Ryan Sissons finished out 2010 with a U23 runner-up spot at the ITU Dextro Energy WCS Finals in Budapest and is one of the contenders for a spot on the Kiwi Olympic team. He had a few words with slowtwitch.
Slowtwitch: Ryan, where are you right now?
Ryan: I am currently 1515 meters up a mountain at Snowfarm, Wanaka, NZ catching up on some altitude training!
ST: Where were you when the earthquake hit?
Ryan: I was at home in Auckland, actually on the phone to another triathlete who was in his home in Christchurch sitting in the doorway of his shaking house!
ST: Do you have relatives and friends in Christchurch?
Ryan: I have no family in Christchurch, but the NZ Triathlon High Performance program is based there, so I knew a lot of athletes, coaches and support staff who were all there, but luckily all alive.
ST: There seems to be quite an interest from around the world to help out New Zealand. Is that something that is actually felt there?
Ryan: Yeah there is a lot of support from around the world all helping out and doing what they can to get Christchurch back together. To be honest it is a mess, some of the athletes went back a few days ago and said its unreal the damage and devastation it has caused, and with continuous aftershocks it is not great!
ST: On a more pleasant note, at the recent Takapuna race you finished 3rd behind Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemmell. Your thoughts?
Ryan: Yeah is was a good solid race, didn’t swim as well as I had hoped and this meant Kris and Bevan got away on the bike early on, but overall was still happy to run well and finish 3rd behind those two!
ST: Not being up there to contest for the win, were you hoping Kris Gemmell would take it?
Ryan: Yeah I train with Kris a lot and we have the same coach, Chris Pilone, so I know what training he's been doing and I knew he was fit. But it is always a tough call when it is the first race of the season. To be honest I think it was anybody's race however Bevan managed to have a better sprint on this day!
ST: You grabbed the runner-up spot at the U23 finals in Budapest behind Jonathan Brownlee. That wasn't a bad way to close out the season.
Ryan: It certainly was a great way to finish off the season but it was a breakthrough I needed after having some average races during the season I need to prove myself somehow, and was happy to make it count and grab a silver medal at world champs!
ST: What is on your schedule for this year?
Ryan: This year is all about qualifying for the Olympic Games in London 2012. So everything I do it going to be based around making sure that when I get to the first qualifying race in August I am in the best possible shape! However I will be racing most of the World Championship Series races on this year's circuit.
ST: So all focus on London 2012?
Ryan: It sure is, I know its possible, I just have to be smart and do the training and racing I need to do all moving me towards being in great shape for London.
Ryan: Its got to be double Olympic medalist Bevan Docherty as well as Kris Gemmell and then a healthy list of other Kiwi boys. It is going to be tough, but the competition is healthy and I am looking forward to battling it out over the upcoming season!
ST: Who are some of the other Kiwis we should look out for?
Ryan: Tony Dodds, Clark Ellice would be the two main people I would pick as ones to rattle it up.
ST: What are your thoughts on Macca announcing that he'll attempt to go for a spot on the Aussie team?
Ryan: I think its great - will be good to see how he goes!
ST: Do you think Macca will make that team?
Ryan: Well to be honest, I am not really sure.... but to run even a sub 32min off a surging bike and super fast swim is pretty tough, and to do this within a year to make the team will be even harder. Will be good to see if he can do it!
ST: Any race you look particularly forward to this year?
Ryan: I'm looking forward to Sydney and London WCS this year, and both for different reasons! Sydney because it a perfect opportunity to see how the form if and what I need to do, and London because if all goes well, I could be in the London 2012 Olympic team!
ST: What is going on in terms of sponsors
Ryan: I have great sponsors, always there when I need them and always supporting me. Brooks ensure I am running injury free and well presented, Blueseventy ensure I make that front pack out of the swim, Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain keep me well fed, Oakley protects my eyes in style, and DHL getting what I need where I need it!!
ST: Tell us about your diet.
Ryan: To be honest... I have a bit of a sweet tooth! I pretty big on desserts, lollies, chocolate and ice cream!! I do also eat good healthy food and I make sure the body gets what it needs, but I am not a healthy food freak! Favorite pre race food is pizza, topped off with a crème brulee dessert!!
ST: What music do you like?
Ryan: I love dance music, I go to bed listening to it, have it as my alarm tone to wake up, train to it, relax to it, live with it!!
ST: What was the last book you read?
Ryan: I don’t really read much... I started Lance Armstrong’s book "Its not about the bike" in October 2009... and I still haven’t finished it! I do what to try read a bit more, however I prefer to sleep than read... but lets hope I finish that book in 2011!
ST: Is there anything else we should know about you?
Ryan: Yeah probably.... I like to sleep a lot and I can sleep anywhere. I usually miss take off and landings on long haul flights as well as all the food, kinda sucks but then at least the flights go fast!
ST: With all the sleeping you enjoy, maybe you should get a mattress / pillow sponsor.
Ryan: Mate, this sounds like a great idea, why didn't I think of this! I think this could be my next big sponsor!!
