How Jackson Goldstone Took the World Champs – A Mechanic’s Perspective

This week I’m joined by Ben Wood, aka Woody, the mechanic behind World Champion Jackson Goldstone. Woody gives us a rare look at life inside the pits at the very top of downhill racing, from the pressure cooker of World Cups to the calm precision of race day prep. We chat about everything from track walks and bike setup, to handling the emotional highs and lows that come with chasing podiums. And of course, we relive the unforgettable moment when Jackson claimed the rainbow stripes, and speculate about how the overall battle might play out. It’s a story of mindset, trust, and the unique bond between rider and mechanic that makes the difference when it matters most. So sit back, hit play, and enjoy this episode with Ben ‘Woody’ Wood. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here . You can follow Woody on Instagram @wmb149 . Podcast Stuff Supporting Partners Fox Racing This episode is supported by Fox Racing and they’ve just launched their ‘lit kit’ winning IMAGE Phantom collection. You can check out the range over at foxracing.com . Loam Pass Loam Pass are currently offering their 2026 pass, which enables you to access over 70 destination in North America for the bargain price of $250. This is the cheapest you’ll ever be able to buy the pass and you can get yours at this price from 1-14th Octcober right here – loampass.com . Patreon I would love it if you were able to support the podcast via a regular Patreon donation. Donations start from as little as £3 per month. That’s less than £1 per episode and less than the price of a take away coffee. Every little counts and these donations will really help me keep the podcast going and hopefully take it to the next level. To help out, head here . Merch If you want to support the podcast and represent, then my webstore is the place to head. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that’s using renewable energy. We now also have local manufacture for most products in the US as well as the UK. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop . Newsletter If you want a bit more Downtime in your life, then you can join my newsletter where I’ll provide you with a bit of behind the scenes info on the podcast, interesting bits and pieces from around the mountain bike world, some mini-reviews of products that I’ve been using and like, partner offers and more. You can do that over at downtimepodcast.com/newsletter . Follow Us Give us a follow on Instagram @downtimepodcast or Facebook @downtimepodcast to keep up to date and chat in the comments. For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast . Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to follow it. Episodes will get delivered to your device as soon as it’s available and it’s totally free. You’ll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/follow . You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo – Sven Martin