Christian Foster Interview: Part Two
Christian Foster smokin' through a corner in Bermuda. Don't
get wet!!
NashvilleCyclist.com recently met with regular contributing diarist Christian Foster to learn more about past and recent developments. Plus, we were wanting to find out what the future holds for Nashville's home grown prominent professional cyclist. Below is part two of the two part exclusive interview with Christian.
1 Dec 2004
NC.com - What have
you learned the hardest, or most difficult to accept, about
professional cycling?
Well, the fame, the fortune, the girls, the parties…
In addition to the lack thereof the aforementioned items, I’d say
the travel. Without question, it’s the most time-consuming, form
depleting, stress-inducing necessary evil. Life on the road, living
out of a bag for a month at a time, all the while having to be
really creative when it comes to food, sleeping
arrangements/surfaces, amenities, etc. because of the meager salary
you’re earning…it’s definitely a challenge.
At the same time, however, you’re getting to see a ton of places and
experience things that you’re peers, even your seniors have missed
out on. That’s the upside. It’s an adventure, an education, no
doubt!
Then obviously, the sacrifice you’re making. When you look around
and you’re friends are buying houses, making a real paycheck,
eating/drinking what they want, when they want to, playing the
dating-game, maybe even getting engaged/married, meanwhile you’re
“living like a monk, eating like a rabbit and sleeping like a baby”
(Tyler Hamilton). But then again, it’s my choice…a choice that I’m
making on my own. No one’s holding a gun to my head and telling me
that, “it’s cycling or else…!” I chose this sport, this job, this
lifestyle, this risk…and that’s pretty cool when you think about it.
NC.com - From this past season, what were your three most
exciting racing moments? This could be a result or an experience
that made an impact on you.
Impact…
Ok, so first would be the impact I made with the barrier in turn one
at the Athens Twilight triggering a 20 plus rider pile-up and
rendering my brand new (as of a few hours prior) Fuji Team Issue,
totaled…this coming only 6 minutes into the 90 minute event…oops!
Let’s see, the three most exciting/impacting racing moments from
’04.
The first would have to be taking to the start line at USPRO in
Philadelphia. For starters, Philly is my hometown and for as long as
I can remember, the Corestates (as it was formerly known, now
Wachovia is the sponsoring bank) has been the dream. One day, I
would ride in that race before a hometown crowd. To add to the
excitement, we had three helicopters hovering over the start/finish
area, Ligget and Sherwen were in the press box, 20 police motos
flying in “V” formation out ahead of the chief commissaire, the
daunting Manayunk Wall looming in the distance, the close-ups of
your face on the 30’x 30’ jumbo-tron as you rounded the bend and
headed for the “Rocky Steps” at the base of the Philadelphia Art
Museum, and all the while, the PCT epic musical suite being blasted
over the PA system…this is USPRO!
If that took the cake then San Fran played a close second. I mean
500,000 spectators, NASCAR can’t even boast half that in real-time,
live fans. Taylor was nuts and Filmore was beyond comprehension in
gradient and volume…9.0 on the Richter scale, you couldn’t even hear
yourself cry after cresting it for the ninth and final time. It was
pure magic, only to be rivaled by the likes of Ventoux and the Alpe!
Last but not least, would be riding in a certain Navigator’s locker
of hurt. Imagine a Ducati with an Australian accent growing arms and
legs, foaming at the mouth then putting you in a headlock and
forcing you to run alongside him while he redlines in 5th gear,
meanwhile your old-school, hard-ass Danish director is coming over
the earbud with the following words of encouragement, “you MUST NOT
get dropped Christian, you MUST hold Henk’s wheel…do not lose him…I
repeat, you MUST NOT get dropped”. Sound scary? If not, let’s take
into consideration who were talking about here…didn’t Velo-News just
write an article on this guy/beast of a dude, praising his
“hardness”…yeah, that’s my breakaway partner, none other than the
one and only, Henk “the Tyrannosaur” Vogels.
(Later that night while out on the town in Boise, ID, Henk bought
Subway teammate, Cameron Hughes and myself a round at the bar
thanking us for the perfect leadout…oops, again)
NC.com - What is your lasting impact on the Subway team?
Well aside from the suicidal-breakaway-OLN TV exposure I earned for
the team, I’d have to say that my lasting contribution came in the
form of my work ethic and my willingness to give 110% every time
out. I’d like to think that I helped raise the bar for some of the
guys, challenging them to keep self-serving intent in check and
giving everything they could to the cause of the team. I would hope
that was the take-home message that I sent, not so much in words but
rather by way of action.
The core riders at Subway are a talented bunch and I would name each
of them as friends. I wish them all the best of luck in 2005.
NC.com - Why have you chosen this profession, and where do
you hope it leads?
Cycling, plain and simple, is my drug. Earlier I said that “I choose
it” but upon further inspection, maybe it’s more accurate to say
that, “I chose it” and now it has a hold on me. When I sit back and
think, I wonder if I really wield the power in the relationship or
if the sport owns me…?
On the other hand, I realize that age does play a role in the
equation. And if it doesn’t kill me first, the day will come when
the priorities shift, I hang it up and move to the next phase of my
life. But for now, I am an addict and as such, I’m at the mercy of
the game.
I hope that when the time comes I exit the athlete phase with a good
taste in my mouth and a willingness to make an impact and give back.
Whether it is in the form of directing, promoting events/providing
exposure alternatives, or representing athletes, ultimately the idea
is to grow the sport and create opportunity for the next generation.
NC.com - Discuss your family, particularly your father's
coaching experience, and how that has developed your approach to
cycling.
First it was school, education was a must but with that came the
promise that as long as I finished and came through with the degree,
their support was mine. I held up my end (after two leaves of
absence and one letter left on my father’s desk, the declaration of
my withdrawal from Vanderbilt University in order to pursue a
“cycling career” ;) and they delivered on the flipside.
As far as my father’s coaching influence…
I’d have to say that his stressing of work ethic, the idea of team,
the value he places on “hustle”, and his insistence on taking an
ethical approach to sport are the three biggest factors that have
impacted my approach to cycling and life in general.
(NC.com Editor - Christian's father is the former Vanderbilt women's
basketball coach Jim Foster, and current coach of the Ohio State
Buckeyes women's team)
NC.com - How does it feel to be a part of developing a
culture in Nashville that consists of several top domestic
professional cyclists?
It’s exciting, not only in the present but with what’s to come as
well! I’m one of Nashville’s biggest advocates when it comes to the
cycling community here. Sure there are things that we need to
improve upon, some more than others but the potential here, the
opportunity ;) it’s wide open! There’s a core group of individuals
around town that are really taking an active, grassroots approach to
growing the sport. And that’s definitely what it takes: initiative,
initiative, initiative, and follow-through. That’s how were gonna
get it done.
And as far as developing the “pro” scene itself, the wheel has been
set into motion with Jesse, Jeff, Zach Bolian, Robbie Yost (down in
the ‘boro) and myself, we’ve even got Jonny “Il Gato” Sundt itchin’
to get his hands on some property down here. Like they say, “if you
build it, they will come”…well, we’re actively building and if you
give it a chance I think you’re going to see a solid training group
here before too long.
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