Vital MX Forum QNA: Colton Haaker

Related:
Forum QNA
Colton Haaker
GuyB
Profile picture for user GuyB
Posts
35722
Joined
7/10/2006
Location
Aliso Viejo, CA, USA
GuyB
Edited Date/Time 4/10/2017 4:41pm


This week's guest in the Vital MX forum QNA is Colton Haaker. If you've seen his recent Heater video, you know Colton is a bad dude on a dirt bike, and that's before you start checking off items like the Superenduro World Championship he scored last year, or the way he's been tearing up the Endurocross series this year aboard his Rockstar Husqvarna. Needless to say, he's got some skills.

Bring your best questions for Colton, and he'll be peeking in here this week to answer them. As always, keep it respectful, and ask questions that you would like in a face-to-face meeting.

If you want to see previous Vital MX Forum QNAs, click the Forum QNA tag. (See below.)



|
Ted722
Profile picture for user Ted722
Posts
4575
Joined
9/21/2011
Location
Sacramento, CA, USA
Ted722 10/11/2016 11:24am
10/11/2016 11:24am
Colton,
Congrats on your success and enjoying what you do. Tell us a little about yourself before your name started showing up in the results pages.

When did you start riding? Was your first race an off-road event or mx?

You're originally from Nor-Cal, any cool stories from the local scene like riding the upper ranch at Hollister HIlls OHV or Clear Creek after a rain, or any other local areas where you crafted your skills.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ted
colintrax
Profile picture for user colintrax
Posts
4695
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Taylorsville, GA, USA
colintrax 10/11/2016 11:33am
10/11/2016 11:33am
Thanks for coming on here Colton.

I have 2 questions for ya;
First, I was at the Atl endurocross this year. There was a tight left hand turn over a big log, into a smaller log, and then jumping into the pond. You and the other title contenders were hitting that smaller log so damn fast by pulling a wheelie and letting it slam down the front wheel. Yall made it look easy. However lots of other guys were trying to do the same thing, but they frequently got their feet knocked off the pegs, or just got squirrely. They made it look dangerous at best. So my question is, how do you do that so flawlessly? Is it technique, practice, or just better bike/setup?
Second, the track this year was a little boring. Do riders have any say in the track designs? If not, what would you like to see more or less of?

Thanks again!
JW381
Profile picture for user JW381
Posts
10638
Joined
7/21/2009
Location
Harrisburg, OR, USA
JW381 10/11/2016 12:12pm
10/11/2016 12:12pm
What's scarier, a big jump, or a big rock hop (not sure what you trials folk call em)?

Thanks and keep it up!
Braap19
Profile picture for user Braap19
Posts
257
Joined
8/8/2016
Location
Swansboro, NC, USA
Braap19 10/11/2016 1:13pm
10/11/2016 1:13pm
Exactly how big are you nuts? Must have a problem finding pants to fit. You are the man.

The Shop

See All »
Matt Fisher 10/11/2016 1:58pm
10/11/2016 1:58pm
Colton, have you ever considered racing a supercross or motocross national? I would presume that a really technical track would be right up your alley, as long as whoop sections could be mastered. Win one of those and you're instantly in the running as "The greatest all-around dirt bike rider in the world". Regardless, watching you ride is really amazing, thanks for sharing your skill-set with us.
MONSTER! MONSTER! 10/11/2016 2:03pm
10/11/2016 2:03pm
Would you rather fight one horse sized duck or 100 duck sized horses?
Langhammx 10/11/2016 3:04pm
10/11/2016 3:04pm
MONSTER! MONSTER! wrote:
Would you rather fight one horse sized duck or 100 duck sized horses?
Finally posted after lurking for almost 5 years. Shocked


I gotta say, I've shown that new video to 30+ people in the last 24 hrs and EVERY SINGLE person was in awe. If I had 10% of your talent, I'd be happy.
And the 360 trick was something I used to do on my BMX bike back in the early 80's, there's not a chance in hell I'd ever try that on one of my dirt bikes. Congrats on the vid and thanks for including the out takes. It makes us all aware that you are still human !
Sully
Profile picture for user Sully
Posts
9471
Joined
8/24/2006
Location
JP
Sully 10/11/2016 4:00pm
10/11/2016 4:00pm
Matt Fisher wrote:
Colton, have you ever considered racing a supercross or motocross national? I would presume that a really technical track would be right up your alley, as...
Colton, have you ever considered racing a supercross or motocross national? I would presume that a really technical track would be right up your alley, as long as whoop sections could be mastered. Win one of those and you're instantly in the running as "The greatest all-around dirt bike rider in the world". Regardless, watching you ride is really amazing, thanks for sharing your skill-set with us.
I think this is going to be a recurring question in this thread. It would be awesome to see how you could do.

For my question: Do you have any plans to do any other hard enduro races besides Erzberg? Like maybe the whole series?
Colton Haaker 10/11/2016 4:45pm
10/11/2016 4:45pm
Ted722 wrote:
Colton, Congrats on your success and enjoying what you do. Tell us a little about yourself before your name started showing up in the results pages...
Colton,
Congrats on your success and enjoying what you do. Tell us a little about yourself before your name started showing up in the results pages.

When did you start riding? Was your first race an off-road event or mx?

You're originally from Nor-Cal, any cool stories from the local scene like riding the upper ranch at Hollister HIlls OHV or Clear Creek after a rain, or any other local areas where you crafted your skills.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ted
Hey Ted, you have some good knowledge of the norcal scene obviously! Yeah started riding at 7 dad was an ISDE Gold medalist in the 80's. Grew up just going to Hollister Hills, Clear Creek, family trips to a lot to different riding areas. Really my dad took me wherever he was riding with his club The Los Altos Dirt Bikers. As I got older I got into more moto. I raced my first MX race at 12 at the Hollister GP track. By the time I was 15 I was racing 80s in the intermediate and expert classes in local mx AMP, GFI series and also doing some Youth District36 harescrambles as well. That same year pops took me to Mammoth Mountain I got a sixth overall in the 80 14-16 expert or something. Villopoto won... Quickly after that I had some injuries on a 125 mainly because I weighed a buck ten and parents said no more dirt bikes cause of an alarming amount of concussions. In highschool now, got some good grades dad got me a trials bike thinking that would still be fun but not as dangerous did that the next two years non stop. Like everyday all day non stop. Won the expert national championship and went pro the same year at 17. A month later I raced Las Vegas Endurocross on my trials bike shocking everyone with a 4th place finish.(the year Taddy won his first endurocross race and kept David Knight from a $50,000 triple crown prize) Since than I have been a regular Endurocross rider on a full size dirt bike was a Lucas Oil sponsored rider for years doing the series as a privateer, raced two mx nationals in 2010 finishing 24th OA at hangtown on a stock kx250f and 24th OA at Washougal in the 450s. This year I won the Super Enduro World Champioship in a thrilling last lap battle. And I am now currently leading the Endurocross series by 12 points with three rounds remaining!
Colton Haaker 10/11/2016 4:50pm
10/11/2016 4:50pm
colintrax wrote:
Thanks for coming on here Colton. I have 2 questions for ya; First, I was at the Atl endurocross this year. There was a tight left...
Thanks for coming on here Colton.

I have 2 questions for ya;
First, I was at the Atl endurocross this year. There was a tight left hand turn over a big log, into a smaller log, and then jumping into the pond. You and the other title contenders were hitting that smaller log so damn fast by pulling a wheelie and letting it slam down the front wheel. Yall made it look easy. However lots of other guys were trying to do the same thing, but they frequently got their feet knocked off the pegs, or just got squirrely. They made it look dangerous at best. So my question is, how do you do that so flawlessly? Is it technique, practice, or just better bike/setup?
Second, the track this year was a little boring. Do riders have any say in the track designs? If not, what would you like to see more or less of?

Thanks again!
Colintrax yeah so a lot of it is technique and some of it is bike set up. Ultimately its something we have practiced over the years. I remember the section your talking about and I was trying to wheelie and lift the background off the ground a bit to clear the log as best as possible. You know ATL was a weird place for Endurocross to start the series this year. I know that a lot of their materials from the race two years previous rotted and they had to make the track with less material then they anticipated. Ultimately each track has its difficult sections I think the tracks have been getting a little more race-able and fast paced!
Colton Haaker 10/11/2016 4:52pm
10/11/2016 4:52pm
JW381 wrote:
What's scarier, a big jump, or a big rock hop (not sure what you trials folk call em)?

Thanks and keep it up!
They both have their own scary factor and risk. Ultimately I think falling off a big rock even as bad as that one you mention went... the worst way possible to fall off. hahaha I think it is not as bad as casing a triple. the speed and impact of casinga triple and catapulting you over the bars is painful...
Colton Haaker 10/11/2016 4:53pm
10/11/2016 4:53pm
Braap19 wrote:
Exactly how big are you nuts? Must have a problem finding pants to fit. You are the man.
Its an everyday issue im sure you can relate to the struggle...
Colton Haaker 10/11/2016 4:59pm
10/11/2016 4:59pm
Matt Fisher wrote:
Colton, have you ever considered racing a supercross or motocross national? I would presume that a really technical track would be right up your alley, as...
Colton, have you ever considered racing a supercross or motocross national? I would presume that a really technical track would be right up your alley, as long as whoop sections could be mastered. Win one of those and you're instantly in the running as "The greatest all-around dirt bike rider in the world". Regardless, watching you ride is really amazing, thanks for sharing your skill-set with us.
Man I have MANY times! I have raced two MX nationals six years ago now. At 20 years old on a stock bike at Hangtown I finished 24th OA. I believe I could do alot better now because I am a much more complete racer now but the competition has gotten stiffer in the past couple years! SX I have practiced at Milestone Pala and Starwest I think I could do well at it but my risk vs reward side of my brain kicks in and its just not worth it. The commitment to train for it, building a SX track in my yard, geting the proper support basically giving up my factory off road contract with Husqvarna to chase SX would be too much with how high the chances are of injury and just plain not being good enough! Besides I'm getting old already at 27 my SX lifespan is just about over... =P
Colton Haaker 10/11/2016 5:04pm
10/11/2016 5:04pm
MONSTER! MONSTER! wrote:
Would you rather fight one horse sized duck or 100 duck sized horses?
Langhammx wrote:
Finally posted after lurking for almost 5 years. :ohmy: I gotta say, I've shown that new video to 30+ people in the last 24 hrs and...
Finally posted after lurking for almost 5 years. Shocked


I gotta say, I've shown that new video to 30+ people in the last 24 hrs and EVERY SINGLE person was in awe. If I had 10% of your talent, I'd be happy.
And the 360 trick was something I used to do on my BMX bike back in the early 80's, there's not a chance in hell I'd ever try that on one of my dirt bikes. Congrats on the vid and thanks for including the out takes. It makes us all aware that you are still human !
I really appreciate that! You know I have never done a 360 on anything but my dirtbike. Not a trials bike, a mountain bike, a BMX, scooter, hardly even just on my feet but something about it on my dirtbike just came naturally... I cant really explain it any better! Thank you for sharing the video I am stoked on the overwhelming positive responses I have gotten from it!
Colton Haaker 10/11/2016 5:07pm
10/11/2016 5:07pm
Matt Fisher wrote:
Colton, have you ever considered racing a supercross or motocross national? I would presume that a really technical track would be right up your alley, as...
Colton, have you ever considered racing a supercross or motocross national? I would presume that a really technical track would be right up your alley, as long as whoop sections could be mastered. Win one of those and you're instantly in the running as "The greatest all-around dirt bike rider in the world". Regardless, watching you ride is really amazing, thanks for sharing your skill-set with us.
Sully wrote:
I think this is going to be a recurring question in this thread. It would be awesome to see how you could do. For my question...
I think this is going to be a recurring question in this thread. It would be awesome to see how you could do.

For my question: Do you have any plans to do any other hard enduro races besides Erzberg? Like maybe the whole series?
I just recently purchased a house in Idaho so I can train for Erzberg and come back next year much better prepared! Beyond that I guarantee one day you will see me racing the whole series. I would say by the time I am 31 if I had to guess... Wink
Ted722
Profile picture for user Ted722
Posts
4575
Joined
9/21/2011
Location
Sacramento, CA, USA
Ted722 10/11/2016 5:54pm
10/11/2016 5:54pm
Hey, thanks for your responses! When you would ride with your buddies or your Dad (when you got older), was there a spot you liked to be on the trail/off-road (leader or follower)? I'd ride with some friends and would lead and with others I'd feel more comfortable running behind them.

Tell us about your mindset when leading (negotiating obstacles) versus seeing the leader do it. Have you taken buddies on some rides they weren't too happy about! (getting stuck, getting lost, breaking plastics, etc.) Wink
mxengineer1
Profile picture for user mxengineer1
Posts
67
Joined
9/17/2015
Location
Dublin, OH, USA
mxengineer1 10/11/2016 7:20pm
10/11/2016 7:20pm
Fantastic video! Your skills on a dirtbike are amazing! Congrats on winning the world title! Tell us about your bike - Husky FC350. What are some of the mods you make? Have you ridden or compared your 350 to the all new Husky TX300? What are the advantages of the 350 4-stroke vs the 300 2-stroke in Endurocross?
JM485
Profile picture for user JM485
Posts
5820
Joined
10/1/2013
Location
Davis, CA, USA
JM485 10/11/2016 8:47pm
10/11/2016 8:47pm
Awesome QnA so far, thanks for coming on board!

I've raced the amateur class in Sacramento for a few years now and I have a question about preparation. Now that the Sac round was nixed I'm going to make the drive down for the Ontario round, but I want to make sure I'm as ready as I can be. My local riding spot is Carnegie SVRA, not sure if you've ever been there but there are some pretty nasty areas if you hit the unmarked single track. I generally just practice by finding the worst stuff out in the hills to ride through that I can, but I still feel under prepared when I show up to race against the guys who race every round. My question is do you have any suggestions on how to prepare for those of us who don't have access to a track? Any specific techniques to practice out in the hills or the flats to help with riding an endurocross track? I mostly struggle with the matrix section (like everyone else), so that is my main area I need serious help in.Laughing

Sorry for the loaded question, but any quick tips would be greatly appreciated!

Pit Row

See All »
Squid_Flavor
Profile picture for user Squid_Flavor
Posts
4
Joined
10/11/2016
Location
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Squid_Flavor 10/11/2016 9:14pm
10/11/2016 9:14pm Edited Date/Time 10/11/2016 9:25pm
Hey breh, can you go into as much detail as possible regarding your training routine? Are you riding and working out every day? Any specific workout recommendations? What are you doing regarding fitness? Good luck out there...
Rowlands
Profile picture for user Rowlands
Posts
1706
Joined
2/4/2015
Location
GB
Rowlands 10/12/2016 12:51am
10/12/2016 12:51am
First off how do you like your surname to be prenounced ?

And how many attempts would you guesstimate it took you to master the 360, probably one of the the coolest thing I have seen on a dirtbike !

Keep ripping man !
hylo
Profile picture for user hylo
Posts
180
Joined
2/24/2015
Location
NO
hylo 10/12/2016 6:40am
10/12/2016 6:40am
I seriously envy your skills on a bike! It seems like you're good at everything!

What do you think about two strokes? It looks like they're a bit more competative in enduro.
Thank you for doing the QnA!
Colton Haaker 10/12/2016 7:05am
10/12/2016 7:05am
Ted722 wrote:
Hey, thanks for your responses! When you would ride with your buddies or your Dad (when you got older), was there a spot you liked to...
Hey, thanks for your responses! When you would ride with your buddies or your Dad (when you got older), was there a spot you liked to be on the trail/off-road (leader or follower)? I'd ride with some friends and would lead and with others I'd feel more comfortable running behind them.

Tell us about your mindset when leading (negotiating obstacles) versus seeing the leader do it. Have you taken buddies on some rides they weren't too happy about! (getting stuck, getting lost, breaking plastics, etc.) Wink
My dad always led the rides with me an his buddies. He always knows where he's going and knew the trails everywhere we went better than anyone else. Now I lead the rides Wink Most of the rides I take friends on they usually thrash. But I know what they are capable and I usually like to put them just a notch out of their comfort zone all the time makes it interesting! I have had a couple people completely freak out on me and just leave the trail ride though!
Colton Haaker 10/12/2016 7:13am
10/12/2016 7:13am
mxengineer1 wrote:
Fantastic video! Your skills on a dirtbike are amazing! Congrats on winning the world title! Tell us about your bike - Husky FC350. What are some...
Fantastic video! Your skills on a dirtbike are amazing! Congrats on winning the world title! Tell us about your bike - Husky FC350. What are some of the mods you make? Have you ridden or compared your 350 to the all new Husky TX300? What are the advantages of the 350 4-stroke vs the 300 2-stroke in Endurocross?
My FC350 has the WP cone valve forks, trax shock, a heavier flywheel, and some motor modifications that I do not know anything about but the ecu I have set up through testing and only thing else is basically my fmf pipe with the swooping header. Its a factory bike but nothing crazy on the modifications!
Colton Haaker 10/12/2016 7:20am
10/12/2016 7:20am
JM485 wrote:
Awesome QnA so far, thanks for coming on board! I've raced the amateur class in Sacramento for a few years now and I have a question...
Awesome QnA so far, thanks for coming on board!

I've raced the amateur class in Sacramento for a few years now and I have a question about preparation. Now that the Sac round was nixed I'm going to make the drive down for the Ontario round, but I want to make sure I'm as ready as I can be. My local riding spot is Carnegie SVRA, not sure if you've ever been there but there are some pretty nasty areas if you hit the unmarked single track. I generally just practice by finding the worst stuff out in the hills to ride through that I can, but I still feel under prepared when I show up to race against the guys who race every round. My question is do you have any suggestions on how to prepare for those of us who don't have access to a track? Any specific techniques to practice out in the hills or the flats to help with riding an endurocross track? I mostly struggle with the matrix section (like everyone else), so that is my main area I need serious help in.Laughing

Sorry for the loaded question, but any quick tips would be greatly appreciated!
I would build a matrix somewhere if you really wanted to get good at it. There is nothing like practicing the real thing. I wanted to be good at endurocross so I build the obstacles that endurocross may use and I make them as hard as possible. If you absolutely can no way get access to a track or build any of the obstacles on your own I have always ridden in natural terrain tracks in the hills with obstacles. Like say you find a spot with an off camber a couple down trees some sand and a rock or two I would link them together with corners and make it challenging and fun! Now that I think of it thats probably why this video turned out like it did I just built a larger scale track of my free ride natural terrain tracks with a bunch of obstacles and turns linking them together same that I always have done! Just this time I had heavy equipment! =P
Colton Haaker 10/12/2016 7:22am
10/12/2016 7:22am
Squid_Flavor wrote:
Hey breh, can you go into as much detail as possible regarding your training routine? Are you riding and working out every day? Any specific workout...
Hey breh, can you go into as much detail as possible regarding your training routine? Are you riding and working out every day? Any specific workout recommendations? What are you doing regarding fitness? Good luck out there...
I ride ALOT... I would love to work out everyday and I have in the past I have found that for me nothing as good for training as seat time. I do like mountain biking and road cycling and lifting weights though hopefully at least once a week to compliment my on the bike training!
Colton Haaker 10/12/2016 7:26am
10/12/2016 7:26am
You know probably the first day I landed one fully around on the honda it took maybe 10 to 15 tries.. I found a 180 to be extremely easy then the 270 was not too bad but thats a as far as I would get until you commit to going WAY WAY higher and farther. The commitment level goes way up for that last 90 degrees!
Colton Haaker 10/12/2016 7:30am
10/12/2016 7:30am
hylo wrote:
I seriously envy your skills on a bike! It seems like you're good at everything! What do you think about two strokes? It looks like they're...
I seriously envy your skills on a bike! It seems like you're good at everything!

What do you think about two strokes? It looks like they're a bit more competative in enduro.
Thank you for doing the QnA!
I love my two strokes I have a 300 usually all year and I own a 125. I try to ride them as much as my endurocross bike! I think the two stroke is the only way to go for really difficult Enduro mostly extreme stuff like erzberg. It has power from zero to 70 plus mph it wont overheat as easily doesnt stall as much but when it does it starts first kick, its light and nimble, it likes the nasty stuff for sure!
hylo
Profile picture for user hylo
Posts
180
Joined
2/24/2015
Location
NO
hylo 10/12/2016 9:22am
10/12/2016 9:22am
Colton Haaker wrote:
I love my two strokes I have a 300 usually all year and I own a 125. I try to ride them as much as my...
I love my two strokes I have a 300 usually all year and I own a 125. I try to ride them as much as my endurocross bike! I think the two stroke is the only way to go for really difficult Enduro mostly extreme stuff like erzberg. It has power from zero to 70 plus mph it wont overheat as easily doesnt stall as much but when it does it starts first kick, its light and nimble, it likes the nasty stuff for sure!
Thank you for the reply!
I think its great that enduro guys see the advantages a two stroke has and openly admits liking it. I wish more guys would see that.
What is the most challenging race you've had?
p0wn
Profile picture for user p0wn
Posts
214
Joined
5/19/2016
Location
Portland, OR, USA
p0wn 10/12/2016 9:39am
10/12/2016 9:39am
Do you have any ideas to grow the endurocross or hard enduro fanbase within the US?

I can't watch endurocross anywhere it's such a bummer. I loved watching the superenduro series on redbull.tv. It seems like it just hasn't caught on as much as in Europe. The promoters need to post videos online and get more fan engagement.

ehr400
Profile picture for user ehr400
Posts
2630
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Britton, MI, USA
ehr400 10/12/2016 10:29am
10/12/2016 10:29am
Been a fan for a few years now Colt. Kind of a small world but I work with your cousin here at Ford in Michigan, actually training him here this week.

What kind of suspension setup do you use? Really stiff forks like a SX type setup? How quick do you thrash a bike doing endurocross training?

Post a reply to: Vital MX Forum QNA: Colton Haaker