His desire to go as far as he can in the sport fortified after competing on the world stage, Tamworth mountain biker Nick Chisholm is turning his attention towards next month's state championships in Orange as he targets another national title further down the track.
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The nationals are the "big picture" for the teenager as he looks to go one better than this year, and repeat his triumph from two years ago.
And of course he is hoping to make the World Championships team again, the experience of representing his country and racing against the best in the world only serving to stoke the fire already burning strongly inside of him.
The realisation of a dream, the recent championships in Canada were for the Farrer student both the best experience of his career so far, and the toughest racing he has experienced.
"It was a lot different to what I expected," he said.
"It was a lot harder - the course and the competition."
Held on Mont-Sainte-Anne, heavy rain the night before his under-19s race made for some difficult conditions.
"The track was pretty wet so it wasn't really something that I used to," Chisholm said.
As he pointed out he's more accustomed to racing in dust these days.
It was quite slushy, which meant the bike really dug in, and even icy in some parts.
Chisholm did a couple of times become victim of the conditions. He slid off twice in the rocks.
The race itself was "pretty full-on" especially at the start with 70 riders all fighting to find position on a single lane track. Chisholm said there wasn't really any room for anyone to come around and there were a few "elbows and everything to get past".
He did get back a bit early on but "made up a few places towards end of first lap."
That took it's toll though with some tired legs from the work he did to catch up affecting him in the back end of the race.
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He still ended up finishing in a very credible 50th.
"There were two Aussies in front of me and four behind so I was pretty happy with that," he said.
His first time competing at the worlds, he was really looking at this year as chance to gain some experience, which he did.
"I learnt a lot," he said.
"(And) It's really motivated me to go better next time."
"I've still got another year in that age category".
The process for qualifying starts early in 2020.
Next year's championships will be held in Germany and because of the Tokyo Olympics will be held a bit earlier.
