NSMB Podcast Ep.4: Ed Masters
In the world of mountain bikes, Pivot Factory Racing’s, Ed Masters is among the standouts. But until 2019, the hilarious Kiwi was known more for his off-track presence than his race results. He’s not shy of the camera and his witty, charismatic personality always provides fans with heaps of entertainment. The 2019 season changed that for Ed and he cracked open the mystical world of racing, bagging consistent results in both the EWS and World Cup Downhill. And he did it while keeping it light and having a good time.
But beneath the light-hearted, fun-loving attitude and growing success on the racetrack lay a bunch of great ideas. These include giving junior racers and privateers better opportunities to make it in the sport. Should the UCI return to a top 80 again? And how are the privateers affected by the cut to top 60 in an increasingly competitive sport? What about teams needing to have a junior rider in order to be eligible for points? These types of things are what Ed’s more serious side ponders.
So how does someone go from mocking enduro to being in the running for the World Title in the space of a few years? And how did a fun-loving Kiwi turn the sport he loves into a career, something he confesses never planning on. Ed opens up about his experiences, how he approaches the races, the difference between World Cup Downhill and the Enduro World Series, and the future.