HIGH ACHIEVER
We check in with Jackson Goldstone, the 14-year-old who’s got most adults whipped
We check in with pint-sized pinner Jackson Goldstone, the 14-year-old from Squamish, British Columbia, who’s got most adults whipped
Imagine if, instead of growing up riding that shonky ramp on the road outside your house, you’d had the incredible trails of the world’s most famous bike park on your doorstep. That’s the dream, right there. Well, for a lucky few that dream is a reality, and Jackson Goldstone, from Squamish, British Columbia, is one of them.
Hailing from the epicentre of outdoor activities, with Whistler just down the road, and introduced to bikes at a young age, Jackson was sending jumps better than most adults by age 10 and now, at 14, is one of the sport’s most exciting up-andcoming talents. What is it that’s made this young ripper, barely into his teens, so good at riding bikes?
“I’ve spent a lot of time on two wheels – even before I had a bike with pedals on!” admits Jackson. “Living where I do, I’ve got a ton of stuff right out of my back door and there are so many great riders around to be inspired by. My dad has helped me out a lot, too. He taught me to ride and we still ride a lot together today.”
Although Jackson’s dad, Ron, started out as the mentor, the tables have now turned and it’s his offspring who’s leading the way – railing the turns harder and boosting the jumps further. “I’m quicker on the downhills, but he’s still got me on the ups!” confesses Jackson.
If he’s schooling his old man now, then who is the precocious pinner idolising these days? “Brett Rheeder, because he’s a super-nice dude and has the sickest style in the game," says Jackson. "Logan Peat and James Doerfling for how chill they are, and Ryan Nyquist for how much fun he’s having. Most of all, I admire Jake Kinney [MTB Director at Woodward West, the action sports summer camp in California], though. He’s taught me so much – not just tricks, but about the mental side of things too. His positive attitude makes stuff fun, even when it’s scary!”
Are tricks and freeriding Jackson’s favourite type of riding? “It depends on the season and what bike I’m riding,” he says. “In the winter, I dirt jump more and I think that’s the best thing ever. Then bike park season comes around and I ride more downhill, which makes me want to race.” Jackson is currently too young for World Cups, but he’s already been making waves on the international circuit, finishing second at the iXS International Rookie Champs in Austria last year and scoring a top 10 in the Youth category at this year’s Crankworx Rotorua. Does he see his future on the race track? “I’d like to have a few Crankworx medals under my belt,” says Jackson, “But my dream is to have a beautiful set of dirt jumps near the trails and live in a house with a riding roommate, like Brandon Semenuk.”
Sounds like a pretty good lifestyle to us, and if Jackson carries on the way he’s going, we reckon he’s got a seriously good chance of making that dream a reality.