Brodie Dingle - round 3 preview

Dingle looking to make up for poor show in Tasmania

Round 3 see's the 2016 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Championship pass the half way mark and our reporters caught up with Brodie Dingle to see how his preparations were going ahead of the round at Ipswich Supercars on 22-24th of July.

You're equal fifth on the championship ladder. Do you think you can catch the top four or are you happy to battle it out for fifth spot on the Australian team?
BRODIE: I will try and push up the ladder. You always have to be in the best possible position. Some training issues have held me back, but I've put more time into it now and need to keep pushing on.

You got married just before the last round, did that affect your preparation?
BRODIE: Not mentally. Physically, my work rotation affected training but -
not to take anything away – I made a lot of mistakes on the day.

Are you better prepared for Round 3?
BRODIE: Yeah, I've been able to do more training and work on equipment. My axe and saw disciplines needed work. I have been competing in normal chopping competitions in the Queensland competition season, which has helped a lot.

Will home soil be an advantage for the Queensland round?
BRODIE: I hope so. I am pretty used to the weather conditions and get great support from family and friends.

You mentioned you could only buy a Hot Saw once you were married. Is one now on order?
BRODIE: I mentioned that in my wedding speech - to improve my competition performance and reward myself with a Hot Saw!

What are your thoughts on how you have been competing in the competition so far?
BRODIE: I haven't competed as best I can. It highlights that it's such a tight competition. Definitely after getting a whooping in Tasmania I walked away knowing I had to give a lot more and that I could give it more. I know I'm making little mistakes, tiny errors in judgment. It'll be a waste if I'm not going to invest time into it.

How have you been training for Round 3? Have you changed your technique, added anything to your regime, focused on a particular discipline?
BRODIE: It has been mainly great to have the time to train. The local competitions have been great training; I can't beat match fitness and sport-specific training though.

How many hours a week are you training?
BRODIE: I try and put aside at least five days – an hour or so a day.

What is your biggest concern going into Round 3?
BRODIE: I don't have too many concerns. Springboard has been annoying me so far; it's one that I need to focus on.

Who do you see as your greatest threat?
BRODIE: Everyone above me and below. Mitch Argent will have a great round this round; he's had some bad luck. Don't think we've seen the best of what he has to offer. Mitch has been competing well domestically.

What does it mean to you to win the title of Australian Champion?
BRODIE: A great honour.

What does it mean to you to make it on the Australian team and compete in the World Championship?
BRODIE: I would be very proud to represent Australia and the sport. It would be the best outcome, something I have strived for since starting the event.

Has anything extraordinary happened in your life outside TIMBERSPORTS - got married, had a child?
BRODIE: I got married on April 30 and just enjoying marital bliss with my stunning wife, Toni.