|
05/11/2008
|
 |
|
Dave
Watson
Taking care of business
Cam McRae
|
When Dave Watson hucked his Kona over some stragglers in the 2003 Tour de France
jaws dropped and pants were shat in. The early buzz was that Dave was hurt,
arrested and in some serious trouble over the whole thing. In the end the cops
were cool and Watson was uninjured and low-key about it - but the rest of the
world was buzzing. Roadies were whining about disrespect, freeriders were stoked
to show the leg shavers what our world is about and even Joe Public took notice.
The Guardian newspaper named him the “Alternative Sports Personality of
the Year” for 2003 – claiming Dave was “150 feet in the air
above Alpe D’Huez.” He also appeared in FHM, Rolling Stone and Sports
Illustrated. But talking to Dave you get the impression that for him it was
just another huck.
In fact he seems a little weary of the whole thing. “It helped establish
my career and opened doors, but prior to that and since my focus has been to
keep riding, jumping and competing in freeride comps.” Dave had joked
about jumping Bush’s motorcade – and he claims to have some other
ideas up his sleeve – but it’s clear that he prefers to promote
freeriding through less shocking means.
Unlike most of his pro freeride brethren Dave has two jobs. He’s a rider,
on salary with the Kona Clump, and an entrepreneur running Sombrio clothing
– a business he dreamed up and started. I’ve known Dave through
the bike business for almost five years and that’s about all I know –
and I’m not alone. When I told one of my buddies I was working on a piece
about Dave his response was “good – I don’t know much about
Watson – he’s an enigma.” Some riders have a very public persona.
You don’t need to rub shoulders with Simmons, Gracia or Berrecloth to
have an idea about their personalities. Watson seems to keep his cards closer
to his chest. Photographer John Gibson put it this way; “Watson is a quiet
and thoughtful individual. Never the life of the party, he seems most comfortable
out of the direct limelight.” I pinned Dave down with some questions to
try and find out what makes him tick.
Dave grew up in Coquitlam, a suburb of Vancouver. His parents came over from
Ireland in ’72 and Dave was born in 1976. Mrs. Watson still works as an
operating room nurse and his father runs an engineering firm in downtown Vancouver.
Like many of the chosen ones, Watson began riding a bmx. His dad took him to
a race when he was a lad of 5. He was playing soccer and swimming but bikes
were different. “For whatever reason I was into it from day one –
everyone was having a good time. All the kids in the neighbourhood had bmx bikes
and we just rode around and did jumps.” Dave raced bmx – on and
off - until he was eleven when he gave it up and started skiing more seriously.
The die was cast though and Dave’s early skills gave him a head start
for the world of mountain biking. “When I got into it later in life everything
just clicked. Downhill and dual slalom was just starting to roll at that time.
My first race was XC – the Cheakamus Challenge. It was fun – I bonked
but I did finish. The next year I did a couple more races and I just wasn’t
into it. So at 18 I got fully into downhill – that would have been ’95
I think – the year GT came out with the LTS. My first year out of high
school and what do you want to do? I wanted to go to University and I want to
ride mountain bikes – that was as far as I could see.”
Dave (left with teammate John Cowan) has ridden for Norco, Rocky Mountain, Foes
and even Dirtworks. He seems to have found a good home with Kona - who
he's ridden for since early 2003. Photo ~ John
Gibson
Dave accomplished both but he pulled out without a degree after three years
at the University of Victoria to pursue what would become an all consuming passion;
Sombrio Clothing. Dave took business, creative writing and education courses
before putting all his energy into making threads for mountain bikers. Sombrio
began in 1998 with Dave and partners Andrew Shandro and current Cove Bikes Product
Manager Gabe Fox. Andrew and Gabe are still among Dave’s closest friends
and while they are no longer officially involved in the business – they
help promote Sombrio whenever they can.
As a rider Watson’s known for his smooth, big mountain style. You won’t
see Dave tail-whipping or going upside down (although lately he’s been
picking up tips Paul B. and John Cowan). His is a more soulful approach for
the most part but Dave also has the ability to stomp it – and he did just
that at the Red Bull Rampage in 2002 finishing a very solid 5th. Derek Westerlund
puts it well; “he’s fast and smooth and not afraid to send it –
he rides with the World Cup style that most of the riders on the North Shore
try to mimic.”
Practicing for the Crankworx Slopestyle 2005. Photo ~
Malcolm McLaws
I remember watching Kranked 3 at the premiere here in Vancouver. The whole
film blew me away and Dave’s lines at the end were some of the biggest.
After that he and Andrew Shandro literally took mountain biking into a new realm
while filming Ride To The Hills in Utah, setting a new standard for large, stylish
hucks and for linking big moves.
Riding for Kona and appearing in The Collective and the New World Disorder series,
Dave’s clearly at the top of his game and feeling the heat that comes
with that.
“There is pressure...look at any industry. Either you perform or you get
replaced.” The NWD gig is perhaps the toughest. Riders like Bender and
Joe Schwartz were absent in NWD 5. I asked Derek Westerlund what keeps Dave
in his movies; “Kona and our friendship” was his reply suggesting
Dave’s riding is not an issue – for the moment at least. Riders
know they need to keep stepping up or they will be dropped.
Watson dropping in at Rampage in 2002. Photo ~ Cam
McRae
For now Dave’s performing and living the life. As I punch the keys Dave’s
in Costa Rica with Thomas Vanderham, Wade Simmons and Ian Hylands riding, shooting
and indulging in another passion – surfing. After surviving a couple of
tough years with Sombrio and some less lucrative sponsorship agreements Dave
currently seems pretty happy in his skin. He’s particularly stoked about
Kona. “They are pretty much the coolest company I’ve ever dealt
with in the bike business.” Right from his start with Kona, Watson has
been involved in bike design. “I gave them three or four ideas and within
a month and a half they had a sample back ready to try.” Even the stencil
graphic you’ll see on the Out of Bounds bikes was Dave’s idea.
Chateau Watson is a cool pad near the trails that has a great view of the city
and the harbour. The walls are adorned with framed prints from Sterling Lorence
and instead of a table and chairs Foosball is on the menu in the dining area.
There are some bachelor remnants but Dave seems pretty domestic and fastidious.
His workshop is just shy of impeccable despite his large collection of toys.
He’ll be replacing his Yamaha YZ250 (which he sold to Wade Simmons) with
a Honda CRF250 four stroke and he drives a Toyota Tundra 4x4 – that will
soon get a lift. He’s doing all right for a bike rider to be sure.
Most of the time Dave’s trying to balance his filming and other sponsorship
responsibilities with running a business. Kevin Faw works with Dave at Sombrio
and has seen his struggle first hand. “I have watched Dave work very hard.
He puts in long hours and remains committed to both of his professions and he
does a pretty good job of the juggling act.” Dave is no figurehead for
Sombrio – he does virtually all the design work himself. “My inspiration
is at it's highest right after a big session on my bike or board; then I usually
put pen to paper, and make it happen.”
To a designer style is all and Dave and riders on the Sombrio Cartel have always
emphasized substance over size. “Good style on the bike is key. It's hard
to watch a rider who has no body language, just dead... I judge the style of
a rider by their whips. But, as we get more riders who can't ride, but can do
all the heavy tricks...it's still how they look in the air, that counts - smooth,
linking up multi hits.”
Making the large road gap look small: Watson at Crankworx 2005 - Photo ~ Malcolm
McLaws
Dave Watson, along with Andrew Shandro, was one of the first riders with a
DH race pedigree to make the switch to freeride. It’s getting tougher
to make a living racing DH and freeriders are now starting to make good bank,
but with the exception of Gracia there don’t seem to be many riders who
have what it takes to make that jump.
Dave wants to share his style with riders through Sombrio and to keep riding
his bike. His tenacity should get him through; Sombrio’s midlife crisis
would have thrown many business-owners to the mat but the company has emerged
re-focussed and stronger than ever before. Dave has narrowed his vision since
the Tour gap as well; “with that now behind me, and hard to top in terms
of publicity, I can continue on with my vision of helping promote bike parks
and getting kids riding.” Riding for Kona and moving forward with Sombrio
Dave’s in a great position to nail that down.
|
