on at the moment as I’m in a band and I work part-time in a supermarket and everything else that I do!!

Who inspires you or helps you the most?

I am inspired by Helen Gaskell and Tracy Moseley as they are awesome bike riders and really great people. I know if I’m struggling with anything I can ask them and they will help me out. My older sisters and my bro are also a great inspiration to me and they help me out so much with anything and everything!

Any other thank-yous?

I would just like to say a massive thank you to all the guys at 2Stage for all their fantastic support they have given me for this season. Also to Five.Ten for the funkiest shoes and Loeka for the coolest women’s riding wear ever! I would also like to thank Kerry Bason for getting me into downhill biking as without her, I wouldn’t have known what downhill biking was and I’d still be chasing a football around! Lastly, to my friends who have driven me around the country to get to the races as I don’t drive… yet… you know who you are, and to my non-biking friends who keep it real.

Jess Stone on the podium in Gouveia 2009.
Photo: See watermark - used with permission from the rider

Cheers for your time Jess, and have an awesome season!

Older: Martha Hucker interviews Harriet Ruecknagel

Fresher: Rachel Atherton to miss first round of 2009 World Cup

Published on 28/03/2009 by Martha Hucker.