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How does it feel
to be one of the world’s 100 sexiest women?
It is a compliment, but it really does have to be kept in
perspective. I feel much prouder being one of the world’s
100 best women mountain bikers.
Where exactly
do you live when you’re not travelling the world?
Sydney, Australia.
Why are you changing
to the SRM Team? Wouldn’t joining an Australian or American
team have been the more logical choice?
I think that joining the SRM team is the perfect combination
for me. SRM’s North American office is based in Colorado
Springs which is where my coach lives. Having both in the
same town and being at altitude makes Colorado Springs the
perfect base for me while I am travelling. In addition to
that, I have the support of SRM in Germany when I travel to
Europe for the later part of this season. I have great team
mates and Uli and everyone involved with SRM are extremely
supportive and genuinely nice people. On top of that, I absolutely
love the SRM product. Living in Australia, the SRM allows
me to have a coach in Colorado and for him to know everything
about every ride or race that I do. At this point in my career,
I can’t imagine a more logical team.
What came first
– biking or modelling?
Modelling. I started modelling when I was sixteen. I started
riding bikes when I was twenty one.
What do you like
about modelling?
Maybe because I already have an interest in graphic design
and photography but I really enjoy being creative. I feel
like modelling gives me a way to be involved in creative projects
with other people and create something new.
And about biking?
I love riding my bike. It doesn’t matter where I am,
once I am on my bike I can live in the moment and just enjoy
what I am doing. I feel comfortable on my bike, it doesn’t
matter if it is a trail or a road, sunny or raining, you can
always have an adventure on a bike and it can take you almost
anywhere.
What do you prefer
– 10 hours of photo shootings or 2 hours of racing?
That depends on what I have been doing a lot of lately. If
it has been bikes, bikes, bikes, then a photo shoot can be
a great escape.
As a model you
have to look flawless, but mountainbiking includes lots of
spectacular falls and nasty wounds. Aren’t you afraid
of scars?
No, not at all. If I started thinking like that I might start
thinking about how an injury could bring an end to my cycling
career. I love and enjoy what I do. That is why I do it.
Have you been
marketing your cat? (e.g. TV show “Celebrity Pets”)
Why?
No, I have definitely not been marketing my cat. But I have
done many interviews and like the Celebrity Pets interview,
interviewers are always trying to find out a little bit about
your life outside of racing. I do have an interesting pet
cat that has caught some interviewer’s attention as an
interesting story.
You studied graphic
design – was that just a hobby or more?
It is both a hobby and more, just like cycling is. When you
love something and put everything you have into it, then the
border between work and hobby seem to vanish.
You have so many
talents – is there anything you’re actually bad
at?
I am sure there are many!
Has your creativity as a designer been bearing fruit?
I have painted a back pack for Oakley and I would like to
do more projects, but since I have made the transition to
XC racing then I am really trying to focus all my energies
into becoming a stronger racer. It takes time to get the legs
for endurance racing at World Cup level!
When you show
the first signs of ageing and your legs get weaker, are you
going to turn to design?
That is probably not how I want to look at it, but yes at
some point in the future art and design will be a larger part
of my life than it is now. These days it is becoming rare
that anyone has the same occupation for the rest of their
lives. I think you should just take each day as it comes,
do your best in your work and enjoy whatever you are doing.
Modelling is
a well-paid job… Have you done quite well for yourself?
Like many things, I am sure the grass is greener on the other
side.
Who had an impact
on you as a child? (Family, friends…)
There are many people who inspired me as I was growing up.
We moved quite often so I was fortunate enough to live in
a few countries while I was growing up. I was always a bit
of a tomboy when I was young, so most of my friends would
be up for an adventure. We would take marine buoys out into
the sea and paddle them around, climbing trees, taking horses
out swimming in the ocean, etc. We lived by the water for
most of my younger years so we could spend the entire day
out barefoot and exploring. I am the oldest in my family too,
I have 3 younger brothers and so I always liked to take them
on adventures. My father is a doctor so I have a definite
interest in science but then my mother is an artist so there
is that creative aspect too. I think I am definitely a mix
between the two of them.
You left Australia
pretty young to join a snowboard academy in Sweden. Are you
always this ambitious?
It probably was ambitious, I didn’t really think of it
like that. I think I must enjoy finding where my limits are.
I had always been curious about Sweden and so it evolved that
it became possible to move there and go to snowboard school.
It was definitely a great experience. Although when I fractured
my T4 and T5 it did change my life,. I became much more aware
of how vulnerable the body is and that we are not invincible
throwing ourselves onto concrete with a skateboard or even
landing in snow.
How did you get
to biking?
When I was in snowboard school I had the T4 and 5 injury.
It changed my approach and I didn’t feel as comfortable
taking risks on the snowboard. So by chance, during the Australian
snow season when the snow was not very good, I ended up on
a bike one day. I rode it on the road, then ended up taking
a shortcut through some bush. I was by myself, had no idea
where I was and then the pedal broke. But I had a great time.
So when I went into a bike shop to get a new pedal the guy
working there asked if I raced mountain bikes. That was the
first I had ever heard about mountain biking. But it sounded
like something I would enjoy so I spent the money I had been
saving for a snowboard trip to Whistler on a mountain bike.
But I did not know anyone who ride bikes or even where there
were any trails so I went to a bike race that weekend, (2
days after getting my bike). I had no idea about cycling so
it was all completely new but it was great fun and from there
I went to a bike race almost every weekend so that I could
ride new trails. I started in downhill and then moved over
to xc 3 years ago, but I am still enjoying dh.
You auditioned
for a film role at 20th Century Fox. Do you dream of a Hollywood
career?
That was an opportunity that came up that sounded like a lot
of fun. I was contacted about playing a part in a movie and
they wanted me to come in and meet with them. That role didn’t
turn out for a few reasons, but it did sound like fun. No,
it is not a dream, but yes it is certainly something I would
consider much more seriously further in the future if I had
the opportunity. Right now I am focused on being the best
cyclist that I can be. To be one of the best is my dream.
Niki Gudex: Men
want her, women want to be her. How do you see yourself?
All I know is that I feel happy when I am healthy. Having
a healthy body and mind is the most important thing for anybody,
because then they are capable.
Do you have role
models?
I have no role model as such. There are many people who I
admire and respect. It makes me happy to see people who feel
comfortable with themselves and are passionate about what
they are doing.
You are a beautiful
woman. Do you think you are being taken seriously by the bike
scene – especially by the other females?
I guess there are many stereotypes that can be easily attached.
The more that I pursue cycling, the more polarised opinions
may become. But I guess that is to be expected and it is not
something that I have control over. I am a racer and I enjoy
riding my bike. My only response to something like that is
through my performance on the race track, so that is my focus.
Which clubs or
bars do you like going to in Sydney?
Since I have started XC racing I haven’t had much time
for going out because I have been putting all my energy into
become stronger on the bike. I have a permanent race season,
so it is always hard to find time for an “offseason”.
The Australian mtb race season starts in October, just as
the international mtb race season comes to a finish. I have
been able to go to some fun bars in LA when I went there for
the Summer X-Games. There is a good scene in Sydney though.
Your job makes
you travel the world and move around a lot. Does that create
tensions with your partner or family?
No not really. I enjoy travelling, but it can be hard to miss
spending time with my family and friends back home.
Poor telephone connections can be frustrating at times, but
not the travel (unless it is lost luggage!). Being away from
those that you love for large parts of the year is always
going to be part of a job like this, I knew that before I
started. To be one of the best racers in the world is my goal
and I know that I will not achieve that immediately. It is
going to take a few years to develop and progress and I want
a long career, so it is best to focus on the positives and
enjoy the time that I do spend back home in Australia.
What are your
goals for the near future?
Obviously I want to continue enjoying what I do. I do enjoy
the process of improving and I enjoy success. I believe that
no matter how much success you have, there is always somewhere
that could be improved. Gunn-Rita still says that she is striving
to complete the perfect race. This is probably what I admire
about her the most.
Where do you
see yourself in 10 years? As a designer, the boss of a model
agency, coach of the Australian national team, or a housewife?
Why didn’t you ask if I would still be racing? (In 10
years I will still be younger than Alison Sydors current racing
age).
Profile: Björn Scheele.
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