Cameron Brown

SBRStL - Cameron, we're pleased to have the opportunity to ask you some questions.  First of all, congratulations on a great 2002 season. We presume you're home in New Zealand now. What's life like these days? 

CB - "I have a lot going on now.  I have a family (wife Jenny and 15-month old Braeden, plus another one due in June), plus with 35-hours a week of training and sponsor commitments, doesn't leave me much time to do other things."

SBRStL - As two-time defending champion of IM New Zealand with a finish of no worse than 2nd in the last four years, what is it about Taupo that brings out the best in you?

CB - "Training in my own environment, eating my own New Zealand food and cooking and being with family and friends, My support crew is pretty big!!!!"

SBRStL - You've benefited from Scott Molina's coaching. What kinds of things has he been most helpful with for you?

CB - "Pushing myself to the next level.  I really needed that and that's why I changed to Scott."

SBRStL - One question you may tire of answering but the readers are usually keen on hearing is how you got involved in the sport. Could you give us a blast from your past?

CB - "I started a new school, Pakuranga College (15yrs of age) and they were really into triathlons.  I was really keen on cycling and used to race home every day sprinting home with my friend.  The Tour de France got me inspired as well.  From there I started doing really well on the school triathlon scene, I was competing with Paul Amey and Jamie Hunt at school, we had a lot of guys doing well and we all went on to bigger things.  From school I went straight to Japan and raced for Epson computers for 7-years and then got onto the World Cup scene."

SBRStL - Earlier in your career you spent some time on the ITU circuit, but now you make no secret of your disdain for draft-legal racing. Do you foresee this format carrying on for the foreseeable future?

CB - "I think it would be impossible to control drafting in these races now, there are too many guys too close together, The only way to do it would be on a very hard 40km ride with climbs of 2-3-4km long to break things up, then you would get the strongest athlete winning and not the best runner."

SBRStL - The ultra distance pros we've interviewed seem to have a common trait, their long day is usually a killer workout, at least by our standards. What does one of your tougher training sessions entail?

CB - "Probably a 5-hour ride with some intervals, then run straight off the bike for 1-hour.  I usually go through 10km in about 36 minutes, so its a steady run. That's a good day and gets you fit and you know where your fitness is."

SBRStL - With the steady path your career has taken, you appear to be on the threshold for a  win at Kona.  The competition at the top just seems so very close and tough. What separates a  guy like Tim DeBoom from the rest of the pack these last two years and how do you bridge that  gap? 

CB - "I think it's very close at the top and on their day 5-6 guys can win.  Tim has been the best  and has paid his dues in Kona, that's what I'm doing now and I hope to get there in the next few  years.  I'm getting closer every year, maybe next year?"

SBRStL - There seems to be a closeness or openness between the pros and the age-groupers in triathlon that isn't found in most other sports. Can you talk about that connection for us a bit?

CB - "I think the best thing is that everybody competes together on the same day, you can't do  that in any other professional sport, I grew up racing Rick Wells and Erin Baker and they were  household names in New Zealand winning world titles.  I would be on the start line as a 15yr old  and next to me was Rick Wells!!!  At the end of the race I would be talking with him and chatting  about how the race went.  I went on to beat him as a 18yr old In the Whangamata Triathlon in  1991, 1km swim, 30km bike, 7km run, I think he was still hung over from a New Years eve party  the day before and unfit, but I will all ways remember that day.  I see him every now and then and  we talk about the good old days."

SBRStL - Cam, what bike will you be riding in 2003? 

CB - "My Litespeed Blade for racing and my Vortex , with Campagnolo record, Awesome bikes"

SBRStL - We're guessing you resting heart rate is in the low 30's, but once you reach a certain  level of fitness how does an elite pro get fitter? It must seem like you guys have to do an extraordinary amount of work to realize fitness gains.

CB -  "Yes, you can always do something extra to give you that edge.  I have a huge base from all  the years of training.  Maybe I will go and do another set of abs and push ups!!!!  Hopefully Tim  won't be doing them?"

SBRStL - Cameron, thanks for your time. We wish you all the success in the world for 2003.

CB -  "Thanks a lot, see you in 2003"