This is part two of my conversation with Thiago Lessa, if you have not listened to part one it is here

Straight up in the middle of my conversation with Thiago (half way through) he drops the "I'm not racing in 2019". Literally dropping the mic. You can almost hear me thinking, did he just say "I'm not racing next year"? I think the lack of my response surprised Thiago, he mentions it a few times, without a reaction from me. However, you have to remember I went into this interview thinking that he would ignore some of my questions or give me general answers, when you work so hard to be the best, you are not going to give away all your secrets...right?. But Thiago tells me everything, so I'm thinking why? And then it dawns on me, he has reached the top of the mountain, and no one is there, it is lonely at the top. We even talk about how he had no close finishes this year, he was there at the finish line, by himself. Thiago is a racer, a competitor, he loves downhill, loves hard work, he has a brand and business tied into the sport, so he wants it to grow, he wants racers to be faster and more competitive, more entertaining. He also wants another challenge, and I think having a year off, letting someone else be champion, then he can come back and beat them!

I have so much fun getting Thiago to relive his racing this year, fresh in his mind, we get into racing lines he took and his rules for successful racing.

He answers Bassi's question, in the Newtons final did he change lines on purpose, what was he doing?

The fear and cold of that wet South Korean final, and Dalua's reaction to waking up to rain on finals day (hint: "Dalua dont do rain" the one line he muttered to me at Newtons in 2010 when it rained)

Is Thiago unbeatable at Kozakov?

Is Adam Persson one of the craziest racers on tour?

How Thiago uses sound, and that Bassi has a distinct sound.

No crashing this year - because he pays attention - he knows what others are thinking

We talk about small racers - with Thiago and Pepe dominating racing, is it a new age for smaller riders?

"My tuck is the most special thing I have in downhill"

Thiago has 2 to 3 tucks. The Kozakov tuck is different to Killington tuck. His grab tuck is faster, B-tuck = hands open - he did this at Killington.

Why did Thiago fail at Kilington = becasue at qualifying he was going for record. He skated so much he cramped his leg, so the finals was a relax tuck.

We talk Power tuck vs Relax tuck.

Thiago wants to break speed record

How to get a good tuck

He is always improving his tuck

"A lot details makes a big difference"

He has a book - his bible - things that are important goes into the book - his list of items he needs to travel <- this is important = No wasting time.

Music Thiago plays on race day to get him in the mood



Biggie Smalls - it was all a dream

If Thiago does not race in 2019 who will win the world champion? Pepe? Josh?

How does a Brazilian become a great skater?

What makes Pepe stand out? Very few skaters have the will to keep going - it is constancy that is most important

How did Cuel find Nick Broms?

Sponsors

Two sponsors are: Cuei wheels and Hondar

The other brands support him with flow: Ronin trucks, Tacna Skate, Marley Skateboards, New Orders helmets

New helmet with Neworders - his model the Blackbird V2

Deck is Black Mamba - the Carlos pro model!

Why design and make your own wheels but not have a pro model board? He believes wheels is science but board design is art. This parallels my interview with Calvin Skinner where is says he is an artist, board design is art.

How does set up his deck? torque block and puts a layer of carbon to stiffin it up and a custom footstop.

Custom footstop: bar and a hook, made by Marley Skateboards

Lugi Maggi pro deck

Skaters talked about in this episode

Goal of breaking the speed record at

L'Ultime Descente - Top Speed Challenge

Max and Thiago raw run at Top Speed