Dirt Dream: Matt on his track
Did you always want a riding spot at home?
Yeah, definitely. It was one of my top three dreams – alongside winning Crankworx or a DH World Cup! This was the ultimate, though. I always loved watching the New World Disorder films, and it was always more interesting to me if the jumps were in the rider’s yard than way out in the woods. I’ve dreamed of having something like this since day dot when I discovered MTB as a kid.
Describe your set-up
It’s really aimed at dirtjump bikes. I don’t have the gradient for big bikes, but neither would I want to. Dirt jumping and trails is where my roots are. The jumps themselves are super trails-focused, small and very technical compared to what I’m used to. You have to work hard and pump to gain speed and make the jumps bigger. The one thing I did have lots of was width, so it was sick to know I could transfer from one line to another by making a few sandwiched together. That gives so many more options. I’d say I have three main lines but probably eight to 10 ways of riding through them. Having been to a lot of trail spots around the world, something that’s stuck with me is how good it is when you can spend a whole day somewhere and not ride all the options of getting through the jumps.
I also have a small pump line, which I built mainly for my fiancée Beck to ride, which is sick, and a pit-bike track too. The pit-bike track was actually the first thing to get made, as it was done in winter when the sloppy ground didn’t matter. It’s small but it’s wicked fun trying to get your lap times down. The backyard dream hasn’t just been about dirt jumps, to be honest – just look at places like Pastranaland [Travis Pastrana’s 65-acre stunt compound in the US] with 101 things to do. I’m not quite there yet with only a few things, but we’re working on it, haha!
Was it good to create what was in your head?
When I was growing up riding up at Woburn, for the first 10 years I always dug more than I rode. But when I started travelling the ratio changed. I’ve always known the importance of digging and loved it, so now to do it from home with an international audience is even more of a motivation.
What’s the impact of your YouTube videos?
Since lockdown and starting this series, the numbers have gone through the roof. It’s brought new eyes to what I’m up to, but more importantly, loads of suggestions and advice. You’d be surprised how much of the stuff I’ve built has come from the comments section. It’s a collaboration with them, a shared project, and all the better for it.