Being Part of It: Supporting Young Riders at the UCI Velosolutions Pump Track World Championship British Qualifiers

Words by Chris Hunt.

As part of our ‘Pump Track But It’s Clean’ tour, this spring, we set off across the UK to hit the nation’s pump tracks, clean them up, meet the communities riding them and, as a side quest, we’d scout the best young talent honed on their berms and rollers to send to the UCI Pump Track World Championships qualifier in the North East of England.

Well, in mid June those qualifiers took place and Joe Patterson who we met up at the Fort William event was there waving the flag for Trash Free Trails. Battling the field of 25 riders, Joe was flying on the day, finishing fourth, meaning he qualifies to compete in the World Championships in Switzerland in September!As the dust settles from the weekend, Chris Hunt catches up with Joe to hear more.

 Touring the nation’s pump tracks, we couldn’t be sure who’d show. You never can be at these kinds of events. We put the call out on social media and, at the mercy of the algorithms and the weather forecast, crossed our fingers hoping to share a few runs with the riders who call these tracks home.

A typically damp April Saturday in Fort William, on the furthest stop north on our tour, the TFT crew met 17-year-old Joe Patterson. Based about an hour and a half north in the Highland town of Carrbridge, luckily for us, Joe’s pal had hit him up to come and check it out.‘

One of my mates found it on the Instagram page. He sent it to me so we just went along for a bit of crack,’ says Joe. ‘I didn’t know anything about the event. Just keen for bit of crack like.’

And the damp didn’t stop the local contingent from showing up in force. About 25 riders kept the vibes warm on the day, showing the strength in the communities formed around pump tracks like these across the world. From the get-go, Joe’s connection and natural flare for the bike stood out. I guess that’s to be expected from someone who’s entire life has woven around bikes.

‘I’ve been riding for about 16 years now I guess.’ he tells me. I cut in to clarify his age. ‘Yeah I’m 17,’ he laughs. ‘My dad does more downhill mountain bike stuff, so it was through him that I started. I’ve got a bike park right next to my house too so I do a lot of tricks and jumps plus there’s a pump track right there.’

In 2018, when our partners at Velosolutions opened a brand new track just down the road in the Boat of Garten, Joe started riding pump track more keenly. Now, fresh out of college, working full-time as a landscape gardener, the pump track is the perfect way to maximise his riding.

‘There’s some solid cross over between mountain biking obviously,’ he tells me. ‘I’m super comfortable going fast around corners and carrying power, momentum and speed.’

With the World Championship Qualifiers taking place in Chopwell, Trash Free Trails chose Joe to cover his entry costs and his expenses to get down there, the team excited to see what he could do on the day.

‘Aye this will probably be one of the biggest races I’ve done,’ he tells me somewhat nonchalantly just a couple of days ahead of the day. ‘I’m a wee bit nervous but it’ll be fine like. I just want to go and just do my best to be fair, just be a part of it.

The pump track in Chopwell Park is the UK’s only symmetrical track meaning riders can be on track simultaneously. The perfect location then for the kind full-gas head-to-head racing you’d expect from a World Championship Qualifier. With over 800 spectators lining the edge of the track, the atmosphere matched the intensity on the track as fast, stylish racing with plenty of drama unfolded throughout the day.

‘The weekend was amazing! Great crack, amazing atmosphere,’ he messages me on his way home.

With a field of 25 strong riders competing throughout the day, there would be space for only four qualifiers who’d compete on the world stage in Switzerland.

‘To be fair when I got there, some of the boys were very fast and I thought I couldn't beat them in the race but I was up for the challenge and beat them which I was happy about,’ he beams.

Our Joe was right in the thick of things making it through to the head-to-head battles at the pointy end of the day, with only three-time British Champ Mark Ducat between him and a spot on the podium.

‘I made it to the semis where I had to race Mark which was a great battle,’ says Joe. ‘Though he did beat me by 0.7 of second! If I beat Mark I could have been third but still, I’m very happy to take fourth.’

Now with the qualifiers behind him, his place secured in the World Champs in September where he’ll face the top riders from across the world having competed in the 12 other qualifying races. With an added confidence from success in Chopwell, Joe knows the kind of damage he can do on the track, so what’s his plan from here?

‘I’ll be taking the Monday off, I’m gonna be absolutely shattered!’ he laughs ‘Then just keep training, get stronger and hopefully do even better!’

We’re so stoked to be part of Joe’s road to Switzerland. Be sure to stay tuned as we’ll continue to follow his journey.

Special thank you to our partner Velosolutions UK for supporting the talent scouting on our pump track but it's clean tour!