You know, I have been at this game a long long time. Longer than some of you have even been alive. I've done my fair share of racing, Cross Country, Downhill, CycloCross and now Enduro..the only discipline I have never podiumed in has been CX. I've been National Champ at least once in each of the other disciplines.
But the big thing for me since I began this journey was getting people in to the sport. I am attached in some form or another to every member of EPIC, its safe to say I personally asked every single one to join. I'm also pretty sure I can remember every single high point of every member , I can recall the first time I thought " they are going to be a deadly rider ! "
My methods have always been unconventional, the only leadership training I ever recieved was way back in '81 at the hands of some really brutal Sergeants and Corporals in the Irish Army..it was tough going and weakness and failure as a unit just wasn't tolerated.
Thats where I learned that you are only as strong as the Team around you. No one person was more important than another and its also where I first realised I could spot talent.
Its fair to say that I never allowed a person in to EPIC that I didnt think would one day make a podium. Some of you have realised that potential, some of you through no fault of your own except maybe a lack of belief in yourselves have yet to get there.
I admit that sometimes I have crossed the line with my particular motivational methods, generally I bully and goad people but I have used my charm on occasion, some people respond better to terrorism than others.
But ultimately all I have ever wanted to do was release the potential in people. I'm a big fan of people, always have been, I never met a person I didn't like initially, it probably took a couple of spins for me to dislike them.
Some people have gained hugely from being in EPIC, some have turned out to be ungrateful and forgetful some have become really close friends.
I do not apologise if I offended any of you , if you are , big f*ckin deal, everyone of you now has a big gang of people you can call friends, a sport you can be proud to be part of and some of you have even found the loves of your lives.
I've worked hard to be bitter about some of the comments I've heard said about me behind my back lately but it doesnt really happen for me, I am what I am, some people have forgotten that. I am only human after all , contrary to what people might think I am not made of stone and I can be hurt..I've made a lot more friends than I have lost , way more but even losing one has taken its toll on me..
I should have resigned after the Blast Debacle, to be honest I have never recovered from that one. Sean was my friend for over 20 years and he ended up stabbing me squarely in the back over the Blast..told a total lie about what my intentions were, people I trusted believed him and I have struggled since then to come back from that. I havent, I am many things , not all of them good but I am not a liar. I have definitely made the mistake of thinking because I made a thing , I am owed some loyalty from it..at least , thats what I believed in and
I could go on, as I like to talk..but the point is, I have decided to resign as President and as a member of EPIC , the NPS will be my last EPIC Event .Being President of EPIC has been soured for me and I cannot continue as the main man. I am disappointed that some people decided to forget where they came from..I have never forgotten the man who told me at age 7 that I was going to be a deadly footballer, the man who told me I was a brilliant paddler at age 15 or the guy who shook my hand at 20 and told me I was a legend of a Climber. I got an award last year from the Outdoor Community for being the person most dedicated to getting people in to the Outdoors but only people who came to vote for me from EPIC were Carol and Max Power, each of you can without a doubt remember at least one time when I was there for you. I obviously have to look out for myself. Its been great though from the hilarious early spins when the deadliest of you all was Damo.. to now when we have more National Champions than any other Club. Well done and thanks for the good times.
Richie
But the big thing for me since I began this journey was getting people in to the sport. I am attached in some form or another to every member of EPIC, its safe to say I personally asked every single one to join. I'm also pretty sure I can remember every single high point of every member , I can recall the first time I thought " they are going to be a deadly rider ! "
My methods have always been unconventional, the only leadership training I ever recieved was way back in '81 at the hands of some really brutal Sergeants and Corporals in the Irish Army..it was tough going and weakness and failure as a unit just wasn't tolerated.
Thats where I learned that you are only as strong as the Team around you. No one person was more important than another and its also where I first realised I could spot talent.
Its fair to say that I never allowed a person in to EPIC that I didnt think would one day make a podium. Some of you have realised that potential, some of you through no fault of your own except maybe a lack of belief in yourselves have yet to get there.
I admit that sometimes I have crossed the line with my particular motivational methods, generally I bully and goad people but I have used my charm on occasion, some people respond better to terrorism than others.
But ultimately all I have ever wanted to do was release the potential in people. I'm a big fan of people, always have been, I never met a person I didn't like initially, it probably took a couple of spins for me to dislike them.
Some people have gained hugely from being in EPIC, some have turned out to be ungrateful and forgetful some have become really close friends.
I do not apologise if I offended any of you , if you are , big f*ckin deal, everyone of you now has a big gang of people you can call friends, a sport you can be proud to be part of and some of you have even found the loves of your lives.
I've worked hard to be bitter about some of the comments I've heard said about me behind my back lately but it doesnt really happen for me, I am what I am, some people have forgotten that. I am only human after all , contrary to what people might think I am not made of stone and I can be hurt..I've made a lot more friends than I have lost , way more but even losing one has taken its toll on me..
I should have resigned after the Blast Debacle, to be honest I have never recovered from that one. Sean was my friend for over 20 years and he ended up stabbing me squarely in the back over the Blast..told a total lie about what my intentions were, people I trusted believed him and I have struggled since then to come back from that. I havent, I am many things , not all of them good but I am not a liar. I have definitely made the mistake of thinking because I made a thing , I am owed some loyalty from it..at least , thats what I believed in and
I could go on, as I like to talk..but the point is, I have decided to resign as President and as a member of EPIC , the NPS will be my last EPIC Event .Being President of EPIC has been soured for me and I cannot continue as the main man. I am disappointed that some people decided to forget where they came from..I have never forgotten the man who told me at age 7 that I was going to be a deadly footballer, the man who told me I was a brilliant paddler at age 15 or the guy who shook my hand at 20 and told me I was a legend of a Climber. I got an award last year from the Outdoor Community for being the person most dedicated to getting people in to the Outdoors but only people who came to vote for me from EPIC were Carol and Max Power, each of you can without a doubt remember at least one time when I was there for you. I obviously have to look out for myself. Its been great though from the hilarious early spins when the deadliest of you all was Damo.. to now when we have more National Champions than any other Club. Well done and thanks for the good times.
Richie