Matt Hunter 2010 Recap and looking forward – Interview!

Oct 27, 2010 at 11:20

When I hear the name Matt Hunter, I instantly picture the landscape surrounding Kamloops B.C. being shredded at speed and crazy senders that run as closer sections in movies - bangers if you will! The surrounding landscape has shaped him as a rider, just as he's worked its contours to perfect his art on two wheels. Last weekend I went up to Kamloops to spend a few days with Matt, ride and chat about 2010 and what we can expect from him next season.

Read on,

Morning Matt, fire us your vital stats and what you get to do for a living?
My full name is Matthew Hunter, I’m 27 and I live in Kamloops, BC. I ride mountain bikes for a living.



2010 has wrapped up for the contest riders and racers, but you are busy all year round with your filming and photo shoots. What projects are you currently working on?
Right now I am working on a few things. I just signed with Fox Racing Shox, so I did some shooting with the Anthill boys for Fox, that will be out in the Spring. I also have a trip to Utah on the horizon, and I want to get as much riding in around home as I can before winter arrives. I am going to go back to the Baja this winter to surf and ride, too. Looking forward to that!


When are you taking us surfing?
Anytime bro!


You are a featured rider in both Anthill’s Follow Me and Stance Film’s Life Cycles, what has it been like working on those two projects?
Both of those projects were rad. I had so much fun with both. They were really different though; for Follow Me we were shooting with two riders most of the time, capturing action and speed to show what it's like riding with a friend. With Life Cycles the shots were based on riding in dust, and the way dust and light combine to look crazy.


How do you choose what video will get a certain feature that you are working on, say like the gap to wall ride in Follow Me?
When I make plans with a production company to do a segment, we discuss what kind of riding and location. Then I build lines to ride. Something like that curved wall is a lucky find though.



How do you go about choosing a specific line for a video?
It has to do a lot with how I am feeling, and what I want to ride. Because I build most of the stuff I shoot, the lines I ride in the film are usually what I am fired up on at the time.



What is your favorite line of all time, filmed or not?
I like the lines I get to film, but my favorite of all time has to be a trail that I rode with 3 of my best friends in Peru, in a place called Puerto De Inca.


What made it so special to you?
It was such an unreal location. We started at the Pacific ocean, with a massive all day climb and then the ultimate trail going down. It was steep and fast with soft drifty dirt, natural airs, and the trail was made by sheep, so it was really braided and we could pass each other and take different lines. We were just freaking out the whole way. We ended in a Utah-esque desert and had a swim in the ocean.


Wow that does sound pretty rad Matt!

Graham, Matt, Nikki and Ian all taking a quick break on Rio. -Photo by Tyler Maine

Tell us about your 2010 season to date.
This season has been top notch. I have been riding in lots of amazing places, with good people, and that's what it's all about!  I have been riding with a shoulder injury (air dome incident from 4 years ago that has not gotten any better) , but it doesn't keep me from shredding trails. I just have to be careful about the types of jumps that I hit, because landing the wrong way can cause it to dislocate.


You chose to skip the Red Bull Rampage this year, a lot of people noticed your absence at the event, please tell us about why you were not there?
I didn't ride at Rampage because of my shoulder. You just can't ride at Rampage unless you are 100% ready for it. I'm not into the contests anyways though...


With your shoulder injury, how have you had to adapt your riding?  When are you going to get it repaired?
I have to be careful that I don't land rear wheel first or do anything that will cause the bars to pull hard on my shoulder. I'm going to have surgery this winter to repair it and then begin the healing and recovery process.



As you get older/more mature, do you think more about wearing more/any pads and a neck brace?
Not really, although the neck braces don't seem to bother people so it might be a good idea. Maybe I'll give one a try.


With a more mellow winter ahead than you are used to due to your recovery, are you already eager for next year’s travel plans?
I'm eager to be feeling healthy, I don't care where I am! I want to try and get out fishing while I'm recovering though, fishing is the best recovery method.




Tell us about some of your 2011 projects that we can look forward to seeing and reading about in the future?
We (myself and the Anthill crew) have been discussing all sorts of cool projects for 2011, I'm looking forward to some really sick film projects.  There is also a really cool trip happening to a zone in India that has dirt like Kamloops, so I gotta check that out!




In all your travels, what are your best and worst memories of life on the road?
My best memories are of road trip pranks. We were staying at a hotel in Germany that had a bunch of huge, fat rabbits for kids to pet. Ryan Gibb and I caught the rabbits in helmet bags and released them in Berrecloth and Romaniuk's room.  I remember how hard it was to carry them, the rabbits were so heavy! They didn't get home until 5am,  by then the rabbits had crapped all over their room.

Another good one was at Interbike this year. The Coastal Crew had 5 people packed in their room, there was gear everywhere.  They left me and the Anthill guys in their room when they went for dinner. We put EVERYTHING in the bathroom, even the beds.  The room was empty; the bathroom was full to the ceiling. Then we unscrewed the light bulbs a few turns so they wouldn't work.

I can't really think of any bad memories. I know there must be some, but none are worth mentioning.



A recent Specialized ad shows you in Iceland of all places. Who all went on that trip and was that picture photo shopped as those berms were too perfect looking, or did you guys spent the time building some of that line?
A lot of people have been asking me about that shot, I guess it looks too good to be true. But it is real, we didn't even build anything. I was there with Shandro, Schwartzy, Sterl and Mitch Scott. We just climbed that mountain and when we looked over the top, there was this unreal trail heading down the other side. It kind of seemed normal at the time! The ground was steaming and shooting boiling water, the hills are red and gray and orange, and oh, there just happens to be the most perfect piece of trail down there. I guess we'll go ride that.


Pics from that trip that led to the shot above:



You’ve been a sponsored athlete working with Specialized for 7 years now, are they sick of you yet? Tell us about that relationship.
Man has it been that long? Crazy. Working with Specialized is the best. I get along really well with everyone there, we collaborate on ads and ideas. I think if they were getting sick of me they would tell me.



Everyone seems to be pretty rippin’ riders there at Specialized, they ever try to put the hurt on ya on “work” rides?
Every time man! That's one thing about Specialized, there are so many sick riders there. It's actually crazy what level of shredding is normal on a ride. Yes, they do climb a bit fast for my liking. It can be really hard to keep up.



Speaking of work, you were recently in Spain for Specialized days, where you and your team mate Sam Hill did DH and even road rides with fellow Specialized riders like Ned Overend and Alberto Contador.  What was that like?  Were you rocking flats and baggies too on the road ride?
No, I had a proper road kit. Sam had flats and baggies. Sam and I were pretty stoked because we wanted to beat Contador, and since he went home early, we did. We didn't have a chance of beating Ned, Susi and Burry though.


Give us a quick run down of your quiver of bikes?
-Demo 8 for when shit gets serious
-SX Trail for tight, fast trails
-S Works Enduro for mountains
-S Works Stumpjumper because I'm spoiled
-Honda CRF 450x when I need to make some noise

	Specialized Matt Hunters Demo 8	Specialized Matt Hunters SX Trail	Specialized Matt Hunters S Works Enduro	Specialized Matt Hunters S Works Stump Jumper
Price	$0	$0	$0	$0
Travel	203mm	170mm	160mm	140mm
Rear Shock	Fox DHX RC4 (9.5x3)	Fox DHX RC4	Fox RP23BV	Specialized / Fox Brain
Fork	Fox 40 RC2	Fox 36 Van RC2 180mm with Kashima	Fox 36 Float RC2 160mm	Fox 32 TALAS
Headset	Specialized Integrated	Specialized	Specialized Integrated	Specialized Integrated
Cassette	Shimano SLX 11-28 (9 speed)	Shimano SLX 11-28 (9 speed)	Shimano XTR 11-34 (9 speed)	Shimano XTR 11-34 (9 speed)
Crankarms	Saint 165mm	Saint 165mm	Shimano XT 170mm	Shimano XTR 170mm
Chainguide	MRP G2	MRP G2	MRP LRP - Shiftable	N/A
Bottom Bracket	Saint	Saint	Shimano XTR	Shimano XTR
Pedals	Shimano DX	Shimano DX	Shimano DX	Shimano DX
Chain	XTR	Shimano XTR	XTR	Shimano XTR
Rear Derailleur	Saint Short Cage	Saint Short Cage	Shimano XTR Mid Cage	Shimano XTR
Front Derailleur	N/A	N/A	Shimano XTR	Shimano XTR
Shifter Pods	Saint	Saint	Shimano XTR	Shimano XTR
Handlebar	Chromag Fubar OSX	Chromag Fubar OSX	Chromag Fubar OSX	Specialized S Works Prowess Carbon
Stem	Chromag Directors (Direct Mount)	Chromag Ranger	Syntace	Chromag Ranger
Grips	Specialized XC	Specialized XC	Specialized XC	Specialized XC
Brakes	Saint 203mm rotors	Saint 203mm rotors	Saint 203mm rotors	Shimano XTR
Wheelset	Shimano Saint	Shimano Saint	Shimano XT	Shimano XTR
Hubs	Saint	Saint	Shimano XT	Shimano XTR
Spokes	DT Swiss	DT Swiss	Shimano	Shimano
Rim	Saint	Saint	Shimano XT	Shimano XTR
Tires	Specialized Butcher 2.3	Specialized Butcher 2.3	Specialized Purgatory 2.4	Specialized The Captain S Works
Seat	Chromag Lynx	Chromag Lynx	Specialized Henge	Specialized Henge
Seatpost	Chromag Minimalist	Chromag Minimalist	Speciailized Command Post	S Works Carbon

What do you think the future holds for big mountain riders who don't compete?
I guess the future just holds whatever their imagination has inside it!



Could you beat Brendan Fairclough in a race down A-line?
Yeah right! That's a funny one. I know who asked this question.



Shout outs and thank yous:
My family, friends and sponsors.





Thanks for talking to us with us today Matt, best of luck with your shoulder surgery this winter and we look forward to seeing you on the trails in the Spring.

*All photos by Sterling Lorence unless specified*