Thoughtful aggression

Antony Sproull is a former Canterbury motocross champion who now not only rides but also coaches New Zealand's up-and-coming stars. He spent a few minutes talking to LAURA ALBREY.

How did you get involved in motocross?

I had the unique opportunity where my family raced bikes. My father was a former South Island champion and raced in Australia and New Zealand. My uncle was also a regional champion, racing in the 80s. My brother and I grew up on bikes from a young age; I started riding at the age of 10. Unfortunately, I'm the only one still in the game.

What is the best thing about motocross?

There is too much to sum up in one word, but it all relates back to adrenaline. When you attack a jump at speeds near 100kmh, flying 15 metres high, it certainly gets the heart rate up. Mastering these difficult skills takes years of practice, which is highly rewarding. The social aspect is also a definite highlight; you make friends for life.

The worst?

Crashing, injuries, travelling and the expense of it.

What has your biggest crash been?

Concussed for eight minutes at the South Canterbury motocross championships; a mid-air collision was something I'm glad I don't remember. A broken wrist and ruptured knee ligaments are the only other major injuries, so in motocross I'm one of the lucky ones.

What is your best motocross moment?

Being a part of the winning South Island motocross team to beat the North Island at the annual North versus South motocross. Also being the assistant coach to Darryll King of the New Zealand world junior motocross team, in 2008 and 2009.

Who would your ultimate training partner be?

Probably Ricky Carmichael (United States) because of his work ethic. He is considered as one of the hardest-training motocross riders, and his nine AMA motocross titles speak for it. He is considered the Lance Armstrong of motocross.

Where is your favourite track to ride?

Rangiora Super-Cross Track. I was fortunate to be involved in the complete building process of this track, so it has my own flavour.

What are the three most important skills a motocross rider must have?

Determination, thought processing and aggression.

What is your other obsession and why?

My father is a pilot and operates a scenic flight business in Queenstown.

Where is your favourite place to escape to?

Te Anau, Fiordland. There are few places in the world where you can ride a dirt-bike from your back doorstep and explore the countryside. It's a really peaceful, outdoors style township, great for hunting, water-skiing and fishing, too. One side of my family come from Te Anau so there is that connection as well.

Do you have a top training tip?

Train smarter, not harder. Structure every training lesson so that you get maximum quality, which means breaking it down into physical, mental and skills work. Too often, riders just focus on the physical and pound out endless laps.

What advice do you have for anyone wanting to get involved in cross country riding?

Invest in some good quality coaching, so you learn the right techniques from the start. This will save money, time and injuries in the long run, not to mention speeding up skill development.

Where do you hope to take your motocross riding in the future?

Due to my age and career pathway, the dream of becoming a professional racer is no longer a possibility. I leave this to the future of our sport. Locally, we have some top riders whom I coach such as the McGoldrick boys and the Murphy family. I have invested all of my resources into becoming a professional motocross coach. In 2006 I graduated from Canterbury University with a bachelor of sports coaching. For the last three years I have been running my own coaching business, Performance MX. My goal is to be head coach of the New Zealand Junior Worlds Team, to compete in France this August.

- © Fairfax NZ News