Paul Matthews won 70.3 Kansas and 5i50 Washington,DC this year and has been on the podium a few more times including a recent runner-up spot at Vineman 70.3 not far behind winner Andy Potts. He also finished 2nd at Boulder Peak 5i50, 3rd at 70.3 New Orleans and 4th at Rev3 Quassy. The consistent Aussie though is not yet done this season.

Slowtwitch: Paul, it looks like you are padding your resume nicely with a very solid run of results.

Paul: Yeah things have been going pretty well of late. I think consistency is one of my biggest attributes and the last few months I’ve been pretty consistent.

ST: At Vineman it was very close but Potts managed to get by you at the end.

Paul: Vineman was probably my best ever 70.3. I’ve won a few of them in the past but to put together a race like Sunday against that kind of field and for the race to come down to about the last 1km against the 2007 world 70.3 champion is a big thing for me. A huge confidence booster going into the big races in September.

ST: Looking back, do you think you could have done anything differently?

Paul: There's always things that you think you could have done better but I played it out today the way I saw it and the best way I thought I could win the race and I came up a touch short. Andy was the best athlete on the day. I'll go away now and work on the things I think need improving then come back (fingers crossed) a better athlete at the next race.

ST: With all the races on the calendar, what made you decide to race Vineman?

Paul: Originally I wasn’t planning on racing Vineman. I was going to do Lake Stevens in August as my 5th race but living in Santa Cruz I was only a 2.5 hour drive away from Windsor and I could knock out the qualification for worlds early and then settle back down in Santa Cruz and get a real good block of training done in preparation for September.

ST: So what is next?

Paul: Next is a 6-week training block with the Kiwi boys in Santa Cruz. Bevan Docherty, Dylan McNeice and Kris Gemmell, when he gets back in preparation for the big races of the season. I’ll race Chicago first after my training block to try and blow some cobwebs out, then hit Des Moines and Las Vegas with everything I’ve got.

ST: It seems you are one of the guys to really watch in Vegas. Are you ready to romp?

Paul: The plan is to be as fit as I possibly can be for it so I can give it my best shot. I’ve had a few people say to me that I should do an ironman but I really feel like I have unfinished business at 70.3 level and I want to achieve a few more goals at the 70.3 level before I move up to Ironman and hopefully I can achieve a few of them when Vegas comes around this year.

ST: How much do you think the race will change from previous editions in Clearwater, or do you think the course change won't matter much?

Paul: I think the race will be a lot different this year. The Trek/K-Swiss team went and looked over the course back in may and it is going to be a super hard, hot race! You won’t have guys running out of transition at 5 minutes or under pace in Vegas. Or if someone does I would be very surprised to see them at the pointy end of the field at the end of the race. You’re going to have to be a super strong swimmer being a non-wetsuit swim. You’ll have to be a super strong rider because the course is up and down the whole time. You’re going to have run super strong because the run is up and down as well. It is a great "triathletes" course. And if you don’t get your nutrition right, you’re going to be in big trouble towards the end of the race.

ST: Do you think you still are flying a bit under the radar?

Paul: Haha! I hope I’m still flying under the radar. I don’t like being the one in limelight. I like doing my thing with a minimum of fuss then heading home to relax.

ST: Maybe folks are just confused by that Barny versus Paul Matthews name thing.

Paul: They very well might be. Some people aren’t sure whether to call me Paul or Barny.

ST: Where does Barny come from, and more importantly, do you much care for the name?

Paul: I love the nickname. No one in Australia is called by their first name. I got the nickname back in 2001 when I made my first Australian Junior team. I’m from a small town of 6000 people called Murwillumbah just south of the Gold Coast. Everyone else in the team (which included Luke Mckenzie, Annabel Luxford and Nikki Butterfield) were from cities and I was from a country town. So they thought if you come from a country town like Murwillumbah you must live on a farm. If you live on a farm you must live in a barn and Barny stuck like glue. Aussies have a whacky sense of humor!! Haha. For the record I’ve never lived on a farm or in a barn!!!

ST: Are there any Aussie Pro triathletes you know who don’t have a nickname?

Paul: I really don't know any without a nickname. Even most of the girls have nicknames. Nikki Butterfield has the best one!

ST: Do share.

Paul: You'll have to ask her!

ST: We'll ask her, but now back to you. You spend quite a bit of time in the USA, is that just simpler because of the race schedule or are there other reasons?

Paul: I spent most of my time in Australia. Rach (girlfriend) and I own a unit in a little coastal town called Casuarina just south of the Gold Coast. I live there with Rach and her 8-year old son Jaylan or J-dog!! There are not really many races at home to make money at, so like so many other Aussies you have to either be in America or Europe. I did the Europe thing when I was younger and I love being in America. I only have 2 Australian sponsors, Cube Home Loans and Oakley Australia, so being in America makes sense.

ST: With so many Aussies here in the US, maybe it doesn't feel so far from home?

Paul: Yeah, there are so many Aussies over here it almost feels like home. In Boulder I mainly hang out with Stephen "Wombat" Hackett and Craig "Crowie" Alexander, so we just chew the fat and talk about Australian rugby league all the time. Now I’m in Santa Cruz with the Kiwi boys it’s all about making Kiwi jokes. Aussies and Kiwis are brothers in arms so I love being here and training with them.

ST: It must be good to be an Aussie right now all these great results happening. But here comes the trick question, do you root for Cadel in the Tour because he is an Aussie, or the Schlecks because they ride Treks like you?

Paul: Hahahahaha, I've been asked this question a few times over the last 2 weeks. A very tricky one but if you cut me I bleed green and gold! It would be amazing if Cadel can pull the win off. The more cycling and triathlon is in the mainstream media in Australia the better. Hopefully it brings a lot more awareness to cyclists on the road, which is a good thing for everyone. Fingers crossed Cadel wins and Frank and Andy come 2nd and 3rd. That would be the ideal scenario!

ST: Word has it that you dislike airports, but doesn't that make your job a bit more difficult?

Paul: People say you must love getting to travel all the time but I hate airports, hate sitting on the planes. I love it when I get to where I’m going and I get to stay in one spot. When I get home and have some time off I love not doing anything or going anywhere. I get annoyed when I have to sit in the car longer than 10 minutes. I don’t know how people live in cities and commute for hours on end. I’m a country boy at heart and always will be!

ST: Any other gripes you would like to share?

Paul: Haha, I’m not an angry man. I’m a lover not a fighter, but I do hate it when people don’t use their indicators in their cars especially when I’m riding.

ST: When folks don’t use the turn signals, do you turn into a fighter then?

Paul: Yeah I do, especially if they put my life in any sort of danger by them not using their indicators.

ST: Is all well in the sponsor world?

Paul: My sponsorship world is all good. Being on the Trek/K-Swiss team was a dream come true for me. The belief that Erik and Ben from K-Swiss and Nick from Trek have shown in me has been unbelievable and can’t thank them enough. I swim in the best wetsuit - Blueseventy, ride the fastest bike - Trek Speed Concept and run in the best shoes going around with K-Swiss. Add to the list Cube Home Loans, Bontrager, SRAM, GU, Cycleops, NUUN, Oakley

ST: Anything else we should know?

Paul: I’m a massive St George Illawarra Dragons fan. They’re a rugby league team at home. We’re going for our second premiership in a row this year. I have to get up at 2.30am on the weekends when I’m over here to watch them play!! I also have had so many people help me get to where I am today. Too many to name on here but thank you for all your input and belief!!


The website for Paul Matthews is paulmatthews.com.au