Gracey Hemstreet
Onto the podium at her first world championships
At 16, Gracey Hemstreet has already earned a world championships bronze medal and a World Cup podium. All this success came in her first season of World Cup racing, which was a short one. She sat out the first half of the season with an injury. In fact, the world championships was just the Sunshine Coast phenom’s second race in two years.
Before that, Hemstreet landed her first national title back in 2019. The results might seem like sudden success for the rider. Hemstreet, however, started riding at three years old. She grew up riding Sechelt’s Coast Gravity Park and had been racing downhill for the past five years. Having accomplished so much at her age is exciting. For fans of Canadian downhill, the big question is what can she do next?
How long have you been riding mountain bikes?
I started riding a bike when I was three years old, but started downhill mountain biking when I was nine. I went in my first race, Crankworx Whistler, when I was 11. I haven’t stopped since.
You’ve grown up with Coast Gravity Park in your backyard. How has that influenced your riding?
Growing up with Coast Gravity Park in my family has influenced my riding significantly. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that place. It improved my riding so much when I rode with people who were better than me. I just kept improving and kept having fun and that’s what I’m still doing today.
You’ve raced in Canada quite successfully at the under-17 level, including a national championship. Did you feel any pressure going into your first junior season?
Going into the World Cup season I hadn’t raced in two years and was coming back from a hand injury. I had no idea where I was in the standings, so I just kept on training and improving, hoping that it was enough. It turned out pretty well with a few podiums from my first World Cup showing this year.
How was the step from domestic racing to World Cup events?
The racing that I was used to in Canada wasn’t much different than World Cups, to be honest. There’s just way more athletes and it was a lot more intense, but also way more fun.
From a fifth place in Maribor, you went on to win a bronze medal at Val di Sole at your first world championships. How did it feel to move up onto the podium?
That felt incredible, to say the least. It was so much fun pushing my limits and improving each lap down the course. Racing is just the best. I feel totally in my element.
Jackson Goldstone was also on the podium in Italy, winning the junior men’s title. How was it sharing your first international podium with another Canadian?
For Jackson and I being the only two Canadians on the podium was pretty insane. Making Canada proud!
After the World Cups, you raced Crankworx BC. What was it like getting to race against established pro riders such as Casey Brown and Vaea Verbeeck?
Crankworx BC was so much fun. I had a blast racing with the ladies I’ve looked up to for so long. To be racing them and being an actual competitor was amazing and boosted my confidence up quite a bit.