Meet the Athertons

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Meet the Athertons

Gee, Rachel and Dan Atherton – the fastest family on wheels

Meet the Athertons

by Scott Manson, Nov 9, 2009

The sporting world has a long and illustrious history of brothers and sisters competing with and against one another at the highest level. From tennis’s Venus and Serena Williams to Ralf and Michael Schumacher from F1, football heroes Sir Bobby and Jack Charlton and cricket’s Steve and Mark Waugh, sharing a similar genetic make-up can often see siblings mirror each other in terms of ability and achievement.

Perhaps the most unusual combination though, and certainly the most exciting, are the downhill mountain biking sensations that are the UK’s own Atherton family. Brothers Gee and Dan, and sister Rachel, are the fastest family on two wheels and, thanks to the behind-the-scenes access granted to renowned mountain biking film maker Clay Porter throughout 2009, their video series The Atherton Project, has become required viewing for fans of this fast-growing sport.

With the 12th and final instalment of this insightful documentary now online, we caught up with the trio to find out what they really thought of spending a year under the spotlight and what the future holds for these Red Bull-sponsored mountain conquerors.

For the uninitiated, could you kick off by explaining downhill mountain biking?

Dan: Downhill skiing is probably the best comparison. It’s timed and 100 per cent rider-governed. Just you, a bike and a mountain.

Gee: Rally driving is another good comparison. There are so many variables to take into account, you have to read the course and it’s constantly changing as an event progresses. Also, as Dan says, it’s the fastest man top to bottom, so it’s similar to skiing too.

What’s been your most memorable moment in the last year?

D: Well, it’s actually from 2008, but it’s a special memory. Gee and Rachel both won the World Championships in Italy – a huge day for our family.

G: I took part in a downhill event inside one of Rio De Janeiro’s favelas which was amazing. It was so different to what I was used to and incredibly gnarly – you were flying down through tight alleyways while the crowds pressed in next to you cheering.

Rachel: My strongest memories of the last year were undergoing two operations on my shoulder following an injury sustained on a time trial in California. Nasty.

I guess that leads neatly on to the next question. What’s been your lowest point or least favourite moment of 2009?

R: The injury! I went from having my best season ever in 2008 to then being unable to ride my bike at all in 2009. So depressing. Luckily, it helps being in a team with my brothers and the fact that we live together means that I still feel fully involved.

D: Breaking my shoulder has been tough. I’ve spent too much time just being bummed out at home. When I did compete, in the 4X in Fort William for example, I couldn’t ride as hard as I wanted in case I made the break worse.

G: Definitely losing my world champ stripes in Fort William. It was a strange feeling – almost a disconnect – I knew I was off the pace that day so it wasn’t a huge surprise but it still took a while to sink in.

What sort of response have you had to the Atherton Project videos?

G: It’s all been overwhelmingly positive, to be honest.

R: It’s been truly amazing. One of the coolest things is getting all these little kids coming up to you at events telling you about how they watch every episode and asking what’s happening in the next one.

D: Phenomenal. I just didn’t expect it. We were a bit sceptical when it was first put forward as an idea as we didn’t know whether it would really work but it’s fair to say that we have been blown away. I’ve had so many people messaging me off the back of it which, when you’re laid up at home with an injury, really gives you a boost. It also gives a new perspective on what is still a fairly unknown scene to many. I like to think that we’ve helped to raise the profile of the sport.

Was there anything you had to leave out of the videos that you’d like to have kept in?

D: Ha ha, yeah, Rachel and Gee’s fights. We had to leave a lot of them out. They would have made for interesting viewing.

And was there anything in there that you really wish had been left out?

D: Sometimes it was tough getting used to how much the filming delved into your personal space. It’s less an ego thing and more of a competitive issue. I started to get concerned that other riders would see my weaknesses on screen and then somehow exploit them.

G: Like Dan, there were some scenes with me where I was emotionally raw. After losing my world champ status, for example, I was choked up, messed up and distraught. I still can’t watch that episode.

R: I could have done without those sequences showing me first thing in the morning! Bleary-eyed and half asleep – it’s not a good look.

What’s your current favourite UK trails ride?

D: Fort William, for sure. It’s just a Mecca for downhill.

R: Coed y Brennan in Wales. Whether it’s winter or summer, this is an amazing ride.

G: To be honest, our local tracks are hard to beat. We can drive there in five minutes and one of them ends in our back garden. Perfect.

And your favourite internationally?

D: It’s not a trails ride as such, but Santa Cruz (California) generally. The local riders are friendly and there’s a really relaxed vibe about the place.

G: The World Cup track in Slovenia is pretty special. It’s super fast but still supremely technical. It’s great for fans because riders can just go hell for leather.

R: I love the Italian courses because they’re very steep and technical – exactly how mountain biking should be.

Regarding Red Bull Rivals, how did you think the Hollyoaks actors fared with the challenge of mountain biking?

D: Matt and Darren did brilliantly and it was an amazing experience for us. I learned a lot from them as actors and it’s given me a better idea of what the camera and the audience expect.

R: They did well, considering the low base they were starting from!

G: I was impressed because they both had huge crashes and yet they still cracked on. Saying that, they should probably stick to the day job…

What’s the best piece of advice you could give someone who’d like to replicate your success?

G: Have a goal. Figure out where you want to be and then put a plan in place to get you there.

D: Remember, if you win, you won’t end your career that day and if you lose you won’t end your career that day either. There are plenty more races so keep the big picture in mind.

R: Make sure you’re having fun. Ride with your friends and play games on the trails. Your skills will be improving and yet it’ll feel an effortless advance because you’re enjoying yourself.

If you were put in the charge of the world of mountain biking for a day, what changes would you make?

R: There are huge tracks that look amazing all over the world. I’d put dozens of HD cameras on every one so that viewers could get a proper look at the track. This would get more people excited by the sport.

G: I’d build courses closer to cities and make them more accessible, as opposed to hidden next to a tiny village in the Alps. This would draw much bigger crowds.

D: I’d like to see smaller events at the very top level. More elitism, if you like, so there’s a true top tier to the sport.

What misconceptions do you think people have about you?

G: People think I’m the relaxed one of the three of us. Actually, I’m the lynchpin (laughs). I’m the glue that binds the Athertons.

R: Er, I’m not sure. Hopefully everyone knows the real me.

D: People think I’m serious and very grumpy all the time. I’m not, honestly!

What does the future hold for you?

D: I’ve been doing a lot of BMX racing recently. I’d like to become a top rider in a number of disciplines. There are very few riders in the world who can say that and I would love to be in their number.

R: More wins and no injuries!

G: More world titles. I’m talking total domination.

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