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Crankworx Innsbruck // Crankworx Les Gets // Road Trip
“Hang in there and you will win!” // Kalnica Bikefest // 4 races 4 wins
Last race weekend was a special one for me because it showed me that I still have the pace and I can achieve whatever I want as long I believe in myself. The result was 4 wins from 4 races.
“As long you believe in yourself you will be fine. ” my mother always says
And she was so right.
The Bikefest in Kalnica (Slovakia) is one of my favourite event of the year. So I didn’t want to miss it for sure. We arrived on Thursday evening and on Friday the whole spectacle started with the pump track and Dual Pumptrack race. Unfortunately, the weather was at the beginning very bad and it rained very heavy so the pump track race was more “a pedal as fast as you can and not try to slip away race.” But still fun and I ended up on the first spot. YEAH. Good start for me. Then at 3 o’clock, we raced the dual pump track and I won the qualification but not my first heat, which brought up the fighter in me. I hate to lose and so I thought to myself “No way, i get beaten in the second run. I want to win this. So I won my second heat clearly and we had to race another one – because two wins win. It was very exciting and stayed focused and won the third run as well. But I have to admit it was very close.
On Saturday evening I raced the Dual Slalom. It was soooo much fun and I was soooo tired at the end. But it was worth it. The burms were sharp as a knife and the crowd wild like a tiger. I had much fun with the other racer chicks and we did one “FUN RUN” after the other until we were nearly too exhausted to race. I won this race too, WIN NUMBER 3 in my pocket
On Sunday I raced my favourite race – the Downhill. I wasn’t sure if I will beat the young guns again this year and looked very well for some good lines. I didn’t win the qualification and maybe that was good because in the race run I stepped out of my comfort zone and did two new jumps and didn’t touch the break at all at two places, which kind of scared me. And so I managed to walk away with another win.
I want to say a big thanks to my sponsors, who supports me. Go Pro, Iriedaily, SR Suntour, Verival Bio, Dr. Antonio Martins Coco Drink, Troy Lee Designs , Skull Candy, Novatec Wheels, Selle San Marco, Carbocage, Maxxis, SP- Gadgets, Spy, Epic-Wear, Ciclopia, R.S.P, DVS, 9point8, Praxis Works,
My next stop is Crankworx Innsbruck and Crankworxs Les Gets.
IXS European Cup Race // Downhill // Maribor
Na Bumm“ these words describe my weekend best.
A long time ago I saved the date in my Google calendar „Maribor IXS European race -13-15 April “ and my boyfriend kept asking me if I will go or not and until the last possible second I couldn’t tell him. I was so unsure and worried about so many things. Like did I spent enough time on my DH bike? Will I do all the jumps? Will I be capable to do this? Questions I normally thinking about but not kept me away from trying.
But then my racer heart couldn’t resist and went. Afterwards, I am happy that I said YES to all the challenges, stress, the great track and seeing all the old World cup friends. Because this race wasn’t like a normal IXS race. All the top WC riders came I guess because of the following World Cup in Croatia and it was great. I had so much fun and I like the track very much. I raced many times here so I could remember very well. Some new bits of course but not so much different than the years before.
My practice went well and I apart from the jumps I felt good. The weather was great and it was nice to meet other racer girls again. In my qualification run, I tested myself and my strength and was happy that all worked out how I wanted. But I have to be honest I wasn’t ready for the jumps something stopped me and I said to myself next time. In my race run, I gave all and improved my time by 15 seconds and ended up on the 19th spot. I am was happy with my race run and the weekend.
Niva! No Diva race and ride Camp girls only // @ the Glemmride Festival
Register: www.viennabikeacademy.com
You are a female MTB rider, ready for some action, fun and a new challenge.
You always wanted to race a downhill race but you didn’t want to do it alone and didn’t know how? Downhill, tricky section and speed is your thing and you like the share your MTB passion with other girls and also wanted to be coached by a woman? You are ready for the next step to improve your riding skills.
Then is the NIVA! No Diva Jam Session the perfect girls camp for you.
With a world champ medalist Helene Fruhwirth and the Austrian Pumptrack founder and DH racer Gloria Schnopfhagen. You have two great coaches next to you, who will make this weekend unforgettable for you.
The girls have planned many nice things and the icing on the cake is the phenomenal goody bag.
You can choose between the RACE and the RIDE group. The race group will take part in the IXS Rookies cup race – riding and racing on the proline the whole weekend. Helene will guide you, help you and show you how a professional deals with racing.
Gloria has the RIDE group, where you learn all the MTB basics and the advanced stuff the whole Saturday without racing stress.
The main focus for both groups.
• Jumping drops
• Jumping doubles
• Roots section
• Railing berms
• Jumping gaps
• Of camber roots section
• Line choice
• Rock section
• Increase your speed
• Breaking skills
The RACE Group has maximum 4 girls, and the RIDE group maximum 7 Girls.
Registration for the race www.racement.com (open Women)
from 15.MAI.2018
any questions just write to info@viennabikeacademy.com
Race group Helene
The timetable is not 100 percent sure
Friday:
depending if the racetrack is open in the morning we can ride together there
16:30 Welcome
****GOODY BAG ****
16:00 numberplate pick up
17:00-19:00 Track walk together
Saturday
09.00 – 14.00 Uhr Training on the race course
14.00 – 14.30 Uhr track closed so we have lunch
ab 14.30 Uhr Seeding Run (you need this run just for the start order)
After: Go Pro Videoanalyse
Sunday:
08.00 – 11.00 Uhr Training
11.00 – 11.30 Uhr track closed
ab 11.30 Uhr race run (this one count)
having a good time after and reflect what has happened in the last days.
RIDE group Gloria:
Saturday:
9:00 – 10:00 WELCOME everyone and goody bag surprise
10:00 – 10:15 Bike check
10:30 – 13:00 Bike Skills Training on the Milka Line / Z- Line
13:00 -14:00 Lunchtime with the RACE group
14:00 – 17:00 Bike Skills Training on the X – Line and the Hacklbergtrail
if you have a question feel free to ask info@viennabikeacademy.com or call 0043 650 8381111
Gloria and Helene are happy to ride with you on the nice trails.
Regular information:
for the registration, you have to fill out the registration formula.
You have to pay in advanced.
In the Ride group, your bike must have min 140mm travel and must be a full suspension bike.
In the Race group, you should have min 16mm travel a DH bike would be the best.
If you don’t have a DH Bike and you are planning to buy one, just ask Helene and she can help you to get a good priced Intense Bike
If you are a total Newbie you can’t register for this Camp
You need a full face helmet, long finger gloves, a goggle, Knee, Elbow and Back protection. If you don’t have on of these ask Helene she can lend you some.
The lift ticket is not included in the price
If you stay in Saalbach make sure you sleep in “Joker card” Hotel because then you get the lift ticket for free.
The Race group gets a lift ticket at the race registration too.
“Schneefräsn” Riding on snow
This winter the Bike Magazin Lines and the crews from the different venues organized snow races and they were great. The ones who know me well know I can’t stand the cold but thanks to my heating shoe inserts and warm gloves I was able to “survive” outside and raced two races. The first one in St. Corona am Wechsel www.wextrails.at and the second one in Saalbach Hinterglemm. Both couldn’t be more different. The Wexltrail was short and not so steep. The Glemmride meets Glemmbang was the opposite – the course was fast and steep. I liked both, but for sure the one in Saalbach was more challenging.
At the Wexltrails I got 1st and at the Glemmride race, I got 3rd.
Valentina Höll won, second got Yana Dobnig.
Wexltrails was so much fun so I decided spontaneous to ride in Saalbach too.
Niva! Ni Diva is back
From all my events and camps I do. This is my favourite. The Niva! No Diva Race and Ride camp in lovely Saalbach Hinterglemm. It is for a woman, who wants to get better on the bike, wants to share their passion with other girls, wants to learn new things and races her first downhill race together with me.
You are a female MTB rider, ready for some action, fun and a new challenge.You always wanted to race a downhill race but you didn’t want to do it alone and didn’t know how? Downhill, tricky section and speed is your thing and you like the share your MTB passion with other girls and also wanted to be coached by a woman? You are ready for the next step to improve your riding skills.
Then is the NIVA! No Diva Jam Session the perfect girls camp for you. And the icing on the cake is the phenomenal goody bag.
You can choose between the RACE and the RIDE group. The race group will take part in the IXS Rookies cup race – riding and racing on the proline the whole weekend. I will guide you, help you and show you how a professional deals with racing.
Gloria has the RIDE group, where you learn all the MTB basics and the advanced stuff the whole Saturday without racing stress.
You find detailed info about the timetable, prices, goody bag and registration here www.viennabikeacademy.com. The places are limited: RIDE max 7 girls and RACE max 4 girls
Thanks to my sponsors:
GoPro, Sp Connect, R.S.P, Epic wear, Iriedaily, Carbocage, Maxxis, Verival Bio, Coco Drink, HT Components, Selle San Marco and many more
gender disaster
This time I want to tell you something from my private life. When I am not training and racing I work one or twice per week in a bike shop in Vienna. I love it most of the time but there are days when I want just tell the customers straight in the face. Surprise I have an idea about bikes and don’t have balls.
One day a customer came into the shop and I asked him “Can I help you? He tried to ignore me and so I asked him again politely. “Do you need some help? And finally, he replied, ” No thank you can’t help me for sure!” I asked again and said, “We won’t know if you don’t try.” He was quite arrogant and rolled his eyes and replied again. “I am pretty sure you don’t know this, girl. So I stepped back and made the way free to my college. My college heard the whole conversation with one ear… and when the customer walked up to him and asked him the question he said “sorry I am not an expert in this but she is. She knows everything about this rear shock.” But guess what? He didn’t come to me and asked me he just looked angry and left the shop.
This is just an example of many what happened nearly weekly to me just in the bike shop and I am wondering when it will ever stop, all this gender disaster. I hope someday but I guess the world would be too simple and too nice when everyone starts to treat everybody how they would like to be treated.
Don’t do this mistake too like this man in the bike shop – leave prejudices and intolerance behind you. You will be surprised.
I finally got it. 3rd at the World Champs
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You don’t know JBC? Then you better click here
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When this event is coming up it means we are at the end of the 4X Pro Tour. It is always the biggest and most spectacular race in the season. More than 10.000 people come to watch. There is a live cast. A redbull Airfighter flying show a crazy Masters of dirt after party. I really like it and I also like the track. But this time my mind was not ready for it. I was so exhausted from the weeks before that I didn’t really looked forward to race again. But because I was afraid that I will regret it afterwards I decided to compete and luckily I didn’t regret it after. I can’t complain at the end it turned out well for me. I qualified 2nd on Friday and could keep me second spot also in the final. It was a tough one but I kept focused. I didn’t have the best gate and was behind Romana and Natasha. Romana went to the left and Natasha went for the pro Line (big respect for that) and I followed Romana. In the wood section Natasha tried to push Romana away but instead passing her she crashed so I rode by and followed Romana to the finish. Romana got first , Simona 3rd and Natasha 4th. In the men race local man and organizer Thomas Slavik won.In the 4X Pro Tour overall I ended up on the 3rd spot. I am very happy about that. First got Romana and second Natasha.Now I have some time to relax and will focus on my training. Their is still a lot home work to do until the World Champs in Italy until then I havn’t planned some races. |
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Niva! No Diva Race camp 2017
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Another good event you shouldn’t miss / Crankworx Innsbruck
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Schladming / IXS Cup / my favourite track
For sure one of my favorite places to ride and race the Schladming Planai Bike Park. I missed Crankworx Les Gets for this one and it was totally worth it. The track is so good. Fast, technical, flow, challenging and so much fun. So I raced there. The practice runs went well for me. My Bike worked perfect. I just played a bite with my High speed compression on my Cane Creek rear shock and made my fork harder and swooped to Maxxis Minion tires front and rear. The track was so dry and fast so my changes were perfect.
On Saturday I had the qualification run and I have to commit I was finished and my shoulder hurt from a small crash on Friday. I hardly could hold my handlebar I had nothing left in my tank. I ended up on the 19Th place. But luckily this run wasn’t the important one.
On Sunday I felt so much better again and could generate much more power that could hold on very well. Always nice to see what your body can do if you reset your mind and try hard. I hit the lines which I wanted and my bike had no mechanical. The starter field was this time very big over 25 racer girls and big names were there.
It was nice to catch up with all the ladies and I enjoyed to go fast. I was about 12 seconds faster in my final run and finished 13Th.
To sum it up a good place for me and I am happy about my race run.My next stop is Crankworx Innsbruck where I am right now. Here I compete in DH and Pumptrack.
You can watch the events on www.crankworx.com.
The craziest race of the year!
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Thanks to Nix Forster and her husband, who let me stay in their house. 
MY SEASON KICK OFF // 4x PRO TOUR ROUND ONE
This winter was tough for me I was standing like horse in the start box with my feed banging against the wooddoor ready to run. But the cold kept me of my bike. I tried to make the best out of it so I trained in the gym, at home, in a circuit workout group and tried different things to keep myself entertained.
So I couldn’t wait to pack my stuff and my family and drive down to the Cote d’azur for practicing my french. No just kidding – I couldn’t wait to try this big step down which I saw in the videos from last year. It was actually in real much bigger than in the videos.. Ups. But I really wanted to do it. At the first try I was way to fast and over jumped it and I was glad that I had a full suspension bike…because I did a flat landed it. The next tries went fine and it felt great. What didn’t feel great was the last BMXstyle jumpy straight which turned out to be my breaking point 🙁 but what should I say nobody is perfect. So I tried to make the best out of the situation and practice to jump the first one – then roll the second and third one as fast as I could because I wasn’t able to jump them nicely.
In qualification I got 4th. And the first 4th riders were all in one second. So the final race was sooooo tight.
And because the first and second turn was the only place to pass on the whole track I put everything on one card. I had a good gate and tried to pull over to cut off the third but ended then elbow on elbow with the second (Nathasha) and she got pulled over by the first (Sabrina). So I rode in Natashas back wheel nearly felt over in the first turn and the 3rd rider could pass us. So Sabrina, the first in qualify stayed at the first spot. the 3rd got second. Natasha 3rd and me 4th.
Next time it will work better I guess. 🙂
1st. Sabrina Jonnier / 2. Fiona Ourdouillie / 3. Natasha Bradley 4. Myself 5. Jessica
my race plans for 2017:
14. May Austrian DH champs (Windischgarsten)
21. May DH Rennen in Höllenstein (AUT)
28. May Kalnica Bikefest (SK)
04. June 4X pro Tour Fort Williams
18. June IXS Downhill Cup in Schladming (AUT)
25. June Crankworx Innsbruck (AUT)
09. July NIVA No Diva DH Camp beim Glemmride Downhill in Saalbach (AUT)
16. July 4x Pro Tour JBC (CZE)
27. August 4xWorld champs (ITA)
4X Pro Tour Gallery
DAMALS HÄTTZ DES NET GEBN’….
….dass Facebook Zahlen meinen Start verhindern.
Ja genau richtig gelesen, meine Followeranzahl war ausschlaggebend, ob ich starten darf oder nicht. Ich mag jetzt gar nicht genau sagen, wo oder was für ein Rennen es war, das tut hier jetzt nichts zur Sache.
Fakt aber ist, dass ich in der Quali 3 Sekunden, bei einer Fahrzeit von 60 Sekunden, schneller als der geladene weibliche Superstar aus Übersee und schnellste Frau war und zu den Top 16 Elite Männern zählte. Laut Reglement hatte ich fix einen Startplatz. Somit trainierte ich noch mit und freute mich aufs Finale. Das Finale kam und mir wurde kurz vorm Start beinhart vom Veranstalter ins Gesicht gesagt, dass die andere Dame mehr Facebook Follower hat und ich dürfte somit nicht starten. Sie nehmen lieber sie, sie sei bekannter. What the f##?? Dafür trainiere ich so viel? Damit dann am Ende meine Facebook -Followerzahlen über meinen Start entscheiden? #truestory #sosiehtsaus #socialmediacountsmore
Mein erstes Rennen, der Hinterbrühler MTB Sprint, bestritt ich im Oktober 1998. Ich habe es damals gewonnen und hatte Blut geleckt. Mein Ziel war seit diesem Moment so viel Zeit und Spaß wie nur möglich am Bike zu haben und Rennen zu gewinnen. Seit damals ist viel passiert. Ich habe viele Fliegermeilen gesammelt, neue Freundschaften geknüpft, aber auch viele Neider erlebt, Röntgenbilder gesammelt wie andere Briefmarken, zick Teile zerstört, viele Champagnerduschen erlebt, viele Sponsorenverträge unterschrieben, viele Tear offs von meiner Brille gezogen, viele tolle Strecke befahren, bin viele Male im Dreck gelandet, viele Tränen vergossen, bin über 100 mal am Podium gestanden und bin über 300 Rennen gefahren.
Es hat sich von den aufgezählten Sachen nicht viel geändert von damals zu heute, aber was sich geändert hat ist,
- dass ich jetzt weit aus stylischer Aussehe dank meiner Troy Lee Kits und Spy goggles – die Volldodl optik war gestern.
- dass die Technik ein Wahnsinn ist, und meine Bikes um so vieles besser geworden sind.
- dass meine sportliche Leistung nicht mehr den selben Stellenwert hat wie vor 18 Jahren. Meine Social Media Accounts und Statistiken sind jetzt auschlaggebend.
- dass ich zum Social Media Addict und Athleten zu Like – Hunters werden, ob sie wollen oder nicht.
Ob das dritte gut oder schlecht ist sei dahin gestellt.
Für die Entwicklung des MTB-Rennsports ist die Social Media Welt sehr hilfreich, keine Frage. Ergebnisse und Neuigkeiten werden rasant verbreitet. Die Rennen und Contests sind besser organisiert und werden immer fetter. Regionen investieren in Bikeparks, Firmen können viele Werbekanäle und Marketinginstrumente nützen und erreichen dadurch neue potentielle Käufer. Klingt alles sehr positiv und man kann sich eigentlich nicht beschweren. Was ich mich nur frage – Wo bleibt die Athletin als Mensch? Die ja primär für sich selber fährt, um zu gewinnen und nicht um Followerweltmeisterin zu werden.
Manche Fahrerinnen profitieren von der Entwicklung und für manche wird es zur Belastung. Es ist ja nicht jedermanns Sache sich wöchentlich, täglich oder sogar stündlich fast selbstverliebt zur Schau zu stellen, sich immer Texte, neue Hashtag Kreationen, nie dagewesene Stories oder Storyboards auszudenken um am Ende mehr Zeit vorm Laptop zu verbringen als am Bike. Dann kommt dazu, dass man ja auch die ganze Zeit am Handy hängt, um zu schauen was machen die anderen und um zu checken wie viel Likes das letzte Foto erzielt hat. Der Vergleich passiert jetzt nicht nur mehr auf der Rennstrecke, sondern auch noch im Word Wide Web. Es geht immer noch um Zahlen, aber halt um Likes statt um Sekunden.
Ich persönlich tue mir nicht so leicht mit dieser Entwicklung, weil ich mich lieber mit meiner Linienwahl und meinem Training beschäftige, als mit Social Media Statistiken. Und dennoch müsste ich lügen, wenn ich sage „LIKES sind mir egal“ und ich fühle mich auch geschmeichelt, wenn meine Fotos LIKES bekommen, aber lieber wäre mir, es würde nicht so eine große Wichtigkeit haben. Es ist aber so wie es ist und wird eher noch extremer, als anders herum und daher sehe ich es, als gesponserte Fahrerin, als meinen Job, mein Leben öffentlich zu teilen und Content zu liefern. Zum Glück fotografiert mein Freund gerne, zum Glück liebe ich kreative Arbeit und zum Glück gefällt es meinen FollowerInnen und Sponsoren. Denn es ist ein Geben und Nehmen. Ich liefere Content und echte Emotionen und im Gegenzug kann ich mich auf meine Sponsoren zu 100 % verlassen. Am Ende des Tages lese ich über Postings wie „ist dir das nicht schon langsam zu blöd“ hinweg. Weil wer ist da am Ende der Blöde, wenn ich aus dem Sessellift in Whistler winke und posten kann #happyface #girlrider #ALINE #lovemyjob
Am Ende noch mein Tipp an die jungen FahrerInnen, die ganz nach oben wollen, pflegt eure Social Media Kanäle, postet überlegt, ehrlich, authentisch und lasst euer Smart Phone auch ab und zu Zuhause und genießt die Trails im hier und jetzt mit euren Freunden.
Eure Helene
(Artikel aus dem GRAVITY Magazin ISSUE #034 2016)