On December 23, Sam Hill announced his departure from Monster Energy_Specialized (the Lightning Downhill Team) and joined a new team, which was a major piece of news at the end of the 2012 mountain bike season. There was much speculation in the industry and online, and we finally found Nigel Page, the head of the CRC/Nukeproof team, to see how this key figure in this major transfer brought a heavyweight like Sam Hill to their team, and how his former team manager Sean Heimdal viewed the matter.

　　Nigel Page (shown below) may not be a name familiar to newcomers to the sport. But as early as 2000, he was already active in the World Downhill Cup, and now he is the busiest person in the entire CRC/Nukeproof team. Who could have more say on this transfer than the person who brought this Australian legendary rider to the team and even sent his Nukeproof Pulse prototype to Sam Hill for testing?

　　Q: Nigel, what is the whole story behind Sam Hill joining the CRC/Nukeproof team, this major event in the cycling world?

　　A: In the middle of the 2012 season, I would often go to CRC to ask the senior management what the team was doing, how much the team was spending, and what the future plans were. Everyone seemed to have decided how much effort and money CRC should spend on the team, but we overlooked finding a rider who could lead the team well and be a good image. We started to focus on the top ten riders in the World Cup, and Matti Lehikoinen's joining was something everyone was very happy about. And everyone enjoyed working with him. Unfortunately, his serious injury only lasted a few days, so he had to leave.

　　Q: Matti Lehikoinen's departure left a lot of space, how did you handle it?

　　A: I made a list of riders who were active in the 2013 season and who I thought could help our team. I was glad that I got a response when I talked to some riders about this, and most of them thought that the Nukeproof bike was a good bike, and indeed a bike that could get on the podium. By the end of the season, the riders went home to enjoy their holidays, and I took the opportunity to talk to Sam Hill about this. At that time, his contract with the Lightning Downhill team only lasted until December 31, 2012. I didn't go into detail about why Sam was so quick to be interested in joining our team, I just wanted to make it possible for him to try our Nukeproof bike as soon as possible, and then he started testing our bike.

　　Sam Hill testing Nukeproof Pulse

　　Q: What role did the Nukeproof Pulse bike play in this transfer?

　　A: Before the test, Sam said that the quality of the bike was crucial to his decision to transfer. I think some of his sponsors would naturally want Sam to continue riding their bikes. But I was very confident that he would like the bike, especially since he had mentioned that he had seen the bike's debut in the middle of the season and had already liked it. However, I was still nervous because only a few riders and designers had ridden this bike at that time. By the way, his previous bike was custom-made for him. The geometry of our Pulse bike is different from his previous bike. So we were prepared to modify our bike for him, and also what improvements he could bring to the bike.

　　Q: Sam was still under contract when he tested the bike, and there were only a few prototypes of the bike, so there must have been a lot of difficulties in this test, right?

　　A: Yes, this test took a lot of manpower and material resources. Sam needed to test his future bike before making a decision. He is a very professional and dedicated person and respects his contract. So he chose a secret location for the test and chose a quiet day when no other riders were in the mountains and no one would see him. However, we only had a few medium-sized Pulse frames (still prototypes of the 2013 model), so I gave him my own bike to test. SRAM enthusiastically sent us a set of BlackBox parts (mainly parts on the ROCKSHOX BOXXER) before that.

　　The Pulse frame in the picture above is a prototype, but it is said that Sam has fallen in love with this frame, which will be Sam's first single-pivot bike.

　　Q: How was the test?

　　A: The morning after I knew Sam had ridden the bike, I received an email. He said he had ridden the bike and liked it. And it performed at a very high speed on difficult sections, which is also my common feeling after riding this bike for so long. Most importantly, he thought this bike could help him win!

　　Q: Let's talk about what happened after that! Did Sam ask for any changes?

　　A: After using different settings, groups, and frames, Sam asked me if it could be modified to be more like his previous bike. Of course we were happy to. ROCKSHOX sent him a set of ultra-light, shorter-travel rear shocks so he could have a lower center of gravity. And we gave him a handlebar with a higher rise angle. The Pules frame has a 1.5-inch head tube and our proprietary adjustable angle headset. So the head angle is very easy to accommodate the rider. Our designers Ali and Dale have been modifying the bike for Sam, and he really likes the lower center of gravity frame and higher angle handlebar, which we are very happy about.

　　“I'm very excited about riding for team Chain Reaction Cycles/Nukeproof. They are very positive towards downhill racing and I know they are going to put in 100% just like me. I'm really looking forward to getting to the races under the Chain Reaction Cycles tents and hanging with the team. 2013 is going to be a good year. ”_ Sam Hill

　　Sam Hill's original words: I'm very happy to join the CRC/Nukeproof team. They are very positive towards downhill racing, and I know they will be 100% committed, just like me. I'm really looking forward to racing under the CRC/Nukeproof team and working with the team. 2013 will be a good year!

　　Q: Many people online are comparing Sam's previous bike with the current Pulse, is this a kind of awkward confusion?

　　A: I like to go to various mountain bike forums to read the comments and discussions of those "experts." The people in the CRC/Nukeproof R&D team are enthusiastic enthusiasts and even riders. We are all wholeheartedly committed to designing Nukeproof downhill bikes. And we can design the bike to our liking. The version of PULSE that appeared in the 2012 season was just a prototype, but it was already 99% perfect. It's really good!

　　The above picture shows him and his father at the Mont Sainte Anne World Cup, a race he won after recovering from knee and shoulder surgeries.

　　Q: Will we see Sam riding a carbon fiber Pulse next season?

　　A: You may have to wait. We believe the aluminum PULSE already has excellent racing performance and ideal weight.

　　Q: Can you tell us if Sam's mechanic Jacy Shumilak will continue to work with Sam?

　　A: Our current chief technician, Brooks, has strong technical skills. However, I've spoken with Jacy, and he hasn't made a decision yet.

　　Jacy Shumilak, Sam Hill's long-time mechanic, will he join CRC/Nukeproof the team?

　　Q: Will there be any conflicts with Sam's previous sponsors?

　　A: All of Sam's contracts ended in 2012. We've confirmed that SRAM will sponsor the full product line, including ROCKSHOX forks, SRAM drivetrain, AVID brakes, and Truvativ cranksets. Sam will continue his partnership with Monster Energy helmets, TLD apparel, FIVE TEN shoes, and SPY, among others. CRC's full line of partner brands will also provide strong support for Sam.

　　Sean Heimdal (shown below), a California native and manager of the Monster Energy_Specialized downhill team, worked with Sam Hill for 10 years. We spoke with him about Sam's departure and the team's future.

　　Q: First, will the Monster Energy_Specialized team exist next season?

　　A: We're still determining if the name Monster Energy_Specialized will remain, but it's certain that Specialized will continue to invest heavily in the World Cup, and Monster Energy will continue to sponsor riders globally.

　　Q: The news of Sam's departure seems sudden. How did this affect you?

　　A: Yes, the announcement was a bit early. But we had already confirmed that Sam would be leaving and wouldn't be with our team next season. However, he'll still be racing!

　　Q: Can you elaborate on Sam's departure?

　　A: Sam's contract expired at the end of 2012. I believe he wants to find a place where he can reignite his racing career—a fresh start and new challenges. I'm a big supporter of his, and I hope to see a healthy and energetic Sam next year.

　　Q: So he wasn't poached?

　　A: Yes, he wasn't poached. Everyone has an equal opportunity to compete, and it's a two-way process.

　　Q: Since he's been with your team for many years, will his departure affect your friendship? For example, will you not send each other Christmas cards this year? (laughs)

　　A: Absolutely not! Besides, we never sent each other Christmas cards. Haha.

　　Q: In your opinion, what are the benefits for him joining the CRC/Nukeproof team?

　　A: Honestly, the only benefit is a "new start," because he only has Jacy (Sam's mechanic). And their sandwiches aren't nearly as good as mine. (laughs)

　　Q: Do you think Sam will miss any particular sponsor from Monster Energy_Specialized?

　　A: I think he'll miss everything. He'll be very unaccustomed to not having the Specialized equipment that he's been successful with.

　　Q: Do you have any tips for Nigel Page, the manager of the CRC/Nukeproof team?

　　A: I'd say that every media outlet wants an exclusive story, but they can't release it before the official press release. Nigel is a veteran; he just signed Sam, so I don't think I can offer any advice to help them improve. Good luck to them, and see you on the track! Finally, I want to thank all our fans, supporters, sponsors, media, and photographers who have supported us for these 11 years, and of course, Sam Hill has been here for 10 of those years. Yes, Sam Hill spent a decade here. Let's look forward to the exciting 2013 season!

　　 Editor: Cash