Steve McCann Talks Mongoose Jam and BMX
Amateur BMX riders, how psyched would you be for the chance to compete on a team with the biggest names in the game: Greg Illingworth, Steve McCann, Paul Ryan, Ben Wallace and Cam White? Mongoose Bikes gave BMX athletes that chance this summer with their first annual Mongoose Jam.
This BMX-only event featured a competition among five teams, each headed by one of Mongoose’s pro riders. Team captains chose four pro BMX athletes and drafted one amateur rider from a Amateur Audition to compete in Park, Dirt and Street contests. Teams earned points according to their placement in each contest to compete for first place overall.
The Mongoose Jam ends today, but you can watch the rest of the event via a live stream on YouTube. For a more in-depth look at the event, STACK sat down with Mongoose racer Steve McCann.
STACK: What’s it like to participate in the Mongoose Jam?
McCann: Any competition you go in has its different elements and things that are amazing about it. The coolest things about the Mongoose Jam are that there’s an amateur involved with the pros, and it brings three different disciplines together—dirt, park and street. It brings together guys that don’t usually ride together, and the fact that there’s an amateur in there makes it very cool for him to experience what we do for a living.
STACK: Are you excited about the opportunity to connect and work directly with your fans?
McCann: Yes, I love being able to give a kid an opportunity that I’ve had. I think that’s why this event is so cool. You give an amateur an insight on what we get to do for a living, and they get to be a part of it. They’re a big part because their scores count toward our group for the contest. It’s cool for them, and it feels cool to give them an opportunity they wouldn’t have had.
STACK: As a captain, looking at these young kids, what is your drafting strategy?
McCann: There was no drafting, it was random. The top five guys went into a hat and were randomly picked. No strategy there.
STACK: What coaching advice do you plan on giving?
McCann: This contest is about fun, so I just want my amateur to enjoy the experience and not take it too serious. We’re all going to have a good time, and I want him to enjoy it and not be stressed about it.
STACK: Do you hope to achieve anything through this Jam?
McCann: As long as I beat Cam White, I’m all right with it. (Laughs) He’s calling himself the Money Mayweather team, so it will be nice to take the Money Mayweather team down, seeing as Mayweather’s never lost.
STACK: What do you enjoy most about riding Mongoose bikes?
McCann: My favorite part about being on Mongoose is we’re all passionate about the same things. Having great teammates is really rad, and just being a part of the company is great, because they consider us a big part of what they do.
STACK: As a BMX rider, what role does nutrition play in your training?
McCann: I don’t eat anything too junky. I just do what I usually do and try to eat as healthy as I can.
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Steve McCann Talks Mongoose Jam and BMX
Amateur BMX riders, how psyched would you be for the chance to compete on a team with the biggest names in the game: Greg Illingworth, Steve McCann, Paul Ryan, Ben Wallace and Cam White? Mongoose Bikes gave BMX athletes that chance this summer with their first annual Mongoose Jam.
This BMX-only event featured a competition among five teams, each headed by one of Mongoose’s pro riders. Team captains chose four pro BMX athletes and drafted one amateur rider from a Amateur Audition to compete in Park, Dirt and Street contests. Teams earned points according to their placement in each contest to compete for first place overall.
The Mongoose Jam ends today, but you can watch the rest of the event via a live stream on YouTube. For a more in-depth look at the event, STACK sat down with Mongoose racer Steve McCann.
STACK: What’s it like to participate in the Mongoose Jam?
McCann: Any competition you go in has its different elements and things that are amazing about it. The coolest things about the Mongoose Jam are that there’s an amateur involved with the pros, and it brings three different disciplines together—dirt, park and street. It brings together guys that don’t usually ride together, and the fact that there’s an amateur in there makes it very cool for him to experience what we do for a living.
STACK: Are you excited about the opportunity to connect and work directly with your fans?
McCann: Yes, I love being able to give a kid an opportunity that I’ve had. I think that’s why this event is so cool. You give an amateur an insight on what we get to do for a living, and they get to be a part of it. They’re a big part because their scores count toward our group for the contest. It’s cool for them, and it feels cool to give them an opportunity they wouldn’t have had.
STACK: As a captain, looking at these young kids, what is your drafting strategy?
McCann: There was no drafting, it was random. The top five guys went into a hat and were randomly picked. No strategy there.
STACK: What coaching advice do you plan on giving?
McCann: This contest is about fun, so I just want my amateur to enjoy the experience and not take it too serious. We’re all going to have a good time, and I want him to enjoy it and not be stressed about it.
STACK: Do you hope to achieve anything through this Jam?
McCann: As long as I beat Cam White, I’m all right with it. (Laughs) He’s calling himself the Money Mayweather team, so it will be nice to take the Money Mayweather team down, seeing as Mayweather’s never lost.
STACK: What do you enjoy most about riding Mongoose bikes?
McCann: My favorite part about being on Mongoose is we’re all passionate about the same things. Having great teammates is really rad, and just being a part of the company is great, because they consider us a big part of what they do.
STACK: As a BMX rider, what role does nutrition play in your training?
McCann: I don’t eat anything too junky. I just do what I usually do and try to eat as healthy as I can.