‘It’s very rewarding’: When crisis calls, young DH rider Jobe Gentle is there

When Jobe Gentle isn’t charging down a mountain chasing his dream of being a downhill mountain bike rider, the 19-year-old is helping people in times of crisis and in emergencies.

The Team High Country rider, who hails from Tumut in southern New South Wales, is currently in Europe ahead of the 2024 UCI DH World Cup season. But when he is at home, he is on the frontline of community safety with the State Emergency Service (SES).

The young shredder first joined the SES when he was 16 and now holds the position of Deputy Unit Commander at the Tumut SES unit.

Read on to find out more about Jobe’s role with the SES, how he got started in DH racing and what’s ahead for 2024.

How did you get involved with the SES?

I became involved with SES when I was 16 years of age and attending boarding school in Jindabyne. The SES enabled me to have time away from the boarding house and I escaped study time.

As a 16-year-old I could only help with storm jobs I wasn’t old enough to help with the rescue side of the service until I turned 18. I did however do all of the required courses during my time as junior which enabled me assist with all operations when I turned 18.

What is your current role with the SES?

My current role is Deputy Unit Commander at the Tumut SES unit. This involves organising the vehicles and any type of rescue equipment. I also help with some administrative duties, however I really enjoy looking after the vehicles and equipment, making sure that everything is in good working order for when we need it.

What are some of the types of rescues and or emergencies you have been involved in?

I really enjoy the technical rescue side of the agency. I am currently involved with in-water rescue, vertical rescue, and road crash rescue. I find it very rewarding to help people in their times of crisis. I have been to a primary bus accident between Perisher and Jindabyne. That incident, although it had a good outcome, sticks in my head more than anything as it was my first accident. I also think about how much worse that could have played out and the huge extent of injuries that were avoided.

What do you enjoy most about being involved with the SES?

I enjoy being able to use skills that I have learned to help people in need. Rescues require a lot of thought and planning to ensure they run smoothly, and often there are challenges that appear as the rescues are in motion. Being able to adapt to change on the run to ensure there is a good outcome is extremely important. I love being challenged and having to really think about a process and work out the steps ahead to be ready for changes in circumstances.

How long have you been riding and how did you get into it?

I have been riding for eight years. I started riding cross country in Tumut on the local tracks. I slowly started to gravitate towards the downhill side. I then went to boarding school at Snowy Mountains Grammar School in Jindabyne, which is very close to Thredbo, this allowed me to excel in the downhill discipline. I then fell in love with it and started to race nationally. I got the opportunity to race in my on the World Cup circuit in my second year in U19. I went over to Europe and raced four rounds, this opened my eyes to the extent of racing and the work I would have to put in to succeed.

What races do you have coming up for 2024?

I will be racing the 2024 World Cup season as part of Team High Country, will be living in Europe for some of that time. We do a lot of riding and training between rounds. This year, I am looking forward to racing in Poland as it will be a new location and will be good to see a different country.

What are some of your racing highlights so far?

Racing has allowed me to travel the world and the country, to see amazing sights with like-minded people.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity Team High Country gives me to race and be part of an awesome international team. I have seen some of the logistical side of managing a team and the effort put in by the owner/managers is huge. Although it is an individual result it would not be possible without the teams working behind the scenes to help the weekend run smoothly for the athletes.

I can’t thank everyone who has helped me: My parents, who I owe stupid amounts of driving hours and money over many years. Team High Country for helping the races run super smooth, my sponsors from my hometown: The Forrest Centre, Elliots Landscaping, Tumut Hydraulics and Goodes coaches and anyone else who has helped me along the way.

Read more about the UCI World Cup.