Sacha Earnest - Exclusive Interview

Sacha Earnest: "Follow Your Passion, Believe in Yourself, and Enjoy Every Ride"

Fresh off back-to-back podium finishes in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, New Zealand downhill racer Sacha Earnest arrived in China for the very first time. Before race weekend got underway in Thaiwoo, MTB MAG Asia sat down with the 20-year-old elite rider to talk about her journey to the top, New Zealand's world-famous riding scene, preparing for World Cup competition, and why passion remains the key to success.

• Words: Lu Haoran / Mesum Verma
• Photos: Lu Haoran

MTB MAG Asia: First of all, welcome to China, Sacha, and congratulations on an incredible start to the season with back-to-back World Cup podiums! For our readers who may not know you yet, could you introduce yourself?

Sacha Earnest: Thank you so much!

I'm Sacha Earnest, I'm 20 years old and I'm from Auckland, New Zealand, although I spend most of my summers living and training in Queenstown.

I actually started BMX when I was just three years old and began racing at the age of four. Mountain biking has always been part of my life because my whole family rides, so it felt like a natural path for me.

I've been racing in the UCI Mountain Bike World Series since I was 17, so I've now had a few years on the circuit. There's still a lot to learn, but I'm really excited to be here in China for the first time.

MTB MAG Asia: This is your first visit to China. What have your first impressions been like?

Sacha: It's been amazing.

Before coming to Thaiwoo we spent a little time exploring Beijing. We visited the Forbidden City, the beautiful gardens, and I was lucky enough to walk on the Great Wall.

These are places I probably never would have experienced without mountain biking, so I'm really grateful for that.

One thing that has genuinely surprised me is how big the mountain biking community is here. It's really cool to see so many people passionate about riding, and I hope the sport continues to grow here in the future.

MTB MAG Asia: Downhill World Cup tracks are among the fastest and most demanding in the world. What kind of terrain do you train on in New Zealand, and after riding Thaiwoo, what makes a venue capable of hosting a World Cup?

Sacha: World Cup tracks are incredibly demanding, mainly because of the speed. There are definitely tracks around the world that are technically harder, but the speed at World Cups makes everything much more challenging.

Back home in Queenstown we're lucky to have several tracks that are very similar to the ones we race throughout the season, so that really helps with preparation.

I've only ridden the downhill track here at Thaiwoo so far, but I've really enjoyed it. The wet conditions have made it more challenging, which is always interesting.

To host a World Cup, though, you need more than just a great trail. It takes a huge investment, and ideally you'd have a longer and even more technical track that really pushes riders physically from top to bottom.

Sacha Earnest with Jo Wonmin from Korea

MTB MAG Asia: New Zealand has become one of the world's biggest breeding grounds for elite mountain bikers, and more Chinese riders are now travelling there to train. What does a typical training week look like for you?

Sacha: I think a lot of people imagine that professional riders spend every hour of every day on the bike, but that's not really the case.

During the off-season I actually don't see my team very often because we all live in different countries. Once the race season starts, though, we're together almost every week.

Personally, I like to mix my training. Of course I spend plenty of time riding, but I also do strength training in the gym, go running, swim, hike—anything that helps build fitness while keeping training enjoyable.

Every rider is different. Some people perform best by riding almost every day, while others benefit from a more varied approach. It's about finding what works for you.

MTB MAG Asia: Mountain biking is growing rapidly across Asia, especially here in China. If a young rider told you they dreamed of racing the World Cup one day, what advice would you give them?

Sacha: The biggest thing is passion.

People often focus on having the perfect mechanic, nutrition plan or equipment, but before all of that, you need to genuinely love what you're doing.

A good coach definitely helps. Mine works with me both on and off the bike, especially with strength and endurance training.

But when I first started, it was really just me and my dad travelling to races because we wanted to give it a go.

So my advice is simple: keep riding, work hard, and if you ever have the opportunity, come to New Zealand. The riding there is incredibly similar to many World Cup tracks and it's an amazing place to develop your skills.

MTB MAG Asia: Riders are always searching for the perfect bike setup. How much do you change before each race weekend?

Sacha: Honestly, not that much.

I always arrive with a solid base setup. After the track walk I'll sit down with my mechanic and we'll decide if anything needs adjusting.

Usually it's small things like headset height or tyre choice depending on the weather and trail conditions.

When it comes to suspension, we spend so much time working with RockShox during the off-season to dial everything in for my riding style and weight that I rarely make big changes during race weekends.

At the end of the day, I believe it's much more about the rider than constantly changing the bike.

MTB MAG Asia: At the elite level everyone is incredibly fast. How do you prepare mentally before dropping into a race run?

Sacha: The mental side is probably one of the hardest parts of downhill racing.

You have to believe in yourself—even on the days when that's difficult.

I'm lucky because I have an amazing team and great friends around me who always believe in me and remind me what I'm capable of.

Knowing they're behind me gives me confidence. Even on my worst days, I know I'm never alone, and that really helps when I'm standing on the start ramp.

MTB MAG Asia: You've raced all over the world. What makes a venue truly memorable?

Sacha: It's a combination of everything.

The trails obviously play a huge role, but the atmosphere can completely change an event.

Places like Les Gets and Mount Saint Anne are incredible because there are so many spectators and everyone is there because they love racing.

Even as an athlete, it's an amazing feeling.

Of course everyone has favourite tracks, but what I really love about mountain biking is the community. No matter where you race in the world, you keep meeting the same people and making new friends. That's something really special about our sport.

Sacha's Brother Jake were also racing!

MTB MAG Asia: Finally, do you have a message for mountain bike fans here in China?

Sacha: Follow your dreams and follow your passion.

Whatever you choose to do, give it everything you've got and always try to become the best version of yourself.

Even if you don't win every race or reach every goal immediately, if you've given everything you have, that's something to be proud of.

Most importantly, enjoy riding your bike.

For me, if I'm not enjoying myself, I don't ride my best.

So keep riding, keep smiling, and hopefully one day I'll see some of you on the World Cup circuit.

Dion Earnest is also racing (Father of Sacha)

Thank you, Sacha!

We would like to thank Sacha Earnest for taking the time to speak with MTB MAG Asia ahead of race weekend in Thaiwoo. We wish her the very best of luck for the rest of the season and hope this won't be her last visit to China.

With the mountain bike community in China continuing to grow, conversations like these help inspire the next generation of riders. If Sacha's story proves anything, it's that talent, dedication, and above all, a genuine passion for riding can take you all the way to the world stage.

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