Calder Wood - 2017 Montana Cross Camp Interview

Calder Wood – 2017 Montana Cross Camp Interview

Calder Wood of Anacortes, Washington has been a busy young man. Wood was selected to represent Team USA at Mountain Bike Worlds in Cairns, Australia last month, and last weekend he kicked off his UCI Junior racing calendar at the KMC Cross Fest in Connecticut. Wood, who races for Rad Racing NW, took home the win Friday night and followed it up with a third-place finish on Sunday.

Calder Wood on the final KOM climb. 2017 Montana Cross Camp

Calder Wood started his 2017 cyclocross success at the 2017 Montana Cross Camp. © Cyclocross Magazine

Wood has been knocking at the door of a podium finish at Nationals the past several years. He finished fourth in Asheville in 2016 and fifth in Hartford in 2017. His racing age in Reno will be 18, so the stage is set for him to grab his first Nationals podium since he won his 13-14 age group in Austin.

Calder Wood racing to 5th at the 2017 Cyclocross National Championships. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

We were not able to talk to Wood after he won on Friday, but we did sit down with him at the 2017 Montana Cross Camp. This year’s edition was the fourth time he has attended the annual camp in Helena.

Junior Calder Wood set a record for Montana Cross Camp attendance, with four straight appearances, and showed off the experience by nearly winning the final climb at camp but was caught near the end by U23 Gage Hecht. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

When asked why keeps coming back, Wood said there were a couple reasons. “It’s a great way to jump start your ’cross season,” he said. “Especially coming off mountain bike season, you have to start doing the ‘cross stuff that you weren’t doing during mountain season. I don’t always remember to do that.

“And then the most important thing is to meet the new riders who are coming up in the 17-18 and 15-16 fields who you’re going to be racing against during the season,” he added. “Before these camps, I usually don’t know many of the riders. I’d say 90% of the riders I know I’ve met here.”

Calder Wood on the final KOM gravel climb, trying to hold off Gage Hecht and the rest of the chasers. 2017 Montana Cross Camp. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Wood also talked about giving the U23s a run for their money on the KOM climb, his goals for the season and balancing cyclocross and mountain biking during our video interview.