Meet Jack Druery
Meet Jack Druery, an avid mountain biker whose journey from childhood ramps to competitive racing embodies the spirit of adventure and resilience. Transitioning from a brief and unfulfilling stint in soccer to discovering a natural talent on two wheels, Jack’s passion for mountain biking was ignited on local BMX tracks, evolving into a serious pursuit of downhill and enduro racing. Under the guidance of a full-time coach, Jack meticulously balances rigorous training, focusing on strength, endurance, and technique, with a keen emphasis on nutrition and hydration, crediting CocoCoast Coconut Water as a cornerstone of his recovery and hydration strategy. As he sets his sights on World Cup events and coaching future talents, Jack’s journey is a testament to hard work, passion, and the transformative power of mountain biking. Follow Jack’s inspiring path as he continues to push boundaries and share his love for the sport with the world.
Jack, could you share a little about your journey into mountain biking? What sparked your passion for the sport?
My passion for the sport started a long time ago. As a kid, it was the standard to get thrown into a ball-team sport and for us (myself and my younger brother) it was soccer. It wasn’t long before our parents noticed we were both quite bad at it so I believe this got them thinking about something else. Around the same age, we were learning to ride bikes and turned out to be quite alright at it; training wheels didn’t last a single day for us both, and before we knew there were ramps in the front yard making bigger and bigger jumps. So, our parents took us down to the local BMX track where things really kicked off and, long story short, before too long we were introduced to Mountain Bikes and thought it was the best thing ever! I guess my true passion for the sport comes from being a kid on a bike in the street. It’s obviously taken a more serious turn into the racing side of things, but riding bikes with my brother and buddies is where it all began and continues to be.
Navigating the ups and downs, quite literally, in mountain biking must be thrilling. Can you describe one of your most memorable moments on the trail?
One of the most memorable times on the trial was the first run we did down a trail down A-Line in Whistler, Canada. We were extremely fortunate to have our parents fly us halfway around the world to ride the ‘world’s best bike trails’ and this was probably the first time we’d ever seen a grading system on a trial (like skiers & snowboarders), of which was a black trial. At the time (way back in 2008) simply due to not knowing much about how bad it could possibly be, we were quite hesitant about it as the trail started with a man-made wooden drop that scared us a little. Preparing ourselves for a pretty hectic ride, we ended up hitting it one after the after, and from then on, the next 10 minutes or so down this trail I’ll never forget. For those who don’t know Whistler, this trail is one of the most iconic trails in the world now and it is epic! It was the first time we really rode big jumps and drops (we were pretty small at the time) and couldn’t believe that we were hitting this trail, had the time of our lives!
Training and Preparation
Training for mountain biking is rigorous. Could you walk us through a typical training week for you?
A typical training week for me is a pretty structured system, especially nowadays with a full-time coach looking over my shoulder. Most days throughout the week are double training days, generally starting out with an interval session on the air bike or a longer base ride on the air bike in the home gym at around 6am after a good coffee and some work. Then, the afternoon session will generally mix between on-the-bike sessions up in the hills or in the gym again strength & contrast training. In a typical week without any racing, I usually get 4-5 strength sessions, 4 intervals/base sessions on the air bike, a sprint session around riding, a BMX track session, and as many rides on the big bike as I can manage.
Injury prevention is crucial in any sport. What are some key practices you follow to stay injury-free?
That’s a hard one, as injuries for me and a lot of other riders generally come from crashes, or accidents on the bike so preventing them is a tricky thing to do. On the bike, I definitely tend to ride and race a little easier than say, my maximum effort just to decrease the risk of injury or accidents happening. So, I always look to improve what is my perceived as 80-90% riding pace, instead of pushing the boundaries at 100%… if that makes sense. As for the strength training and fitness side of things, I believe that injury prevention starts in the kitchen, being properly hydrated, properly fuelled with a balanced diet, and ensuring you are eating enough protein especially, but then mobility, stretching, and actually focussing on and prioritising recovery days – getting in the ice baths and hot pools, saunas, breathe work and, of course, more stretching. Plus, sleep is a big one too, definitely underrated, especially by younger athletes.
Highlights and Challenges
Every athlete has that one race or event that stands out in their career. What’s yours, and what made it so special?
I don’t exactly have a particular race that really stands out from the rest yet. Coming back into the sport a little under two years ago (after a 6-year break) I am just stoked to be where I’m at with it all. 2023 was meant to be a learning & ‘get back in the groove of things’ year but turned out to be quite successful. I was fortunate enough to get both QLD Titles for Downhill & Enduro, plus an overall series win on Enduro as well, plus a few other race wins in between things on the Downhill side. I think for me the one that will stand out is a result on a bigger stage with a bunch of National events and festivals coming up, I’m eager to get after it!
Facing challenges is part of the game. Could you share a particularly tough moment in your career and how you overcame it?
A tough moment in my most recent racing chapter was definitely the 2023 Enduro State Titles up in Rockhampton. It was a big solo trip for me and one that ultimately had a little more perceived pressure than what should have been there, which really showed in my racing. The pressure definitely got the better of me at this one and being a two-day event it hit me pretty hard. I made a tone of mistakes on every stage, with multiple crashes in the first three stages on day one, I couldn’t believe it… I was rushing, trying to be faster than I needed to be, and basically just not practicing anything that I trained for. Come the second day I rode with the sole purpose of not crashing, again, a huge mistake in this sport. I am very thankful to stay true to that, but rode extremely scared and in my opinion, slow. I just wasn’t myself that entire weekend, so definitely sticks out as a challenging time in my books and one that I’ve now learned how to better overcome as I race bigger events.
Nutrition and Hydration
We know that nutrition and hydration play a significant role in an athlete’s performance. How do you manage your nutrition, especially during competitions?
Definitely something I thought I was pretty decent at until I got involved with my coach (Sports Nutritionist & Strength & Conditioning specialist – James Clare). Fortunately, he has given me a lot of advice about this area of which I straight away put into practice and follow throughout all of my daily training & racing. Hydration was a huge one for me and to be honest, I thought that water was good enough. The very first thing he put me on as a part of my daily ritual was coconut water! I had never had it before, really not sure why, but it is delicious! I cannot get enough, especially on big training days and racing. I did float through a few brands, but CocoCoast stuck with me and my wife as it’s crazy delicious and refreshing, and being in cans for events is next level! In addition to this, my entire diet had a bit of refinement; increasing protein, watching crabs, especially on rest days, and ensuring that I was fueling properly in the days leading up to a big event. I don’t track macros or measure what I eat, once I roughly figured out my protein intake requirement I go to that plus some for good measure and enjoy what I eat. I simply follow the 90/10 or 80/20 rule; meaning that 90% of my intake is whole, healthy foods or performance foods, and 10% is soul food, mostly made up of sauces, or the odd snack here and there throughout the week. When it comes to racing I definitely tighten the belt a little on this just to ensure I’m on track for success regardless of what the race throws at me, but I don’t change anything, I stick to what I know best and what my body is used to.
CocoCoast coconut water is known for its natural hydration benefits. Why do you choose it as part of your hydration strategy?
As a part of my daily routine I start the day out with what I call a ‘morning concoction’, a glass of water with salts, and a few spices, then very quickly followed by a large glass of CocoCoast Coconut Water. Not only is it the kickstart to my daily hydration, but I also use it as my treat for getting the concoction down. No matter what the day throws at me I know my body is ready and hydrated from the moment I wake up. I also have a glass after each training session and throughout the day when I can. When it comes time for racing, it’s my go drink throughout the entire day. I tend to have about 2L on top of everything else, and I can vouch for how much better I feel during racing and recovery, it’s truly a savior for me.
Advice and Wisdom
What advice would you give to someone just starting in mountain biking, especially regarding training and preparation?
If you’re just getting into the sport, enjoy it! Find some buddies and go shred your favourite trails. If you want to level up in the sport I’d say that having a decent bike, equipment and protection is a good start and if you progress on the racing side of things, get in touch with a good coach that knows nutrition and Strength & Conditioning well. I see it every day where young to middle-aged riders are just putting mile after mile on the bike and not seeing results. I’d say that being a more well-rounded athlete is a far better progression path to where you want to be on the bike, and then life in general. By this, I mean getting in the gym, eating well, prioritising recovery, and training with intent. But most importantly, enjoy the process regardless of the path you take.
Can you share a piece of wisdom or a mantra that keeps you motivated, especially during tough training sessions or races?
One thing that keeps me super motivated and disciplined in my daily habits and training is the desire to achieve my goal of racing a World Cup. There are a bunch of steps to get there with domestic racing, so ticking those off one by one is the process to get there; train for those and give it your all. A philosophy that I’ve had ingrained in me as far as I can remember, is Work Hard. As simple as it is, I think that many want to take shortcuts, find the magic pill, a lighter bike, and better equipment that makes them faster, but I honestly think that success for most of us out there comes down to how hard are you willing to work.
Looking Forward
What are your goals for the future, both in mountain biking and in any other ventures you might be passionate about?
The big goal for on the bike is racing an Enduro World Cup, or Downhill World Cup if my future leads me that way. I do hope to gain some points to qualify for these events leading into the 2025 season as it is a childhood dream of mine and one that I wish to see through next year for sure. Anything past that is a bonus in my mind. Career-wise I am very excited to jump into a coaching role within the sport to help young athletes also pursue their dreams on the bike, hoping to change the culture a little to better match those nations on the development side and give these athletes a real shot at winning on the world stage. Having the opportunity to immerse myself further into the industry and impart my knowledge where I can to help people on the bike is something I think I’ll have a lot of fun doing and hopefully be good at it.
Finally, is there a dream trail or location where you haven’t ridden yet but would love to?
I have been extremely fortunate to have ridden some amazing places in the past like Whistler, Queenstown, and more recently, Maydena in Tasmania so I’m already ticking that box quite well in my opinion. But, I would love to get over to Morzine, France as it looks unreal!
For our readers looking to follow your journey and maybe even get into mountain biking themselves, do you have any parting words of inspiration or encouragement?
Give it a go! It’s an awesome sport filled with amazing people that you’ll instantly connect with. The best places to follow along with my journey would be my Instagram account and my YouTube Vlog series I’ve just gotten up and running. There you’ll be able to see everything I do, including racing, daily training, and everything in between. I have some super exciting news dropping very soon, so stay tuned for that one!
Follow all things Jack
Instagram – @jack_druery929
Youtube – https://youtube.com/@Jack_druery929?si=1j2eHoVcFNDS2HOS
