Chat with a Pioneer: Cory Wallace

In summer this year, The Pioneer ran for the first time, down the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Runing over 7 days, the event attracted riders from Australia and New Zealand, but also a few people who make doing these type of events their job – like Canadian pro cyclist Cory Wallace. We caught up with Cory to ask him about the race in 2016, to see if he had any tips for people looking at entering for 2017.

Cory, what lead you to The Pioneer in 2016 – was it the route, the racing, or a reason to ride through the Southern Alps?

"All of the above. My Kona teammates and I were looking for a good pre-season race in an exotic country which would be easy to travel to. The Pioneer fit the bill perfectly as New Zealand is a great destination by itself, toss in a bike and a dialled in race across the Southern Alps and it created an unforgettable adventure.

How many paired stage races have you done before? How did The Pioneer compare?

The Pioneer was my first real paired stage race besides a small one in Tasmania a couple years back. It was a perfect race to have a partner with to share the natural beauty and the adventures of racing across the far reaches of New Zealand's Southern Alps. There were moments we just looked at each other and smiled in amazement at what we were going through, it really added to the experience.

If you were to pick one day at the race in 2016 that was your favourite, what would it be, and why?

The Queen Stage, Day 5 was my favourite as it was epic and took us to the real backcountry of New Zealand. It was great to feel way out there and the final climb was like something out of the Hobbit going between big rock outcroppings before hitting a rad singletrack descent down to the finish line near Wanaka. It's always these big days on the bike that stand out for me as sometimes you need 5-7 hours or more to really sink into a ride.

Paired stage races create the need for an excellent working relationship. What are your tips for finding the right stage race partner?

Find someone who has the same goals as you and someone who is calm. There are going to be tough moments out there but if you have the right partner then you can feed of each other and get through them with a smile on your face. A good partner will enhance the experience, and it's important to not take things too seriously as you will both have your ups and downs throughout the week so try to be easy on each other.

Given your experience, what do you take into account when packing for a stage race?

Going to New Zealand was pretty easy to pack for as anything I forgot, could easily be found again. Going to places like Mongolia or Bhutan are a bit more challenging as you have to pack like you're going to the moon as if you forget anything you wont be able to find it over in those locations. Next up I consider the climate, the camp setup, and food availability. If you're warm, comfy and fed then you can really tackle any challenges this mountain bike world can toss your way.

I always pack some key comfort/nutrition foods to ensure the body is kept fed, and for comfort I try to pack a few extra things like a pillow and proper ear plugs to guarantee a restful night. Other than that, don't stress too much about it as you can usually get by if you have the right mental attitude and roll with the punches. I've been to races in Nepal where the locals pack virtually nothing for a 10 day race across the Himalayas, yet they just toughen up and find a way to get it done.

Like the sound of The Pioneer? Well we have an entry to The 4 Day Traverse to give away, which is a 4 day solo rider version of the event. check out the entry details and enter!