Greg Minnaar is the greatest downhill mountain bike racer of all time. His professional career has spanned 21 years at the very top of this high-risk and highly-technical adrenaline sport. In 2021 and at the age of 39, Greg was crowned Downhill World Champion for the fourth time in his career, 20 years after his first World Cup series win. He has been runner up in the World Cup four times, placed third three times, and has been the winner in 23 World Cup events, the most by any racer in history. At 40, he is still competing, and winning.
In this interview he is his usual cool and calm self. He discusses how he manages fear of injury and crashing at speeds of over 70km/h, how he maintains consistent performances and a consistent performance mindset, and about adapting and adjusting to change. He speaks riding the fine-line of the perfect race, between hesitation and caution on one side, and reckless over-striving on the other, and about riding your own race in sport and in life. He also shares advice for recreational mountain bikers to go faster, with while getting injured less, and more.
Greg is the GOAT of downhill racing, and his lessons are applicable to all of life.
Ingredients for Performance 5.35
How it started 9.00
Critical voices 12.00
Managing self 17.10
Evolution of the sport 19.00
The best from the rest 21.15
Mitigating risk 28.10
Fear of injury 29.30
Mindset 31.35
Process and preparation 33.45
Fear of failure 37.00
Overcoming fear 43.20
Flow state 47.00
Character 52.05
Adapt and adjust 53.35
Downtime hobbies 1.02.50
Downhill tips 1.05.40
Advice to young athletes and their parents 1.07.10
Life lessons 1.10.25
The big question 1.11.35
