CoffeeTalk with Cam Zink

Nothing is really predictabe when Cam Zink is riding his bike. He got this “go-for-it” attitude that makes him special. For sure that when his run is on, everybody stick their eyes on the screen.
He’s also a man of injuries, a lot of them, but when some could just say stop, you can see Cam coming back everytime. Big crashes, huge jumps, Cam Zink really like going big ! Here’s a small chat for those who don’t really know him, or just through NWD parts. Cam is more that. Expect the unexpected with Cam. Thanks to Felt and Michel Lethenet for the pics. Check out the nice Cam’s edit for Mavic at the end of the itw.

- Name ? Age ? Who you’re riding for ?
Cam Zink, 23 years old, riding for Felt, SRAM/Rock Shox, Geax, Oakley, Sensus, Troy Lee, Mavic, Deity, TSG, Crank Bros, SDG.

- How and when did you start riding a bike ?
I started riding at the school yard jumps when I was about 7 or 8. Started racing XC when I was 9 and did my first DH race that same year. Quit XC after a couple of years and just kept jumping and racing DH and Dual Slalom. Eventually sold my BMX bike when I was 15 and only jumped my hardtail. Was Junior Expert National Champ for Slalom and won some National Downhills. Around this time was when there was a real push for Freeriding. I got on the original Santa Cruz Syndicate for both racing and Freeriding. It was a promotion from being on Flow for Santa Cruz from the Superheros video team. After racing World Cups for a couple years, I just went all Freeride. Doing all the contests and filming with Freeride Entertainment since NWD 5.

- How and when did you start riding a bike ?
Becoming pro wasn’t really like I “turned pro” because all the first contests I did were pro only, like Rampage. Everyone was “pro,” just some people got free product, some got free bikes, some got paid, and some made a living. It just sort of happened at the right time when I was in high school before I needed a real job. It is what I have always wanted to do and I worked hard at going wherever there were film makers or contests so that I could make riding all I did. I got noticed and slowly but surely I started getting free stuff, to free bikes, to making some money, to buying my own home.

- How do you train ?
I don’t “train” per se. I just try to be a healthy person and ride as often as I can. I go to the gym to lift weights, go on road rides, ride moto, and my roommates and I are constantly working out around the house. I have recently started to do some MMA (explain? Is it a marial arts form? Perhaps not use the acronym) training which is probably the best thing for your body. Not trying to be a tough guy, it’s just for fitness.

- Can you describe a normal day of your life ?
There is no normal day in my life. Every day is different, which is perfect for me because I get bored easy. Like the other day I spent Friday and Saturday practicing and racing moto at the track an hour away. Waking up at 6am to race moto or get on a flight is the only reason you will see me up that early! So normally I will wake up at 8 or 9 and check the email, write some sponzies, and see what is going on in the world on the internet and the news. (I just took the word Fox out as they are not a sponsor, and it’s not really relevant to the interview which channel you get your news from.…Fox News is a divisive subject right now, rightly or wrongly, it just is…best leave politics out of sport etc…but leave it in if you really wish to).

- Can you please briefly sum up your season ?
My season starts at Sea Otter. Doing every major contest here and overseas, with some smaller ones in the States, too. I film and shoot ads in between whenever there is time. The season ends either at Rampage, or like this year it ended when I finished filming my segment for NWD10 in Utah. The off season consists of staying busy and progressing on the bike.

- What are you up to for this winter ?
I am looking forward to my first healthy winter, free of surgery, in 5 years. I will be riding as much as I can and learning all sorts of new stuff. The winter also gives me time to work on my company Sensus (Thesensus.com) I am developing our first lock-on grip for Brandon Semenuk. Going into next year will be incredible, for I will be riding before the season starts; unlike previous years. Some sponsors are still up in the air, but I will be doing all the contests, and start my filming early in the year so I can have a knock-out segment in the new Freeride Entertainment film.

- What are you doing when you’re not on you bike ?
When I’m not on the bike I am riding my 50 in the backyard. Speaking of which, I am building some jumps in my backyard and will keep building all winter. I also ride moto and snowboards. When I lived in Orange County I surfed whenever I could. I just try to stay busy all the time, cause if I’m not busy I’ll end up playing video games….

- What kind of music do you listen to ?
I listen to Slayer.

- What was your dream when you were a kid ? Did you succeed ?
My dream when I was a kid was to be a pro mountain biker, but I always thought I would be a racer. My dream came true, but it just happened to be jumping bicycles instead of racing. I was on a factory team racing and getting beat by guys that were privateers because I was on the team mostly jumping. It was cool to have that advantage of being in the big rig, team tent and see how things operated. Just turned out I was better at jumping. I succeeded, you just have to go where life takes you.

- Which skills do you think are recquired to be a top-level athlete ?
First and foremost, bike skills; fundamental bike skills are the most important thing to being a top level rider. Being a racer helped me with that. Most kids hop on the bike and try to flip something before they can jump it. When you have a solid base of bike handling everything falls into place so incredibly easily.

- Is there some persons who helped you along your career or now and you would like to thanks or put the spotlights on ?
My parents, first and foremost helped with my career. I wouldn’t be anywhere if my Dad hadn’t taken me across the country to race or forked over the money to buy me bikes.
My brother was always there to look up to and mentor me, giving me something to strive for.
And Neil Sanders who took me under his wing, filmed me, put me in his videos, and got me my first bike sponsor.
Big thanks to Kathy Sessler, 23, and Kyle Strait for all the help over the years, too.