Friday, November 22Sports. Travel. Events

Sport + Travel Interview: Sam Sunderland, Dakar Rally winner

In 2017 Sam Sunderland became the first British Dakar Rally Champion in the history of the race. As his Red Bull profile states, he has “shredded the tracks and trails of the British motocross scene since he was seven years old”.

With talent at such an early age, Sam was seemingly destined to vanquish the world’s toughest rally. Having overcome the many challenges thrown at him, including injury, his appetite for the thrills, spills and exhilaration his career provides, seems undimmed. Sports Tourism Media co-editor Ramy Salameh spoke to Sam about his Sports Travel life.

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What was your most memorable sporting holiday and why?

Andorra, it was really cool for me to discover this small country in between France and Spain with so much to offer, I first went in the winter and it was one of the first times I have been for a real snow holiday. I had a mad time, skiing and hiking and did quite a lot of cross country skiing with the skins on the bottom of the skis, which I loved, it kind of gave you that same feeling of getting to the top of a hike but you could enjoy the ski down! Also this small country is full of amazing restaurants which is important for any holiday.

What was the best worldwide rallying location that you had a chance to compete at and why?

Brazil, We raced for 8 days through all these crazy terrains paddling through rivers and feeling like we were in the middle of the jungle throughout the race, until the last day when we arrived at Belo Horizonte and it felt like we had ridden straight out of the jungle into a melting pot of hustle and bustle, proper city life full of culture and craziness.

If you could choose one adrenaline or adventure activity to do on holiday what would it be and where?

Freediving/Spearfishing – I love the ocean and got into Freediving while living in Dubai. Shortly after that I got into spearfishing; I love the idea of only taking from the ocean only what you want to eat that night instead of casting a rod out and seeing what turns up. I really love the self-control it takes to hold your breath and dive down to the depths and search for fish, I’ve always wanted to go to one of these amazing places I see on some Instagram pages like the Ascension Island.

What’s the ultimate sporting tournament you would attend purely as a fan and/or spectator and why?

I really love Boxing so it would be cool to see a big fight. Also the Tour de France; I was lucky enough to fulfil that last year when the ASO invited me to ride a stage of the tour before the Peloton which was amazing and horrendous at the same time. It was 38-degrees and we had a 105km stage with almost 4000m plus to climb up the Iziord and Gallibier in South of France. It was a struggle but an amazing day with all the fans lining the mountain as we passed through, and all just hours before the main race. I remember being slightly concerned that I would be caught at one point.

Having participated in the Dakar Rally since 2012 in some truly inspiring places, what is your most treasured piece of ‘sports travel’ memorabilia?

For me it would have to be an obvious one, which is my Dakar trophy, because it has so much value and memories of all the things I went through and overcame to get it.

You must have travelled widely as a rally rider, does any specific country impress you through their ‘sport tourism’ offering (venues/ activities/ natural landscape)?

As mentioned before, for me it would have to be Andorra, there are a lot of sports guys there from pro-cyclists using the mountain climbs for training, to professional trials riders or downhill mountain-bikers and skiers, there is something for everyone there and I really love the mountain spirit. All the ski routes turn into downhill mountain-bike trails after the ski season and there is something blissful about taking the ski-lift to the top and just rolling down through perfect trails without needing to peddle too much.

For enquiries about Sam Sunderland contact centricsm.com

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