Eliot Jackson Retires from World Cup Downhill Racing 30

I've had asthma since 5th grade, that would make it 26 years now. I can totally relate to you Elliot. Props to you for going out and racing as much as you have and doing as well as you have, even with your hinderance. Some people just don't realize how hard it is on you and how much it'll affect your mindset at times. I almost quit biking because my allergies and asthma got so bad about 8 years ago. I was having asthma attacks at the beginning of XC rides. Not fun. My doctor hooked me up with a nebulizer and inhalers. He said to hit up the inhalers about 15 minutes before I ride. That helped a ton. But as a person who's struggled with it for many years, I totally understand your choice and I totally relate to how it makes you feel after pushing.
Sometimes it feels like you seriously only have 1 lung.
Props to you for what you've done and what you've accomplished. Keep it up and ride hard!

Hey...Science. Yes, you...we're looking at you. A breakthrough would be awesome right about now. Not to be greedy, but cancer and a few other conditions wouldn't suck, either.

Like the rest of us and likely yourself, I'm absolutely gutted to hear the announcement. I'm sure great things lie in your future, whatever route you choose. Glad to hear you're feeling 100%...keep rippin'!!

Was there today shooting my buddy, it would have been cool to see you there and grab some shots!

Super bummed to hear this. Eliot is one of those guys that you just can't not watch. Hope to see him doing filming or something. Like an Ian Morrison-type of rider.

atheletic asthma is my bitch. she still smacks me down from time to time. sneaky little whore that she is!
good luck elliot. keep it real!

As someone that has witnessed Eliot from a privateer to his signing at Yeti, I will be bummed to see him not at the races. He was always one of the few to personally thank you for helping out, and seemed to always have smile on his face. I'm sure you will still pop up here and there, and stop by and say hi. If you need some hoops EJ, come by and I will fix you up!

The only thing in this world that gives orders is balls. Balls. - tony Montana . Respect

Sorry to read that. That''ll be one hell of cool dude less on the WC circuit. Farewell Eliot

Hey everyone, I know asthma is a pretty common illness that can be treated but as far as I know it can't be cured and what I had was a little different. Believe me, my family and I tried every avenue possible to be able to get this fixed, not racing was the last thing I wanted to do.

From the end of 2010 I went the the best doctors in the country(some of the leading pulmonary doctors in the world), I took every kind of test you can think of( blood, vo2 max, etc) I was on the strongest medicine that the UCI would allow, I took extra time off before and after the races to help calm it down, my team manager and my mechanic were at the bottom and the top of the track with inhalers, I tried vegan, non-dairy, glutten free, and a few other diets I cant remember haha, unfortunately a lot of the breathing techniques go out the window when you're at 190 heart rate but yes I did try a few of those also. I worked with my trainer to find things for my warm up and my off season training that didn't effect me as bad, etc etc etc.

Even after all of that, nothing seemed to help, not even a little. There are a lot of remedies that work for regular asthmatics that don't work for people with exercise induced asthma, like me, and even less that work for "world class" athletes that are training 6-7 days a week. At some point it wasnt worth it for me to come down the hill, cough until I couldnt breath anymore, throw up, and then lay in bed for a week haha. I don't have unlimited funds to keep trying to figure out what is wrong with me and even if I did what would they say? Ya know. If i'm not racing I'm 100% healthy.

I don't mean this to sound sad or anything, just want to let you guys know I'm not just quitting because I'm too lazy to try to fix it haha. I love racing the world cups and meeting new people around the world. It's been my life for 3 years and it makes me happier than anything else. You'll still see me riding with my friends and at crankworx and sea otter hanging out and doing the events for fun. I don't have any plans to do any freeride or big mountain stuff but you never know!

Asthma is a bitch! Had the same all my childhood so i know how u feel :/
Maybe someday u'll find something though, that's so damn bad cause u got a hell of a style men and there arent many black riders in the world cup :/
Take care buddy

Fully support the decision. Health comes first. Can't enjoy life with that aspect out of balance. You're a champion for roughing it out as long as you have. I too have asthma, even hospitalized for it twice. It's no joke.

Eliot...is there a way to update this post with what you finally found was the root of your issue instead of asthma?

I know you announced it someplace else and I'm trying to find the corrected diagnosis info to have my daughter's doctors review it. She doesn't seem to have asthma like most kids. It's almost anxiety triggered and she's never turned pail and acted or wheezed like other typical asthmatics.
It's always been a kind of "clearing her throat" thing and sometimes she coughs up a bit of blood from her throat. Hope you read this because Google is letting me down.

It only makes sense that EJ and Mitch would be buddies, no one has more style than those two. Maybe there is a future in freeride for EJ?

@Msloan420 I've been reading a lot about raw vegan (including 80/10/10), there are so many top endurance athletes on this diet.
I can sympathise here, I have a lung condition which has put me in a similar position of feeling handicapped and knowing I cant go 100%, its for this reason I dont compete either, even though it would only be at local level.
Not much consolation at the moment but I still feel lucky that I am able to ride.

In a different way to the guy below, I cured myself of asthma a long time ago using a special breathing technique. Elliot should look at ways to deal with his asthma so he can keep slaying it. That quad is rad.

Course Cut = Sick!

Dirt Merchant pic : making berms into a double.. NIce..!

This is a shame.. Somebody put me in contact with Eliot.. I have heard of athletes reversing asthma if not 100% curing it through a low fat raw vegan lifestyle... before you hate, read 80/10/10 by Dr. Douglas Graham,or Thrive by brendan brazier .... switching to a whole foods plant based diet has done miracles for me and I know it can help everyone that does it right.. BTW i am not just pulling this out of my ass, I am a dh racer and Crossfit athlete so it works for me everyday! Good Luck Eliot look forward too seeing you back on the race track

This sounds intriguing. After reading the interview I am surprised to see his condition seems so untreatable. I sure love his style and his enthusiasm!

Thanks, I sent it to him... I've followed the Thrive stuff before, I like it a lot. Although I never went fully vegan it was helpful while I was training a lot.

If DH was decided on style Elliot, you'd be the champ. Ride on!

I was thinking the altitude might explain why DH is harder than MX for Eliot. Going to miss watching himrace on Yeti for sure. Not that the 303 needed any help looking sexy but seeing it piloted sideways by Eliot was awesome.

Wicked bummer news, but can't argue with the reason(s). Hope to see him around and involved somehow.

Best of luck Eliot! You put on quite the show over the last few seasons.

Good luck with whatever you pursue in life, we'll miss you!

As a rider who has struggled with asthma my whole life, while not as bad as yours, i feel your out of breath pain!