Introduction
In the world of Downhill Mountain Biking, few stories are as compelling as that of a long-standing competitor moving on to the next stage of their career. The Next Chapter is the story of what’s next for Jack Reading, a name that has featured in downhill world cup racing since 2010. As a videographer, I had the unique opportunity to capture Jack's transition from World Cup racing, to the inspiring realm of coaching. In this blog, we’re going to be getting into both the process of creating this content piece and the message it hopes to convey.
The Genesis of the Project
A Call with Jack: A Veteran of MTB Downhill World Cup's
Following up on a tip from a mutual contact, this journey began with a phone call with Jack Reading. Well known as a veteran in the Downhill MTB World Cup scene, Jack's decision to retire from World Cup racing and focus on coaching was a story I felt excited to tell. We discussed his vision, his motivations, and how he wanted to influence the future of downhill racing through his Gravity School choaching program.
Jack outlined what we was searching for, as well as the scope of the work throughout the 2024 season. In full transparency he let us know that there were two other potential videographers interested in the job and that all would be given a fair shot to showcase their abilities and their availability throughout the upcomimg race season.
Meeting with Jack: Filming at Home, Gym and Compound
After our initial call Jack got in touch to offer a date to film a video which would serve multiple purposes:
Anouncement of new sponsors
To further anounce his retirement from World Cups
Raise awareness of the Gravity School
Test our capabilities and gear for suitability
Meeting at Jack's home just outside of Manchester, we showed up with a rough schedule and a good idea of what we wanted to shoot. Starting with a three point lighting set up and a second B-cam rolling in the workshop, we filmed the interview section of the video, which was the basis for the entire edit. Asking a combination of functional and emotional based questions we were confident we had all the peices we needed to tell the story.
Next, we travelled to GritStone Crossfit for a scheduled group session. This was a great way tie together a lot of different aspects to the story focussed around training intensity and developing as an athlete post retirement. We were not short of content to work with from the high-intensity hour long session. The room quickly filled with eclectic energy as members cycled through their workouts moving from station to station. By the mid point of the session the whole room seemed to pulse as one totally dialed in unit, everyone pushing themselves closer and closer to the limit. Leaving the gym for fresh air at the end of the session felt like stepping out of a totally different universe, we knew we had to capture the sheer insanity and energy of this place in our final edit.
To end the day we headed over to Jack's private training compound (don't ask, as I won't tell!), alongside Rueben for a one on one training session on some of the key features from the home grown trails cultivated there over the years. This was a great opportunity to not only see Jack and Rueben riding, but also to capture those intimate coaching moments, where the unique style that Jack brings as a World Cup compeitor came to fruition as he encouraged and coached Rueben through the mental bloclks and techincal aspects of the trails down to the final detail.
Finishing the day, we shot some B-roll back at the workshop including the amazing Raaw Bikes Yalla! Raaw Bikes are the new frame sponsor for the 2024 season, and personally I'm excited to spend some more time around these bikes and hopefully take one for a ride myself at some point.
Conceptualising a Gripping MTB Video
The video concept was clearly defined and provided by Jack, he wanted us to convey that he was committed to providing world class training through the Gravity School, confidently leaving World Cup racing behind in support of this venture. Jack's clear direction and focussed state of mind was paramount in helping us to methodically create our shot list, and provided us with a clear image of what we needed to capture throughout the day.
Behind the Scenes: The Filming Process
This was the first time shooting with a client that I hadn't previously met. It was also a trial run to secure a future partnership for the 2024 race season, so first impressions were key. Alongside testing our capabilities and compatibility, the shoot was also a chance for Jack to check the gear we had to ensure it was capable enough to handle the conditions that will be presented throughout the rest of our time working together.
Myself and Oli packed up just about every piece of equipment we own between us into multiple travel bags and duffles, and set off around 07:00am to meet with Jack near Manchester. We arrived at Jack's as he was finalising the details of the Raaw bikes deal for the season, as such were welcomed into the workshop to start setting up and waiting. As we assembled the lighting and audio, we got familiar with our setting and began dressing The scene for the interview portion of the video. We decided to leave the scene mostly as it was, to preserve the well used workshop as part of the story, mostly adjusting the light and framing to include some of the key aspects vital to the message we wanted to give.
Jack joined us to give us a breakdown of the days schedule, then proceeded to sit for the interview. A mix of pre-arranged and ad-hoc questions gave us the responses we wanted to work seamlessly with our shot list.
During our travel between the compound and the gym, we had an opportunity to learn more about Jack, and ask the correct questions we needed to learn more about the upcoming season and how this might work for us going forward. We also got to see some of the local area and get a feel for how Jack prepares for the season ahead both physically and mentally.
Capturing the Essence of Racing
With Jack's permission we managed to source some footage from his final World Cup race in Les Gets. The contrast between MTB racing clips and coaching footage was important for us as a way to narrate the transition in a visual way.
We did also have the privilege of filming jack and Reuben training, which as a fan of the sport was a great moment. The riding was impressive, and leaning on my own excitement of watching Jack and Rueben, finding the shots came rather naturally, using the points of view which served as the most impressive view point to the unrestricted access we had been given.
Intimate Moments in Coaching
Equally important were the scenes showcasing Jack's coaching. These moments were more than just instructional; they were about passing on a legacy and a love for the sport. Right out of the gate we caught a crash from Rueben, which in turn led to one of my favourite shots, of Jack coaching Rueben through the section of track, highlighting the ideal line choice and allowing him to breakdown his own mistake, arriving at a solution. Rueben went back to the same section and rode an impressively line down using Jack's advice.
The moments of coaching were seamlessly woven through casual conversation and deliberate discussions throughout the session. Observing these moments gave us a chance to see how World Cup experience translates into transferable knowledge. We're excited to see how this looks in a group setting when the first graining camp kicks off in February.
The Editing Suite: Crafting the Story
The Art of Storytelling Through Editing
The editing process was where the story truly came to life. It was a delicate balance of high-energy racing and heartfelt coaching scenes, stitched together to create a narrative that was engaging and inspiring.
Music choice was (as it always is) vital to making sure we gave the correct impression from the start of the video, as well as being a conduit through which we could pivot the direction of the video to clearly reflect the energy and feelings necessary to that element of the story. The high tempo music paired with quick cuts from the cross fit sequence were truly reflective of the high energy in the room at GritStone Crossfit.
The main challenge with the editing process was colour grading.Looking at the bleak mid-winter shots from our budget friendly Canon Cameras, it was clear that cutting between these clips and the archived race footage from a summer in the mountains had the potential to be rather jarring. Whilst colour grading isn't at the top of my skills list, we managed to reduce the impact of this contrast in shots to the best of our ability, and were pleased with the outcome.
Jack's Journey: More Than Just Racing
At its heart, this video was about Jack's journey. It was about the decision to leave behind a successful racing career and instead invest in the future of the sport he loves. Rather than take our word for it here, take a look at the video to hear from Jack the motivations behind this switch, and the future of his race team and coaching program.
The Final Product: A Cinematic Showcase
Conclusion
Jack Reading's story is more than just about a career shift; it's a testament to passion, dedication, and the pursuit of a new dream. This video project was not just about capturing moments; it was about telling a story that would inspire and resonate with many. As I conclude this post, I invite you to watch the video if you haven't already and experience the journey of a Racer, now a mentor, through my lens.
For more content and blogs please visit: Loamlife Media
For booking enquiries or to receive a no obligation quote, email: benh@loamlifemedia.co.uk
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