Cary Smith

I have been a huge fan of riding bikes for as long as I can remember. Three days in ICU as a five year old didn't dampen my passion. Neither did being at the US Naval Academy, where we weren't allowed to have bikes but I kept one hidden at the boat house so I could sneak out for a ride after crew practice.

I did my first mountain bike race in 1990 and have seen a lot of changes in the sport, mostly for the better. The athletes and bikes have improved by leaps and bounds over the years and it's been fun trying to keep up with the trends...and the youngsters!

I guess you could say my focus is on longer races, having had good success in 50-100 mile races as well as 24 hour races. But, I still enjoy all aspects of racing on dirt from short XC sufferfests to the latest craze of enduro where the whole goal is to go downhill as fast as you can and then climb an untimed transfer stage.

So, whether you enjoy cycling, running, skiing, paddling, whatever, the most important thing is to get out in the wild, push your personal limits and discover new things about yourself and explore the wonderful backcountry.

Website: http://www.drcarysmith.com/

Guilty Pleasure: Baked goods. No pastry is safe from me!

Other Hobbies: Backcountry skiing, riding dirt bikes

Best thing about VFuel: Mild flavors and ease of digestion, making it easy to stay hydrated and fueled.

Best Recovery Meal: PB&J right after a ride, then a burrito for dinner #2.

Favorite Trail Running Memory: Ripping fun singletrack with my competitors as we are all pinned!

#1 goal for 2016: Have fun on the bike and keep the next generation at bay for another year.