The love for cycling in New Zealand is one that is real and one that is certainly growing. For me it all started when I was 8 years old ripping it out on the trails at woodhill forest with my dad. I just went as hard as I could trying to beat him up and downhills.

"I joined the SKC road cycling team in Year 11 and straight away found a love for the road and the extreme levels of pain it took you too"

I always continued to play all different sports as every kiwi boy does. I did the rugby thing, played cricket and even a bit of table tennis as well. I joined the SKC road cycling team in Year 11 and straight away found a love for the road and the extreme levels of pain it took you too. It allowed me everyday to test what my limits were and try and go beyond those.

"It takes a hell of a lot of work to get to the top but when you cross that finish line in first place it’s worth every ounce of pain"

It’s a tough sport. A lonley one. It takes a hell of a lot of work to get to the top but when you cross that finish line in first place it’s worth every ounce of pain. After doing road cycling at school I took up track cycling in my last year at high school and just never looked back. Being the build that I naturally am I realised I was much more suited to the sprint side of track. Being explosive over a short period of time. A lot of people have the idea that sprinters are lazy. That we don’t train but after training for the past 2 full seasons as a sprinter and essentially making it my full time job this year I can certainly say that’s not the case. I have had the hardest sessions of my life riding round in circles chasing the dream, the goal – of one day going to the Olympics to represent this amazing country.

I currently live in Cambridge training under the newly formed Waikato/Bay of plenty regional performance hub falling under the Cycling New Zealand banner and run by my coach and head coach Jon Andrews. This hub has certainly changed things for a lot of the non HP riders based in Cambridge this year. It’s allowed structure, regular track sessions and access to world class coaches.

I love the Cambridge lifestyle; everyone is here chasing the same thing and there is something about living here that just makes you want the best from yourself everyday. It can get consuming though so I have just finished my second year at Waikato Uni doing a business degree majoring in finance as well as working part time at the Avantidrome. It allows me to take my mind off the cycling and meet some new people. For me it is important to have things outside the sport of cycling and always have something to move into post cycling.

I’ve been lucky enough to travel around the world with my bike, see some amazing sights, meet amazing people and no doubt it will continue in the future to hopefully bigger and better things in 2017.

"I love style and fashion and Toot speaks for both of those things"

Becoming a part of the Toot family is extremely exciting. I love style and fashion and Toot speaks for both of those things. My camo kit is certainly something I am super stoked on. There is cycling kits but then there is the camo kit and no doubt will turn heads out on the road and at the track.