The concept of downhill mountain biking is simple enough: start at the top of the mountain and ride to the bottom. First one down wins. Sounds fun, but it’s what happens between the top and bottom that scares some people. The banked corners, rock gardens, and narrow tree-lined s-curves on a 1,000+ foot vertical drop results in speeds that usually peak at 45 miles per hour. It makes you wonder where the line between fun and insanity is crossed. For hardcore downhill bikers, there is no line. Fun and insanity are synonyms. One of those gonzo downhill riders is Christopher Herndon, the 25-year-old Brevard, N.C., native who was recently selected to the USA Cycling Downhill Team. Herndon also finished 29th at the world championship competition in New Zealand in August. He attempted to explain to BRO what makes a person climb onto a 50-pound bike, strap on full body armor, and pedal down a ski slope.

BRO: Why downhill? Isn’t there a safer lifestyle choice, like shark wrestling?

Herndon: Honestly, I used to like downhill because you didn’t have to train as much as the cross country riders. That’s not the case at the professional level, but it was appealing at the beginning. Really, downhill is just more exciting. You ride for two to five minutes and it’s action packed the whole way down.

BRO: So are downhillers lazy?

Herndon: A lot of people think that, but we train just as hard. It’s just a different kind of training. We do high intensity stuff that focuses on fast twitch muscles. The kind of training that track sprinters do.

BRO: Why the full body armor and face mask?

Herndon: Every weekend I have a close friend get hurt. Races are held at ski resorts with a course that mainly goes through the woods over rough terrain. The top speed is usually at 45 mph. If most people were to walk the course, they wouldn’t believe someone would be able to ride it. It’s steep, rocky, and technical. Believe it or not, it’s actually easier to ride than walk. At 20 mph, you skim over everything.

BRO: Do you ever get scared during a race?

Herndon: In practice, you think about the consequences. In a race, you don’t think about it. You can’t. Everyone’s yelling at you during a race, but you don’t hear them. You’re just focused on going fast and that’s all there’s room for. I get scared occasionally when I’m on a bike, but most of the time, I’m only scared when I’m watching someone else ride a course. That’s when you see the consequences of downhill more, when you’re watching someone else ride.

BRO: Do you have to have the reflexes of a cheetah to succeed at downhill?

Herndon: Actually, you memorize the course before the race. You know every turn, every bump. You ride it and you walk it over and over. At those speeds you have to. By the time you get to the race, it’s second nature. You don’t think, your body just takes over.

BRO: How does it feel to make the USA Cycling Downhill Team?

Herndon: It’s the carrot at the end of the stick, but it didn’t really set in until we got our uniforms. That’s when it hit me that I’m riding for my country. Not for a sponsor, but my country. It’s a totally different feeling.