Discipline: Enduro
Rides For: Vitus Factory Team
Supported by: WTB Tyres, Mavic Wheels, Ride 100% Goggles, Westpark Fitness,
Point 1 Athletic, Pure Power Systems, Cable Technical Services
From: Dublin
Ambassador for Cycling Ireland’s Gearing Up Off Road Programme
Facebook: Killian Callaghan Racing
Instagram: @killiancallaghan
How you got into cycling / mountain biking?
All my family are into bikes and growing up I spent most weekends competing in Motorcycle Trials or else at some type of bike event.
I rode in Trials competitions fairly competitively growing up and won 10 Youth Trials Championships, I represented Ireland abroad as well.
When I was about 15 I stopped riding in trials and started doing a bit of BMX racing. I raced BMX for about a year and a half and became National Champion but an injury stopped me from defending my title, around that time the Gravity Enduro Series in Ireland had just started. I had seen a few videos from the Gravity Enduros and had got to know some mountain bikers, they were doing enduros and seemed to love it. So I was mad to give it a go. I got a loan of a bike off my Uncle Darell and convinced my parents to bring me out and I absolutely loved it!
After that I bought the bike off my Uncle for € 200, that bike got a hard time! So I upgraded that bike again and progressed on, I've been racing Enduro's ever since and loving it ! I still have what’s left of that bike!
Influences or people you admire in the sport?
I look up to a lot of riders, most of them aren't Enduro heads. Josh Bryceland, Cedric Gracia, Phil Atwill, Chris Akrigg and Danny MacAskill would be some riders that have had a big influence in my riding
Favourite place to ride / train?
Sauze d'Oulx in Italy. I Love that place! Cheap pizzas, no lift queues, loads of really good trails that are well maintained, so no braking bumps!
Current bike or bikes you are riding?
I’m very lucky to be ridding for Vitus Factory Racing / Chain Reaction Cycles so I’ve just got the latest Vitus Sommet CRX Carbon. I’ve also some very good sponsorship from WTB Tyres, Mavic Wheels, 100% Goggles, Dakine clothing as well as some personal sponsorship from Pure Power Systems & Cable Technical Services, all these sponsors help make all my racing and travel possible.
I’ve quite a collection of bikes, Vitus Sommet Pro, Onza Cycle Trials bike, Haro Blackout BMX Race bike, Sunday Funday BMX, Rigley Cyclecross bike, 125 Sherco Trials bike and a Stomp 140 pit bike.
Highlights of your riding career?
In 2015 I finished 3rd in Carrick at the EWS ,Runner up in the European U21 Championship, won the Gravity Enduro Series and the National U21 Championships, but nothing will ever come close to winning the Under 21 category at the EWS this year in Carrick. I'll never forget that day!
Ambitions for the future?
At the moment I want to gain as much experience as I can and hope to finish in top 5 in the remaining rounds of the Enduro World Series this season and hopefully get on the podium a few times as well. I’ll also be looking to win the Gravity Enduro series overall in the Elites and the National Enduro Champs, they’re on the week I come back from the EWS race in Whistler.
As far as the future goes, I really want to get on a professional team with some big name Pros. I want to ride, train and learn as much as I can from them to help me develop into an Elite Pro rider myself.
Before moving up into the Pro Men category I want to win if not finish top three overall in the EWS Under 21 category and then hopefully move onto become a consistent top ten rider in Pro Men.
Aside from racing I'd really like to do some filming at some point and try make a proper edit. I'd really like to try push myself and make something that has the raw speed of a racer combined with some crazy lines, big hucks and tie in some big tricks as well.
