T.I.A. (This is Australia) Review by Daniel Mabe
As far as I can tell, there are two kinds of mountain bike films: the ones that exist to pump up your gonads, and the ones that exist to pump up your cerebellum. T.I.A. (This is Australia), by Sam Davies, definitely leans more toward the latter. Imagine a 50-minute MTB flick with no Superman seat grabs, no bar spins…I don’t even think I spotted a no-footer. Now imagine that film being incredibly compelling entertainment nonetheless.
Part tourism brochure, part straight-up documentary, part DH stoke-fest, T.I.A. takes an in-depth look at the young crop of riders coming up from Down Under, the current Aussie DH dominators and a few of the sport’s Australian pioneers. When you consider the size and population of that island continent on the other side of the planet, it really is miraculous that their bench of incredibly talented riders is so deep.
Perennial DH staple and seemingly laid-back guy Nathan Rennie serves as our guide through the different regions of the continent and the riders who train in each. His interview is sprinkled throughout, providing some interesting insight into what it takes to be a top pro, who he thinks is next, and how to avoid partying yourself into 44th place on race day. Judging from the first few segments featuring Rennie and a few younger rippers you may not have heard of (yet), it looks like Australia is home to some of the fastest tracks (or as we say, “trails”) in the world. I’d like to think that that would explain why they dominate the States on the DH circuit, but I have a feeling there’s more to it than that.
The top pros of the day are profiled in a little more detail; guys like Jared Graves, Jared Rando, Ben Cory and Chris Kovarik. From Graves, we get a taste of his BMX training, while Rando and Cory take us along on for a couple of runs that most of us would kill to be able to do. Kovarik is the one Aussie who lives in the States (SoCal) and throws down a few moto-whips that might have Vanderham feeling a bit threatened. I have to admit, it’s fascinating to learn a little more about how these guys live, what they get from riding, and what they give up. Besides the Cribs-like tours of a few of the rider’s homes, we get some good insight about where the sport is going and why it’s having a hard time getting there (hint: money, sponsorships, and poor management all play a part).
Then there’s Sam Hill. True to his reputation of riding softly and carrying a big stick, Hill’s interview is done with subtitles, lest the fans begin to doubt that he is the strong, silent type. We also learn why Hill appears to throw a 40-pound mountain bike around the course like it’s nothing: compared to throwing a 200-pound dirt bike around a motocross track like he does, it is.
The film’s soundtrack is more hit than miss, and the cinematography is crisp HD video, although it lacks some of the finesse of a bigger budget film like a New World Disorder or Collective effort. If I were planning a riding trip to Koala Land, T.I.A. would definitely be my first stop. It gives viewers a great idea of the different terrain of the varying regions, although stops short of telling you exactly where these killer trails are. But for all of the film’s emphasis on racing, training and competition, a strong undercurrent of fun runs throughout. The reason us Yanks have so much trouble beating them is because they’re so serious about it. And the reason they’re so serious is because they don’t take anything too seriously. In Australia, that’s called logic. Come to think of it, maybe we’re the ones that are Down Under.
To purchase TIA click on the DVD cover below.
