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MZ: How was your ride down the Les Bossons moraine yesterday?
It was pretty steep. Actually, that's an understatement. The top was pretty much vertical so I had to rappel for 40 or 50 meters until I decided I could walk for a bit (laughs.) Then I just wanted to traverse to where I could get onto my bike, but as I started to traverse, when I didn't have the stability of the rope, I realized how steep it was. That's when I started shitting myself (laughs.)

I found myself in a situation that I didn't really want to be in. I missed a footing and started sliding down the moraine and my bike was taking me with it, so I just let go of my bike and it went cartwheeling.

MZ: How long did it fall for?
At least 200 meters. I thought my bike was dead but the old Ancillotti stood up to it! I looked back up at you guys when I got down to it and said, 'She's alive!' I was relieved because I didn't want to walk any farther without a bike to ride. I had a look at the forks to check for holes and had a quick look around the frame. Everything was straight so I jumped on and rode it.

MZ: How was the ride out?
It was pretty sketchy. It was pretty damn steep and it was probably one of the gnarliest things I've ever ridden, knowing that if I made a mistake I was coming off and landing on rocks.

MZ: How'd you psyche yourself up for that one?
It's hard to explain but basically I learned about a year and a half ago that it all comes down to self confidence. Believing in yourself; believing that you can ride it and that you can ride it well. To have that behind you helps, but it's still tough. You still crash sometimes.

When I'm racing, I get into the zone before I leave. It's pretty crazy; I never knew such a thing existed but when I'm in the zone, there's nothing on the side of the course and I can't hear anything. It's like tunnel vision - all I can see is the track in front of me.

— Lucas Kane, MountainZone.com Correspondent
Lucas Kane, a freelance photo journalist, wandered the world for nearly a year in search of the perfect terrain, but it wasn't until he arrived in Chamonix, France, that he found a new appreciation for the word "steep" and the utmost respect for Mother Nature.