INSIDE THE PROS’ BIKES: JACKSON GOLDSTONE’S RACE-WINNING SANTA CRUZ V10 SETUP

In the world of downhill racing right now, we have the established stars, such as Greg Minnaar, Amaury Pierron, Danny Hart, Aaron Gwin, Loris Vergier, Loic Bruni, and a host of other familiar names, then we have the riders who are still in the process of rising to the top.

Of that second group, it’s hard to think of anyone with more promise than Jackson Goldstone, who isn’t even racing in the pro ranks yet. Only 18 years old, and smaller than most of the top pros, Jackson has one thing going for him. Even though he’s still in the 17–18 year-old class, he’s already beaten all the top pros’ times in two different World Cup events so far. He did it once in 2021, but that race seemed to have been a fluke. It was raining hard during the final event, and the course conditions got progressively worse when the fastest qualifiers in the Elite Men’s class came down the mountain, making the conditions about as muddy and slippery as they could get. The top-five Elite Men’s qualifiers ended up placing 50th, 60th, 25th, 58th and 57th out of the 62 men in the finals because of the conditions being so terrible. Nevertheless, Jackson beat all the Elite Men’s times in that event.

This year Jackson once again scored a better time than all the Elite Men in yet another World Cup downhill. This time, Jackson’s race was held in the morning when the dirt had more moisture, and the Elite Men had to race later in the day after the course had dried out and lost traction because of the dryness. The “hero dirt” of the morning had turned to dusty powder by the time the top Elite Men had to come down.

Still, Jackson rode the course faster that day than all the top downhill pros at the event, and that’s no easy task for anyone, under any course condition.

The MBA staff first met Jackson around 10 years ago at Whistler Bike Park, near Jackson’s hometown of Squamish, British Columbia. His dad had invited us to come out and see Jackson ride. We went out on one of the trails with them and shot some photos of Jackson that day. We were so impressed with his ability that we expected Jackson would probably become the top downhill rider in the world when he got older.

Jackson won’t be turning pro until 2023, but he’s already won the Junior Men’s Downhill World Championship title along with the World Cup title for the 17–18 Men.

Jackson’s dad told us, “He also was the IXS rookies champion for 2017–’18 and 2019. It’s the biggest race for kids below the World Cup level.”

There probably aren’t too many mountain biker racers today whose parents have the same level of experience as Jackson’s dad and mom, who have been riding with Jackson for years, teaching him everything they could. “I raced BMX and did freestyle in the ’80s,” Jackson’s dad told us, “and his mom took up BMX in 2010 and raced for a few years. I raced XC in the early 2000s but not very seriously.”

Besides his racing accomplishments, Jackson also won the Whip-Off Championships at both Crankworx Rotorua (in New Zealand) and Crankworx Innsbruck (in Austria).

Jackson is not only one of the fastest downhill riders in the world, he’s also one of the world’s best jumpers. Jackson has also said that he’d like to compete in the Red Bull Rampage someday. We expect we’ll be seeing him for many years to come. In some ways, he reminds us of another rider who was one of the most stylish jumpers and fastest downhill riders in the world when he was 18—Jackson’s Santa Cruz teammate, Greg Minnaar. We don’t know if Jackson will accomplish as much as Minnaar in the next 22 years, but we wouldn’t be too surprised if he does.

 

RIDER PROFILE:

Name: Jackson Goldstone

Nickname: Boost Bro

Age: 18

Birthdate: February 8, 2004

Birthplace: Squamish, British Columbia

Height: 5-foot-8

Weight: 140 pounds

Shoe size: 8

Helmet size: Medium

Waist: 28

Marital status: Single

Current home: Squamish

Car: Tacoma

Started racing or competing: 2010

Turning pro: 2023

Racing/riding specialty: Downhill

Favorite course or riding area (North America): Squamish

Favorite course or riding area (Europe): Morzine

Favorite food: Pasta

Goals: 2022 World Champion and World Cup overall

Favorite movie: “Deadpool”

Favorite hobbies: Trail building

Jobs held (other than racer): None

Always takes on a trip: Sour Patch Kids

What you would be if you were not a racer: Freeride biker or skier

 

 

INSIDE THE PROS’ BIKES

Jackson Goldstone’s Santa Cruz V10

Jackson rides a mixed-wheel “mullet” setup with a 29-inch front wheel and a 27.5-inch rear wheel.

Frame: Santa Cruz V10 Carbon Large

Fork: Fox 40 Factory GRIP2, custom tune, 69–71psi, three volume spacers. LSC-8 HSC-6 LSR-7 HSR-7 from closed.

Tires: Maxxis Assegai DH MaxxGrip 29×2.5-inch front; DHR2 DH MaxxGrip 27.5×2.4-inch rear. Between 22/24 psi–25/27 psi, depending on conditions.

Sealant: Reserve sealant, 60–100ml depending on race or practice wheels.

Tire inserts: N/A 

Rims: Reserve 31DH With NAWAtech

Spokes: DT Swiss Comp 2/1.8/2mm steel, Sapim 18mm, brass nipples

Front hub: Chris King

Rear hub: Chris King

Rear axle width: 157mm

Brakes: Shimano Saint, 203mm rotors

Handlebars: Burgtec RideWide carbon DH 30mm rise, 35mm clamp, cut to 785mm

Grips: ODI Elite Pro

Bottom bracket and bearings: Shimano Saint

Pedals: Crankbrothers Mallet DH

Crank: Shimano Saint 165mm

Chainring: Shimano Saint 36T

Shifter: Shimano Saint

Rear derailleur: Shimano Saint

Rear cassette: Shimano Ultegra 11-25 10 speed.

 

 

Chain: Shimano HG95 10-speed. Changed each race unless damaged before.

Chain lube: WD40, wet or dry, depending on conditions.

Saddle: Burgtec Cloud

Seatpost: Burgtec Xpress carbon

Headset: Chris King Buzzworks -8mm reach adjust.

Shock: Fox DHX2, 450-pound spring, 250x75mm, custom tuned.

LSC-4 HSC-4 LSR-8 HSR-5 from closed.

Stem: Burgtec direct-mount, 45mm reach.

Carbon or titanium bolts: Titanium frame and fork bolts from Pro-Bolt.

Extras: Shimano Saint chainguide and bash guard; VHS chain slap tape.

Head angle: 62 degrees.

Seat tube angle: “Don’t sit down.”

Bottom bracket height: 349mm

Weight of complete bike: Around 17.5kg (38.6 pounds)

Estimated value of bike: “Hard to estimate with all the custom and one-off bits, but probably somewhere in the $20,000 range.”