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FOX Racing Shox is there when “it” counts — what is “it” to you?
Every time I get on my bike is "IT".

Tell us about your bike setup.
Stiff and low!

What else is in your garage?
Mostly bike related stuff, a 140cc mini bike, empty bottles of Bundy Rum. My squat rack and other training essentials.

What's your training regimen?
Top Secret.

Any major injuries, and how did you recover?
Lost a kidney back in 2001, lots of time in front of the TV for recovery.

What's your typical pre-race meal? Guilty pleasure?
Anything with chicken, some veggies, and some kind of pasta.

What is your pre-race OCD behavior?
None, that shit is no good. Just relax, be ready to go early, to avoid rushing and stressing.

How do you determine which races to enter each year?
Everything is based around World Cups, I'll do some other races for fun/training.

What are some of your best memories?
World Champs win 2009, best day of my life.

What motivated you to get started racing?
Always been overly competitive, racing was a natural progression.

What separates you from other professional athletes?
I am more focused and better prepared, I can shut out/ignore the bad things.

How does FOX Racing Shox contribute to your success?
FOX provides me with the best suspension for the job. They are always on hand to work on something I am trying to get from my suspension, and listen to feedback.

What would you be doing if you weren't a professional athlete?
Honestly, no idea. If I wasn't into bike riding I probably would have found some other sport to work at being a professional at.

What's the best thing about being a professional athlete?
Being able to ride whenever you want, especially during the off-season when there are no races going on, and I can ride what I want, when I want.

What other sports are you interested in?
If it's a sport, then I'm into it. I'll sit and watch and get into just about anything.

Any advice to the readers dreaming to turn pro?
Be prepared to make sacrifices. Too many people with talent come along for a while, but fall short of what they could be because they let other things get in the way. You have to find a way to keep it all fun still, otherwise it isn't worth doing either.

How many hours a week are you on Facebook?
Not many, thank God.

Are you a gamer? What are your favorite games?
I'm not into games at all, but I do waste at least an hour or 2 each day playing Guitar Hero haha. I never get sick of it, it keeps me off my feet after training and most importantly, I can switch my brain off.

What are your favorite magazines and websites?
No real favorites, just a bit of everything.

Favorite movie quote?
Nothing springs to mind. But one I think of a lot is "dont get bitter, get better".

Who is your hero?
Anyone who is having a solid crack at doing what they dream of. Not just getting drunk at night and talking about it.

I love Being at home with family and friends.

I want Many MANY truckloads of good dirt dumped in my front yard.

I believe in Getting what you work for.

Beach or mountains? Equal amounts of both.

High fives or knuckles? High fives without a doubt.

iPhone or Blackberry? iPhone

Are you a Mac or PC? Mac

Top 3 bands Silversun Pickups, Chevelle, The Butterfly Effect

Greatest strength Preparation, keeping my head screwed on at races.

Most frustrating challenge Getting back on the BMX after a long stretch of MTB riding and races.

My website www.jaredgraves.net

Recent Headlines

04.22.11 Transition Factory Racing: Sea Otter Classic 2011

04.18.11 FOX Athletes Jared Graves and Jill Kintner win the 2011 Sea Otter Dual Slalom

06.21.10 Mountain Bike World Cup: Graves grabs four-cross win in Leogang

06.10.10 Graves wins again, Gwinny fourth in DH

06.07.10 Jared Graves extends four-cross lead at Fort William World Cup

06.03.10 Australia's world champion primed to bounce back at Fort William

10.13.09 831 fork is reviewed by Mountain Bike Magazine

01.28.09 JARED GRAVES TRIUMPHANT AT THE 2009 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!