Today marks the start of the UCI Downhill and Enduro World Cup event in Bielsko-Biała – my hometown. So, I thought it's only fitting to reflect on how my own approach to MTB has changed over the years, and not necessarily for the better.
I've been mountain biking since I was about eight or nine years old. Dirt jumps were my thing in particular. There was a neat spot near my apartment with a bunch of jumps and a great community around it. There was always someone there to hang out with or to work on new tricks. A classmate and I stumbled upon it by accident, but we quickly made friends and kept the fun going.
Sometimes, a new jump would appear seemingly overnight, and without much thought, we'd go down it. Occasionally, probably more than I'd like to admit, we'd get hurt. But what's a couple of scratches or bruises? Rubber and magic – that's what kids are made of!
Fate had it that I moved abroad and abandoned mountain biking completely for the next 15 years. When I moved back to Poland and stumbled upon another dirt jump spot, the memories came rushing back – but the feeling was different.
Instead of excitement at how sick a jump was, I felt fear. Like... I could actually get hurt here. And those bruises and scratches? They don't heal like they used to. It's funny what growing up does to you. And while I was eventually able to overcome those fears with time and effort, and get some of my mojo back, I think it's fair to say I don't ride like I used to.
While that's probably good for my longevity, there's something to be said about being a kid – and how simply not knowing any better can lead you to achieve the impossible.