Meet: Canadian Enduro Racer & Silent Assassin Jack Menzies – Pinkbike

Jack Menzies

If you’ve been following the 2022 Enduro World Series, you might have noticed that there’s been a bunch of Canadian racers who’ve been tearing it to pieces lately. For most of them, Squamish, BC was the epicenter of off-season training led by Blueprint Athlete Development and their infamous cone cornering drills. One of those seriously qualified and fit riders who’ve been quietly clinching the EWS top ten is an elite first-year racer named Jack Menzies of the We Are One Composites all-Canadian enduro team.

I first learned of Jack’s potential in his early junior years when he passed me by about twenty seconds in a Canadian Enduro Series race, but I had never seen him ride or even heard of his name! Ahead of the last two Enduro World Series races, it seemed like a good time to ask him some questions to get an idea of ​​his background, the bike he rides and his ambitions for the future.

Who is Jack Menzies?

A 20 year old enduro racer from Canada trying to have as much fun as possible on my bike!

Where are you from and where do you live now?

I grew up in Canmore, Alberta, a mountain town outside of Calgary known more for its winter activities than mountain biking. I moved to Squamish after high school and I’ve lived there ever since!

How did you get into mountain biking?

Growing up, my parents got me into many sports, one of which was BMX racing. My younger brothers and I rode BMX for a few years but the track was pretty far away and eventually I loved riding our mountain bikes at home. I became the kid known for rocking spandex and sending it as hard as my old hardtail XC bike would let me.

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day at home for me consists of waking up early and starting the day with a workout at the gym before heading out for a bike ride or some sort of outdoor activity! Aside from training, I keep my days pretty open; This leaves more time for spontaneous adventures!

Who are your sponsors?

This year I’m riding for the enduro team We Are One. We’re stocked with SRAM, Rockshox, Time Pedals, Occam Designs, Troy Lee Designs, Ride Concepts, Dissent Labs and Spy Optics. Fluid Function has also been a big help in keeping things running smoothly when I get home. A big thank you to all these guys; You’ve been a big part of the team’s success this year!

What bikes are you riding right now?

At the moment I ride and ride on the We Are One Arrival with a 170mm link. This bike absolutely rips!

Where do you prefer to drive?

My favorite place to ride is definitely the Sea to Sky corridor, but I also love riding in Queenstown!

Which driver impresses you the most?

There are far too many people who impress me and inspire me to drive. Right now I’m so excited about Canadian riders in DH and Enduro; everyone kills it!

What are your strengths?

My strengths are probably fitness and carrying speed. I really like tracks that are long and physical. We have a lot of blue XC tracks in Canmore and some of my coaches removed my chain early on so I had to learn how to pump everything.

What are your weaknesses?

One weakness is probably that when I look back on races, I dwell on things I can’t control and mistakes I’ve made. I have an amazing crew of people like my family, my coach Joel Harwood and the team behind the scenes at We Are One to name a few. These people continue to help me and continue to work with me on my weaknesses.

Who or what inspires you?

I draw inspiration from many people such as my colleagues Rhys Verner and Kasper Woolley, my family and brother Dane Menzies and legends of the sport such as Steve Smith.

What hobbies do you have besides biking?

Besides riding I have many hobbies. In the winter I like to play hockey and snowboard, and in the summer I like to run and go out in the mountains.

What was the most important lesson you learned on or off the bike this season?

This season I’ve learned to let go of things that aren’t in my control and focus on the things I can do. The most important thing is to continue to enjoy cycling. A motto I used this year is “fun is fast”.

This is your first year in the elite ranks of the Enduro World Series. How did you manage to finish in the top ten so quickly at the rounds in Whistler, Crankworx and Burke, USA?

I have maintained my training and approach to racing, transitioning from my senior year as a Junior to my freshman year as an Elite. You can compare the times to the elites as an U21 so after a year (2021) of struggling with injuries I knew I could be in the top 30 but it’s definitely a different ball game to step into create the elite.

I wanted to prove to people that I could make the leap and be successful, so I invested in myself and had help from a lot of people, especially We Are One, and I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in today if it were wouldn’t be you. Thank you all!

You also finished 11th in the Petzen-Jamnica round in Austria and Slovakia. What would you say is the biggest differentiator between the European and North American breeds?

I don’t think there’s a huge difference in trails, and trails will change everywhere. I think the biggest differentiator would be travel, being in familiar time zones and languages. Ultimately, I don’t care where we go, we just ride bikes.

What are/were your goals for the 2022 season?

I set goals with my coach at the start of each off-season. My performance goals were to consistently crack the top 30 and get a top 20 finish. I was excited to fulfill them and learn a lot in the process.

What does the future hold for Jack Menzies?

I can’t say what the future holds for me, my options for next year are still open. I want to mix it up with the top dogs for many years to come. In the meantime, I’ll keep having as much fun as possible and hope to inspire some kids to follow what they love to do!