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"Jake was one of the most popular downhillers in the world and was known for his daring driving style"

The American 'Earthquake' Jake Watson was in the mid 90s, one of the most popular downhillers in the world. Jake was a big strong athlete and was known for his daring driving style. In those years, he received many top results, both in the US NORBA-matches as in the World Cup circuit. After he actually already stopped with his active career, he joined a downhill training heavy fall to the ground, and he died on the consequences. The shock in the world mountain bike scene of that time was intense! Not only an iconic sportsman was passed, but also someone with a big heart!

'Earthquake' Jake Watson

In the mid-nineties was 'Earthquake' Jake - a nickname that was given to him by fellow biker Wayne Croasdale - one of the most popular downhillers in the world.
In the period in which he rode for Team Marin, Jake was at the height of his career and he was known for his daring driving style. In those years, he received many top results in both in the US NORBA-matches as in the World Cup circuit. As a pioneer in understanding of technology was Jake, someone who often asked to think along with companies in the bike industry, such as Grafton, Onza, AC and Kore. 

As tester, he had a considerable reputation; if Jake could not break the parts, then you could be sure that no one else could break them. Jake was very involved in the development of the Mountain Cycle San Andreas and could after extensive test rides, tell exactly where reinforcements and improvements were needed. He was the inventor of one of the first chain guides on a downhill bike. He made for his prototype, a rubber elastomer in the derailleur of his Manitou Fork and combined with a zip tie to prevent the chain from falling off. AC went with him into production and together, they developed a plastic chain guide that Jake could mount on his derailleur.

I remember a sunny afternoon in 1993 at the world cross country and downhill in the French Métabief. After a good training ride, I drank a cup of coffee on the terrace near the start and Finish. Soon I was in conversation with number of fellow bikers and someone introduced me to Jake. I looked up at the sun and shook the hand of this great man I had heard a lot about. It was a nice conversation about the course, our material, the shape of the day and the many hours we had to travel as a competition rider. It struck me how calm and thoughtful he talked, how friendly he was and how much time he took for me. At the end of the conversation, we agreed to share contact info to be able to interview him later, but that never happened.

At the end of 1994, the results of Jake a little less. In his head he is still very much like racing, but his body protested. Two years later it was discovered that Jake without knowing, had Addison's disease, an autoimmune disease in which the two adrenal glands are not working properly. Despite this setback Jake never lost his will to drive or his sense of humor.

Accident
On 12 March 1999 however disaster struck hard. During the exercise for the Keysville Classic downhill he again wanted to drive, Jake came at a jump when going down a hill with high speed and crashed deadly.  According to eyewitnesses the landing went well, but somehow he beat then about The steering wheel. The crash in which he with his chest on a piece of rock, despite the protection which he wore fatal. The entire mountain bike community was shocked! How was this possible? In the days, months and years that followed, until the day of today, the family of Jake reminded of the impact he had on everyone he met in his short life.

Stories
Immediately after his death surfaced there are all kinds of stories about Jake. In the chair lift in the village of Big Bear, he met once a driver from the Sports Class and they got to talk about the difficulty of the course. Jake then spontaneously offered to help him and gave him during The following run a one-to-one clinic. He took plenty of time to this driver who he had just meet the secret lines to show that the pros. On another occasion Jake came two tour riders on the local trails. After they drove back to the parking lot and traded stories about mountain biking, about their families and about life. It was only when Jake said goodbye and drove away, asked a fets measure on the parking lot how Jake knew. The tour riders were that he was a world topper. Jake had no said once who he was and what he had performed. He shared his love for the sport and living with these two for him unknown bikers. 

Hi Grandma, this is Summer Merry Christmas!  It’s midnight here, and we have eaten all day long!  If you have time, can we FaceTime you? The Defonte’s want to say hi!

Hi Grandma! We had lots of fun talking with you all.  Merry Christmas again!  We weren’t able to call Josh or Michael, and its gotten pretty late here.  Please send our “Merry Christmases” and hugs to them!  We will try to call them tomorrow.  😊  Have a great afternoon and evening!
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