Familiarity of the difficult and challenging terrain in Tagaytay and the tremendous support of the home crowd will be the Philippines' biggest strengths in the downhill mountain bike competitions in the coming 30th Southeast Asian Games. National downhill mountain bike coach Frederick Farr believes these two factors will be enough to deliver the golds in the biennial competition scheduled Nov. 30-Dec. 11. "Malaki ang pag-asa natin na maka-gold (sa SEA Games). Pipilitin natin na manalo para makapag-bigay din tayo ng karangalan sa bansa," said Farr during the 26th "Usapang Sports" by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) at the National Press Club in Intramuros. "With the riders we have and the kind of training we have under the PhilCycling, headed by Cong. Bambol Tolentino, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) thru Chairman Butch Ramirez, we're very confident right now," added Farr. Farr knows what he is talking about. He was also the coach of the Philippine team when Joey Barba captured a gold medal in the 2007 Thailand SEA Games. "Sa downhill mountain bike, kinikilala na din tayong mga Pilipino kahit bagong sport ito sa atin. May takot na din ang mga kalaban," Farr told sportswriters during the weekly public service program sponsored by Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Club, PAGCOR, Community Basketball Association, and HG Guyabano Tea Leaf Drinks. Farr said Indonesia and Thailand will be the country's biggest rivals in the SEA Games. "Kami-kami din maglaban dyan. Pero yun nga lamang tayo naman ngayon as host country," added Farr, recalling an incident in last year's Asian Games in Jakarta when Filipino riders were given only three hours to familiarize themselves in the terrain. "Sa atin naman ang advantage as host country. Siguro three months before the SEA Games, dun na kami sa Tagaytay to train. Kahit dun na kami tumira." Farr's three biggest weapons -- John Derick Farr and JR Barba (men) and Lea Belgira (women) -- are capable of performing well and determined to bring honors to the country. "As the country's representative to the SEA Games, I will do my best," said the younger Farr, who has already brought home two gold medals in the Asia Mountain Bike series in 2015 and 2016 and bronze in Asian Continental Championships in Indonesia in 2014. The 23-year-old Farr said his participation in the ACC in Lebanon in August will toughen him up and give him "the much-needed experience before the SEA Games." "I expect to learn a lot in the ACC. Yun ibang kalaban natin nandun din, so dun pa lang magkaka-sukatan na kami ng lakas," explained Farr, who learned to ride a mountain bike when he was barely nine years old upon the proddings of his father. "Dati puro video games nun bata ako. My Dad would even promise to bring me to McDonald's if I ride my mountain bike and train," he recalled. Asked about his training for the SEAG, Farr said he trains regularly in Tagaytay and San Mateo, Rizal. "Sa Tagaytay high speed kaya ma-test yun tiis kung kelan mag-preno.Sa San Mateo naman, rough race track kaya good for upper body strength." He said his two teammates are also now deep in training.