AS I sat on the verandah eating chicken soup, a call came through on the bat phone: get downtown and meet a young man named Jesse Case.

I pulled out my trusty Malvern Star dragster, ‘Shadow Shralpt’, with its column three star gears, sissy bar, and playing cards in the spokes, and ‘dropped’ down through the bends to meet Jesse.

This reporter can ride!

I sat down with Jesse, a seventeen-year-old, 6’1 blond adrenaline junkie with moviestar looks.

He had a milkshake, I had a long black.

Jesse told me about his passion for mountain bike racing and how he loves feeling like an extension of the bike when he races.

He has been involved in the sport since he was ten.

This bloke is no slouch, having competed in 50-odd competitions with an impressive fifteen wins under his belt.

Jesse describes himself as the “best of the rest”, though he was the 2023 QLD State Champion and has come first in the NSW Gravity Enduro competition, amongst others.

With high performance bikes these days ranging between $4,000 and $20,000, Jesse’s ride is sponsored by mountain bike brand Norco (no relation to the milk).

It seems mountain bike riding has come a long way since I hung out with Nicole Kidman in BMX Bandits in ’83. Remember, this is now an Olympic sport.

Jesse is sponsored and works part-time at Ventoux Cycles in Coffs Harbour.

I spoke with owner Al Scotford, who told me Jesse is dedicated to the science and fun of the sport and has great style on the tracks.

Al said the sport is growing, especially among women and families.

Places to ride are everywhere in our area, with favorites including Mt Coramba Downhill and Wedding Bell State Forest at Arrawarra.

Jesse’s next goal is to compete in the World Series Enduro, and as I straddle old Shadow to climb the hill, I wish him luck.

Onwards and upwards we go!

By Daz HALLORAN