Why The Right Downhill Mountain Bike Matters
Kristian Manietta, his wife Charlotte and son Mack moved from Australia to Whistler in 2014 and as a family, they are passionate about all sports involving two wheels. Seven year old Mack has his sights firmly set on making his passion a career. We caught up with them recently to chat about Mack’s talents as a downhill mountain bike rider, and how his 20″ MeekBoyz Mini Beast is enabling him to improve his riding ability, soak up breaking bumps and control bigger jumps.
How old is Mack? How old was he when he started riding?
My dad bought him a plastic sit on Ducati with fat plastic tires before he turned one, which he ‘rode’ around on our wooden floors as soon as his feet could reach the ground. I also bought him a balance bike around the same time, but it was too big.
Not long came the Specialized HotWalk run bike, which in my mind is the best development tool for any kid into riding. Most run bikes have poor geometry, but the Specialized one is similar to a their first pedal bike and has little foot platforms to teach them the number one tool – balance. He was crazy on that thing and it came everywhere with us!
When we went to his first pedal bike (I’m not a fan of training wheels) it took less than an hour for him to be riding around as he just need to learn the pedal action (and not push back, with the coaster brakes) as his balance and turning was on lock. Biking is an extension of him.
What type of riding does Mack enjoy most?
Mack loves jumps and tech riding so obviously he loves the bike park. But back in Australia, from the point that he could ride, we rode to and from daycare which built his little aerobic engine and I’ve always instilled sometimes you have to earn your turns. So you need to be strong and fit (which helps downhill) and riding uphill to get the goods is fun too. And here in Whistler we have a lot of goods.
Last year at six, he rode the new alpine trail on the other side of the valley. Strava shows this as 1300 metres of climbing and a five-plus hour ride, with some spicy grades to climb on 20″ wheels!
While this was a solid day he loved it. He loves everything and wants to do it all – park, DJ, XC/trails.
When and where did you first hear about the MeekBoyz range of bikes?
A friend from Australia who was here during Crankworx mentioned seeing a kids carbon bike with a fox 32. The next day we ran into Donna Meek after picking Mack up from DFX camp, where we got introduced to the bike.
What made you decide to buy at MeekBoyz bike for Mack?
Mack rides a bike well, very well for his age and we had invested in a Lil Shredder a couple of years previously which allowed him to ride better and progress. Now that he is sending bigger jumps and drops in the bike park, and knowing the limitations of the front fork on the Lil Shredder when the breaking bumps get huge in Whistler (especially in a dry summer) the 20″ Mini Beast just made sense. We look at it just like that. An investment into something he loves, and he is going to push limits, and not from us pushing, he is just that way inclined. Having this 20″ Mini Beast allows him to do that and is actually safer.
How is Mack finding the bike? Have you seen an improvement in his riding ability?
He loves it and we saw an improvement immediately. He could soak up the breaking bumps, he is able to control bigger jumps better and he can whip the thing around. It’s fun to watch.
Do you have plans for Mack to compete in the future or is it just a hobby?
I don’t think we have a choice! He has competition in his blood, which is hard not to with both parents having competitive sporting backgrounds. This year he will get his first taste of downhill racing. He’s been telling mummy that he will be in Joyride and Rampage when he is older. At the end of kindergarten when they asked what he was going to be, he said “I’m going to be living in Canada and I’ll be a pro mountain biker”. If that stays his goal, then we will support him as best we can. I feel the right equipment helps.
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