My Journey: An Interview with Victoria Athlete and Coach, Dave Shishkoff
We would like to welcome back our new and fellow Nerds from all corners of the athletic world. We are proud of all of you for your persistence in making positive changes in yourselves and the world around you. We took a short break and are now back to bringing stories and journies of athletes from around the globe. We are stoked to bring you our first athlete Dave Shishkoff. Dave is an amazing cycling athlete and coach who has inspired many people including myself to find their best in cycling and in life. Dave's natural athletic abilities, race portfolio, and keen cycling perspective make him the perfect individual to highlight. Thanks, Dave for the opportunity to share your journey.
Photo-by-Jay-Wallace-jaybwallace@gmail.com
How did you discover your love for cycling and where did your journey begin?
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.. It was 1994, and a friend took me mountain biking, and was hooked after hiking and bushwacking half the time, such a blast! I wasn’t very physically active before that but started riding several times a week. Really enjoyed the technical aspect of mountain biking and the challenges of trying to ride up or down rather silly stuff. Enjoyed riding so much I was even a bike courier downtown for a couple of years!
Didn’t get into racing until several years later; a mountain biking friend had been trying to get me to try out the velodrome in Colwood, and I finally went along, and again, was addicted instantly. The speed was a blast, featuring diverse and challenging race formats, and so much sprinting, which really worked for my physiology!
That got me interested in road racing, which lead to cyclocross..and of course, researched all I could on training, started self-training, and with some hard work and smart tactics was doing alright in the local racing scene.
Overall I really enjoy the challenge of taking on a training program, and training with power means you can actually track the progress in a meaningful way, and it’s always still a thrill to get new power PBs. Race results can vary so much, and while it’s still satisfying to do well in a race, it’s really the day-to-day training that can lead to regular feelings of accomplishment and growth.
You’ve been an influence in the cycling community for years competing in all sorts of races and series. What would be some of your most memorable and favorite out of them all?
Overall the Cross on the Rocks annual cyclocross series is probably my favourite and most memorable, in part because each race is different, in different communities, and sometimes has some really memorable features and challenges. Often it’s more moments in a race that stand out - fighting to make a break stick, sprinting from the back, catching the right wheel and lapping the field.
I’d also add that some of the unique events I’ve organized really stand out for me as well. One was the OrganicAthlete Track & Trail event, based at the velodrome. It targeted duathletes, with two timed biking components (a 1 lap sprint, and a 4km time trial), and two running events, also timed (also a 1 lap 333m sprint, and a 5km run on the trails at Juan de Fuca.) While turnout was low, those who came out thoroughly enjoyed the event. Also noteworthy was the Durian Cup mountain bike series, with four ‘fun’ races, like a Poker Race (collecting cards at select spots, best hand ‘wins’!), and orienteering, trying to hit as many map checkpoints as possible and be back at the start in a set time. That was a blast. Perhaps some of these will be revived!
What inspired you to begin coaching other athletes?
It’s always been my instinct to help out, through volunteering, organizing, and passing on advice where I could, so it’s really in my DNA I’d say! But it became more of a focus this spring, helping out some friends competing in a weekly Strava segment series, and figuring out how they can get the best time they can, with pacing, lead-ins, and other techniques. One of those riders won the women’s category, so it was exciting to share in her victory as well! Am looking forward to experiencing that more!
I also really enjoy writing and will be using my platform to post fun and informative blog articles, like what do you keep in your jersey pockets when riding? Or did you know you can easily recycle those foil bar wrappers? I’ll be tackling a bunch of topics that you may not find elsewhere.
Over the past couple years we have seen a boom in cycling and a growing interest in the sport. Many of these people are used to commuting but would like to race. What would you recommend to many of the newcomers who want to begin their own journey in competitive cycling and where to start?
This is a tough one to answer in a few sentences, but to start I’d say take a look at all the cycling disciplines and try out the ones that interest you the most and then go from there. It might require a new bike, and learning new skills, but that’s a fun part of the journey. Get out and ride, and when you feel comfortable, look up the racing in that discipline, and sign up! There are almost always several levels to choose from, so if you’re a beginner, it’s still pretty easy to get started. And, of course, having a coach or someone to consult with can help illuminate the way!
Where can many of our readers follow you or inquire about coaching?
Hopefully, my website www.AboutTheRide.ca will become a local resource; in addition to the blog and my own clinics and events (including Strava-based competitions), I’ll be compiling other resources, listing weekly group rides, local races, and more! You can sign up for email updates so you don’t miss any major news, or to follow my social media accounts, look up @ATRCoach on Facebook and Instagram. Hope to see you out on the bike!