Interview feature: Dave Matthews

Name: Dave Matthews
Born: 1986 / Sydney
Continent: Oceania
Homepage: davematthewstri.com
Team(s): Hansgrohe (German) / Metz (French) / Peperoncino (Italian)
Strength [in triathlon]: Post race meal quantity consumption abilities
Weakness [in life]: Tolerating repetitive MTV content.

Dave; 4 days to go until the Hamburg World Champsionship Series Race. Exctited?

I can usually tell I’m excited because I start shaving my legs again when a big race is approaching, but as I look at them it has been about 6 months since I took the razor to them and it is just too overwhelming. So I guess by my normal standards I’m going into this one in a very relaxed mindframe

I know you have been training pretty hard up in Davos. Has the Swiss mountains taken the level of pain to a new dimension for you?

Yes, the pain has been excrutiating… the only english television channel I receive is MTV and they literally put 4 songs on repeat all day and it causes me constant physical pain every time i see Christina Aguilera or Lady Gaga engaging in group sex whilst singing absolute crap.

If you were to reccomend three things to do, to someone who never been to Davos before. What would that be?

Aah that one’s easy as there is only three things I have been doing (outside of training) in Davos:
1. Buy your muesli ($2.50 per kilo) and ravioli ($6 per kilo) from the Eurospar at the top of town.
2. Buy your bread ($2.20 per kilo) and milk (90 cents per litre) from the Migros in the middle of town.
3. Buy your cheese ($1 per 100g) and various meat products from Denner further down the road from Migros.
These prices have been analysed and compared by me for hours on end so if you happen to be a struggling pro unable to break into the top 100 or so in the world and need to save your money, I suggest visiting the above three stores per shopping experience.

Being one of the “youngsters” in the D-squad you are still on your first year.
Was it what you expected it to be when you joined Darren? What were the biggest changes for you?

I didn’t expect the chicks to be so ruthless. I fear every open water swim session because my only options involve absolutely hurting to stay off the front, or to be in the mix of it and get elbowed, scratched, punched, held under the water, and eye gouged to death.

You are also new to the Euro style of racing. Welcome to the Bundesliga!
Two races with great results for the Hansgrohe team is not bad eh! How did you enjoy the format?

Yeah it’s pretty fun. I like the concept of the team racing in the afternoons when you have to race finish together as 4. My first experience of this was great because I wasn’t the slowest, but the second time i was and it really freakin hurt!

And finally, whats your podium pick for Hamburg?

Hmm I guess having the three Olympic medallists means you can’t really look past them for being at the topn(editors note; Frodeo, Withfield and Docherty). In terms of a dark horse I reckon David Hauss will be up there as well.

Best of luck in Hamburg!

Thanks Herring! You’re the best interviewer going round

Categories: Interviews

Tags: D-squad, Dave Matthews, interview