Interview with Wheatway Sponsored Athlete: Toby Hacker

If you’ve been following us on social media, you’ll have seen the fantastic season that Wheatway-sponsored rider, Toby Hacker, has been having! Although his first national race of the year might not have gone to plan, he made a rapid comeback, leading to the best race result of his riding career.

We caught up with Toby, in between building buckets, to talk about his racing career, the past season, and his goals for next year.

Can you tell us about what you do at Wheatway?

Day to day, I’m part of the build team at Wheatway. This means most of my time is spent building screening buckets, but I get involved with a bit of everything, really. Often, I’m helping out the fabrication team or driving the truck between our sites. I really enjoy getting stuck in with the different aspects of the job.

How do you balance your training and competition schedule with your role at Wheatway?

It definitely requires some planning. During the summer, I get more training in because there’s more daylight, and working compressed hours gives me so much more flexibility. It’s a physical job, which has its own challenges when it comes to racing, but I try not to let that stop me. A lot of it is about the mental game too.

How did your racing career begin?

I started riding bikes at the age of three, then got into motocross at four. I did my first MX enduro race when I was eleven and kept going until I was eighteen. I took a break because of other commitments, but when I was twenty, I picked up mountain biking and started racing a year later. Compared to motocross, it was so much easier to get out on the bike, and I just fell in love with the sport!

How has this season been going?

It’s been my most consistent season yet. I’ve made a lot of progress and hit fewer trees along the way. The goal this year was to crack the top 15 at Pearce and get onto the podium at a few of the smaller races. My first national race was probably the worst of the season, but my last MIJ race was the best. I was just four seconds off the podium, and I finished feeling really positive.

What have been the highlights of your racing career?

If I had a win under my belt, I’d probably say that. But the last MIJ race really stood out. It was the first time I could properly push myself without any injuries getting in the way.

What are your goals for next season, and how are you preparing?

There’s an exciting project in the works that will help me step up my training and conditioning. I’m also focusing on the mental side of things and aiming to improve both physically and emotionally. I’m determined to get on the podium, and this project will help me raise my game to a whole new level!

How has Wheatway supported your racing career?

The support from Wheatway has been a game-changer. I’ve been able to get to so many more events and race all over the country. They’ve also helped out with some projects on my van, which has made travel and weekend races much easier. I really couldn’t compete at the level I do without their support.

How do your colleagues at Wheatway support your athletic goals?

They’ve come out to cheer me on at races, which means a lot. There’s plenty of encouragement and even a bit of banter when I’ve been injured. The team have always been supportive during recovery too.

If you weren’t racing MTB, what other sport or activity would you pursue?

Probably motocross again, or maybe something more gym-focused. If not that, maybe something completely different like knitting. It would definitely still be something hands-on.

Any final thoughts?

I couldn’t thank Wheatway enough. Their support has taken a lot of pressure off and allowed me to really focus on progressing in the sport. It’s made a massive difference.