Canuck Crosscast

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Conversations and life as aspiring (but not-quite) world class pro cyclocross racers. From fall adventures and UCI races across North America, to dream Christmas dreams shivering in muddy vans in cyclocross heartland of Belgium, Jenn Jackson and Michael van den Ham tell tales about the ‘cross racing you don’t see on TV, dig into how they differ from the best, share their respective journey’s to reach the next level, and the Canadian CX scene in general.

Michael van den Ham


    • Oct 13, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 52m AVG DURATION
    • 25 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Canuck Crosscast

    Episode 25: Cross is Back (again) and better than ever

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2022 55:30


    Rebooted for 2022, we dive into the early season USCX races where Michael has been chasing podiums, and Jenn hits the local Cross on the Rock event for her first cyclocross'ing since the 2019 season. Now in the swing of things, cross and the podcast chats are very much BACK™

    Episode 24: Podoralls

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 55:10


    That's Podium-Overalls for those not in the know. Jenn and Michael finally catch up about the last month of racing, talk about Enduros. And then Jenn goes and gets a podium at said Enduro and the Podcast moves to 2/2 for pre-hyping big Jenn results. 

    Episode 23: Paris to Ancaster and Fayetteville US Cups

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 54:06


    No longer just waxing theory of being fast, Michael and Jenn actually capitalized on some good form and tactical racing to land podium finishes at Paris to Ancaster and the cross country US Cups in Fayetteville. 

    Episode 22: Mountain Bike World Cup and big bike nerd talk is BACK!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2022 54:05


    Fresh off the first round of the cross country mountain bike World Cup in Petropolis Brazil, Jenn and Michael break things down: tactics, race mindset, conditions, the course, and optimizing equipment setup for the track. We also discuss Michael's Sea Otter XC(?) race and bike choice, look ahead to yet another competition in Fayetteville Arkansas, and contemplate our social media strategies as pro athletes. 

    Episode 21: Worlds Catchup w/ Gosse van der Meer

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2022 34:33


    We set out with the best intentions of talking all about Worlds, Jenn's new team in a big, hour long episode. But sometimes you talk for an hour before you start recording and run out of time. That sometimes was this time. Still, we had a great chat with Gosse about Worlds, National Teams (and whether we should race in trade team kits) and do really terrible job talking about Jenn's move to the Canyon MTB team. 

    Episode 20: Chatting with CXHairs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2022 63:31


    North American cyclocross friend Bill Schieken (@CXHairs) joins us to talk about Canadians crushing it in Europe, why it seems to be "clicking" for more young riders, some predictions for the Fayetteville World Championships and lots of anticipation about the battles to come and the course itself, and the weather (because we're Canadian). We also dub Michael eternal CX National Champion.

    Episode 19: Kersteperiode and a little Mailbagging

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2021 62:35


    We catch up to talk about the first chunk of Kersteperiode, the best races so far, why the Dutch and Belgians are so dang good at Cyclocross, and answer a few mailbag questions. Enjoy!

    Episode 18: Pan Ams Adventure and Training in the Cold

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 51:01


    This we talk about lots of things! From Michael's crazy adventure to get to the Pan Am Championships to how to train for something (like Canadian CX Nats) when you live in a less than ideal climate. Check it out!

    Episode 17: Canadian CX Nationals Postponment

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2021 50:55


    Michael and Jenn discuss today's news of Nationals being postponed until January due to the flooding and state of emergency across BC, what it means for us and our chances. Other topics we chat about include climate change, Aldergrove CX, why it is easier to cheer for van der Haar as the little guy than Iserbyt, Koksijde World Cup predictions, global and natural disasters seeming to save Jenn's seasons, fireplace repairs and riding in the snow for cx skills. 

    Episode 16: Surviving World Cup cyclocross stage racing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 58:44


    What does it take to survive 5 races and 5000km of racing in one week? Michael has returned from the battlefield and shares some stories about the World Cup Epic, reflects on where's he's doing better and where he still needs to improve while Jenn continues to procrastinate her return to cyclocross but shares her return to racing plans and some insights on the Nationals course. 

    Episode 15: Real European Cyclocross Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2021 52:28


    Gosse van der Meer joins the show! Gosse flew in for Roanoke and, as he puts it, “doesn't have a ticket back”. We chat to Gosse about racing in the US, travelling, plus how both the Bass Pro Shop and Hooters didn't quite live up to the hype. 

    Episode 14: Rochester and XC Nationals - we went fast!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 59:57


    Michael and Jenn catch up after racing Rochester and MTB Nationals. Why do some races “just happen”, how our seasons are starting and ending, racing headspace, National Champs kit and Crocs(?)…

    Episode 13: Pep Talk Your Way to Winning Nationals

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2021 66:06


    We recored this Wednesday. Jenn was having a tough second half to her season, but then turned it all around and won her first MTB nationals on Friday after our guest, Zach from the CX Hairs bulletin, reminds her of how awesome she is. Coincidence? We think not. We also talk about Chris Blevins, what athletes need to do to make the sport more interesting, and #crossbeef. It's a good one, so tune in. 

    Episode 12: #CrossisBack

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2021 63:01


    We 100% meant to do a regular summer podcast, but then we didn't. So here we are just a little past #crossiscoming and half a step from #crossishere. We talk lot's of things; pre-season predictions, life as a mid-pack World Cup racer, how to cram for CX. The gambit really. Have fun!

    Episode 11: The Cross is for Cross Country

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2021 64:21


    We’re back! After a bit of a hiatus, Jenn and Michael are back in Episode 11 to talk all about the Cross Country, Jenn’s recent races at the World Cups, the Olympic Selection, and more.

    Episode 10: Catching up with Ruby West after Worlds

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2021 60:32


    This episode we have Ruby on for second time to talk about World’s, her season, the newly released World Cup Calendar, and goats.

    Episode 9: Sidney McGill talks about CX Worlds and her Belgian Trip

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2021 44:17


    We had the chance to get in a call with the Canadian U23 Women’s Champion, Sidney McGill, and chat about her 2-month long European trip, the last couple races, and the upcoming World Championships.

    Episode 8: Listener Mail Bag #1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2021 78:02


    With a bit of a lull between World Cup Rounds, we decided that is was time for our first mailbag episode. Everything from talking about gym work to getting into the sport to a surprisingly deep conversation about why we race. Anyways, here it is in it’s full unedited version.

    Episode 7: Baal, Hulst, and the end of Michael’s Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2021 46:52


    Michael is back in Canada and in quarantine as he and Jenn catch up about the final two races of the season, spend some time talking about the mental training stress of the year, and make some very early World predictions.

    Episode 6: Kersteperiode with Rebecca Fahringer

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2020 45:09


    Jenn and Michael are joined by another guest, Rebecca Fahringer, to chat about the absolute craziness that is this very muddy (and at times controversial) Kerstperiode.

    Episode 5: The Hardest Track of the Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 44:15


    It’s late December. It’s almost Christmas. That can only mean one thing, the busiest week of cyclocross is here - Kersteperiode. In this episode Michael and Jenn and joined by Easton-Giant Mechanic, Avery Gervais to talk about the iconic Namur race.

    Episode 4: Gavere w/ Ruby West

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2020 29:24


    It’s episode 4! We are joined by fellow Canadian ‘Crosser Ruby West to tell all about the stories that you didn’t see on TV after Ruby and Michael finished up racing a very hard and muddy Gavere race.

    Episode 3: Made it to Europe!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2020 40:15


    Michael made it to Europe and is getting ready for his first race on Sunday. Plus, he and Jenn chat about what Christmas Cross normal looks like for the Canadian crew, muse about pre-riding and energy expenditure, and try to learn how to clap at the same time.

    Episode 2: Jumping Right Into Racing

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2020 45:40


    Michael is just two weeks away from heading to Europe for the super abbreviated CX season, so he and Jenn talk about the challenges of heading over without any racing, what she learned from her trip for the MTB World Cups and Worlds, and why Michael shouldn’t be nearly as worried about his form as he is.

    Welcome to Canuck Crosscast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 39:33


    The Canuck Crosscast. A place for the cyclocross related ramblings from two CX Pros - Michael van den Ham and Jenn Jackson. In the first episode, Jenn and Mike introduce the the podcast, talk Jamarketcross, reminisce about the Sven days, ponder who the best runner in CX is, and generally just catch up about ‘cross.

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