An Interview With Adam Craig
July, 22, 2003

Adam Craig cut his racing teeth "back in the day" while attending Maine Mountain Bike Association races. His first breakthrough result was at the 1998 National Mountain Bike Championships on his home NCS course of Mount Snow. The Silver medal from that day left most everybody on the mountain wondering who was this new kid that could put the boots to the West coasters. Adam's mates on Team Grimace saw it coming more than a year earlier.

BustedSpoke.com: What were your thoughts going into that race and afterwards?

Adam Craig: Wow, Mount Snow in ’98. It was my first national race and I had no idea what to expect, all the Devo guys were there, so I just went out and raced my heart out, ended up going fast and getting noticed by all the right people to get my career on the road. That was a great day that paved the way for me, making the World team going to the Olympic Center, the works!

BS: When we all met back in '97, did you ever think you would become the top pro for a major bike company?

AC: To "make it" was my goal starting in ’98, there were times that success seemed unattainable, but my passion for the sport kept me going and it all worked out, I’m living the dream!

BS: So how did this all start? Why a development team?

AC: Well, I was working for YMCA as their director of adventure programs. We offered beginner mountain bike classes for the kids. I was seeing the same kids over and over again. When we started offering advanced mountain biking classes, the same trend appeared. We saw the same kids from the beginner classes coming to the advanced classes over and over again. CJ [Bradbury] worked there as well. He and I were out for beers one night and just came up with the idea of starting the team for the kids.

After Grimace, Adam moved up to Devo, arguably the most dominant junior program of any cycling discipline in the United States. He raced for them from 1999 through the 2002 mtb season. During his tenure with Devo, he won 4 national championships - 1999 Junior XC champ, 2001 & 2002 Espoir xc champ and the 2001 Espoir cyclo-cross championship.

BS: You had some very successful years with Devo and are following in some big footsteps of guys like Walker Ferguson and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski. Do you feel any extra pressure now that you are with Giant?

AC: Absolutely not, the people at Giant are great; they are supportive and only ask that I do my best. I feel pressure from myself to do my best and maximize my talent, and that self-drive has been the foundation of my success. If I ever lose that, I’ll walk away, life is short.

BS: Why did you choose Giant over your other courtiers? Were they stoked when you crashed the roadie parade at ‘cross Nats for the 2nd year in a row?

AC: I chose Giant because of the people, everyone I work with there is a professional who wants nothing more than to help me succeed. As a bonus, their bikes are great and all my teammates are great, it’s the perfect scenario. They were definitely stoked at ‘cross Nat’s, actually, Steve Westover, the marketing/team director who hammered out my contract was out there pitting for me, he saved my race with a flat change. Good Faith!

BS: Why did you want to get involved with junior racing in Maine?

AC: Are you kidding, racing in Maine gave me this amazing career, I got my skills and love for the sport from racing at home as a kid.

BS: You used to race downhill when you were a junior and most people remember you were quite a ripper, why did you choose to focus on XC?

AC: I LOVED my days as a junior racing downhill; it helped my skills immensely and was FUN! I’ll definitely race DH when/if I retire. In the end though, I chose XC because I get more satisfaction from it, it suits my talents better, and I feel like it is the pinnacle of the sport, I can represent the USA in the Olympics from the seat of my trusty mountain bike!

BS: Best advice for the aspiring junior?

AC: Have FUN, love what you’re doing, and make sure you enjoy every minute of it, go out of your way to have a good time, success will come from this healthy outlook. Oh, and ride your MOUNTAIN BIKE!

BS: Who is your pick to be the next Adam Craig? Any sleepers out there we should be aware of?

AC: Gosh, I haven’t been around enough to make a good call on this one, I hear Andrew Freye is going fast and getting faster, Adam Swartzbaugh won the Junior National Title last year, a prerequisite for success.

BS: What will your schedule look like this season?

AC: This is a busy season for me; we start out at the Sea Otter and finish up with MTB Worlds and the WC finals. I plan to catch all the NCS and North American World Cup events. In between I will head to Europe for some WC action in Germany and Scotland. Toss in a few road events and catching red-eyes back from the West Virginia and Idaho NORBA’s for Camden and Bangor. I will definitely be at the MMBA finals in Bath!

BS: How did you get fast enough to be a 5 time national champion?

AC: I focused when I had to, rode a lot, and had a lot of fun.

BS: How many hours do you train per week?

AC: Right now about 25, between 12 and 20 during the season.

BS: Ever going to do the road thing?

AC: I really like mountain biking right now, and I feel I can achieve all I want to on the dirt, maybe someday, but probably not...

BS: Ultimate goal?

AC: The Olympics, I'm doing all I can to represent in Athens, It's the GOAL!

BS: Is it true you are a honch rodeo kayaker? Any chance this is a 2nd professional career lying in wait?

AC: I love whitewater boating, all aspect of it, from freestyle competitions to running waterfalls in remote canyons. Two summers ago I did 3 expert events and won them all, earning pro status, I proved to myself that I could do it and decided to focus on Riding and the Olympics. My retirement from racing will definitely see me pursuing boating full time.

BS: Any other comments?

AC: Riding is fun, that's all there is to this!

FACTS
Hometown: Corinth, Maine
Age: 21
Height: 5/11"
Weight: 165lbs
When did you start riding? Age 12, so 1993-4
Favorite food: Burritos
What is in your CD player? Lots of stuff, Outkast to Jack Johnson
Off-bike activities: Whitewater Kayaking, Alpine skiing/backcountry, Rally-cross
Career Highlights:
- 5 time national champ in MTB and CX
- 7x World Team Rider
- 2x 8th in NCS events
- 8th at 2002 U23 Cyclo-cross Worlds
- 13th at 2001 U23 XC Worlds.
- Lots of great results and good times.

Monica or Rachel? Rachel
What kind of car do you drive? Subaru 2.5 TS, GOOD TIMES.
Favorite rider: Tomac, man with it all.
Inspiration: Parents, friends, heroes, I've been inspired by the world.
Last book: The Smoke Jumper
Sponsors: Giant/Pearl Izumi Co-sponsors include RaceFace, Michelin, Manitou, SixSixOne, Hayes, Titec, Balance Bar.

Steed:
Frame: Giant NRS Air
Shocks: Manitou Skareb Super (front-silver), Manitou Qr rear Shock
Bar, Post and Stem: Titec C3 Carbon
Cranks & BB: RaceFace - Next LP 42-30 rings Ti ISIS BB
Drive-train: New XTR - chain, cassette (11-34) and rear derailleur. XT Rapid-fire shift pods (rapid-rise)
Brakes: Hayes SL Disc w/Carbon levers
Wheels: Mavic Cross-max SL Disc
Tires: Michelin Tubeless! usually Comp S light @ 40ish Psi
Saddle: WTB Rocket V
Headset: FSA integrated system
Grips: ODI Ruffian Lock-On