Podcast: Steve Vanderhoek on rebuilding skills & confidence post injury, and enjoying the ride!

On this episode, I sit down with Steve Vanderhoek. Steve is a North Shore-born and bread mountain biker, trailbuilder and a professional firefighter/paramedic.

He is known for building and riding some of the most precise, exposed, and high-consequence lines in the area, and along with his long-time partner Kelsey Toevs, makes some of the most creative and jaw-dropping mtb films around. (Hear from Kelsey in the previous episode).


After recovering from a year-long string of injuries that occurred while riding his own North Shore feature, the pair went on the win the 2023 Crankworx Dirt Diaries filmmaking contest in which Steve returned and rode the safe death-defying line.


During this wide ranging conversation we chat about:

- His background and influences in the early North Shore Freeride scene.
- His 2022 'into the gnar' injury and the lead up to that.
- The journey of recovery and what he has learned.
- Managing concussion and life stressors.
- How to re-build skills ands confidence post injury.
- How he know's when to send it.

And much, much more!

You can follow along for the ride with Steve @svanderhoek on Instagram, and @stevevanderhoek1304 on YouTube.


Listen here or by searching for ‘Grit with Wisdom’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, or over on my website, and you can follow me on Instagram @the_mind_mountain

Happy trails - Jake Johnstone


All images were taken and supplied by Kelsey Toevs.