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Looking at your
website, it seems that you have had an incredible life until
now (lot of travels, countries, citizenships and sports).
Could you first sum up the big stages of your life?
Twenty four years ago I was born in Guilford, England. We
moved to New Zealand where my family comes from, before moving
to Rochester in the USA. I began school there and we moved
to Sydney, Australia when I was still young. Growing up I
spent any spare time snowboarding, skateboarding and horseriding.
The next overseas move was to Sweden in 1997 where I trained
at a snowboard school in the north of Sweden for one year.
After that I spent some time again in the USA (California)
and then again in Sydney with my family. In 1999 I began mountain
biking and I also started at university. I am now in my final
year of my course where I am studying Graphic Design and New
Media (Bachelor of Creative Arts) and I will be graduating
at the end of the year. Last year I became an Australian citizen
in order to compete at the World Championships. Travelling
has been a big part of my life so far, I love Europe and also
Japan. I just returned from a brief holiday in New Zealand
where I visited my family and friends, I really enjoy it there
but I would have to say that I call Australia home because
it is where I have spent most of my time.
You discovered
mountainbike 3 years ago after an injury done in snowboard, your
last sport. Then you went on with this activity. Why did you
choose it, what do you like in this? It must be similar to
snowboarding? Do you feel better if you're unsafe?
Mountain biking is a lot of fun!! The way I came across the
sport was purely by accident, but I am so glad that I did.
I think that mountain biking is great because it continually
provides you with ways to challenge yourself. It is really
satisfying to be able to see your own progression and even
to just be able to get on a bike and go riding. To go out
into the bush with friends and just ride.
You fast became
one of the best riders in your country. Then last year, you
discovered the world championships. Now, what do you aim for
the next international dates?
My trip to the world championships was really to see what
an international race was like and also to see the level of
competition. Now I am hoping to get on an international team
so that next year I can start racing overseas.
Could you be
a professional mountain biker in Australia? Which rank and
notoriousness for your sport in Australia? In France, people
like Nicolas Vouilloz or Laurence Leboucher are only known
by specialists, in spite of huge highlights. Is this the same
in Australia?
Unfortunately you cannot easily become a professional mountain
biker in Australia. Whilst mountain biking is an activity
that many people do at a competitive level, the sport itself
is quite small and receives very little mainstream media coverage.
Just like Nicolas Vouilloz and Laurence Leboucher, Chris Kovarik
and Mary Grigson are only known by specialists, regardless
of their international success.
With all your
activities : designer, biker and model, how do you proceed?
How much time do you spend in each one? Have you enough time
left to do something else (hobbies)?
Life at the moment is very hectic trying to do all three considering
that my degree is a full time commitment, however at the end
of this year I will have completed my studies. I hope then
to be able to focus much more on cycling. I still intend to
continue with graphic design and modelling. I think it is
really important to have time for other hobbies, so whenever
possible I try to have time to relax, hang out with friends,
go to the beach, play with my kitten, photography, watching
films etc.
You were also
voted as Australia's Sexiest Sportswoman by Inside Sport magazine
for 2002. You've done several interviews for FHM or other
male magazines? How do you feel with this? And what are your
motivation in modeling? Just for fun? Did you come to an agreement
with your cycling federation to promote mountain bike? Is
it important to find sponsors?
It was pretty cool to be voted as Australia's Sexiest Sportswoman,
especially because mountain biking is not a particularly mainstream
sport. Winning the title was great because it generated a
lot of media, for a few weeks I was doing about three interviews
per day. I started modelling before I began cycling, however
it is great to be able to combine the two. Particularly because
I think that being an athlete you become more aware of your
body and what it is capable of. Sport keeps you fit and gives
you self confidence and better self respect.
As for an agreement with our cycling federation, no, but cycling
(not just mountain biking) is something that I love and believe
is a sport that so many people can be involved with. It doesn’t
have to be competition, or even downhill, just to enjoy riding
a bike is all that matters. As for finding sponsorship, I
don’t think modelling in itself is important to find
sponsorship but I do think that if you want people to have
you as a representative of their company, then you need to
be well presented.
If you had to
make a choice, what would you prefer to become : the most
famous graphic designer or gold medal in the Olympic Games?
Hmmmmm, how about both!?! I am not sure, I love graphic design
and I love mountain bikes. Obviously it is the ultimate to
win an Olympic gold medal. But both are hard roads.
You studied french
in school during four years. Why did you choose french? Did you
already go to France? If you expect to do this, we'd be very
happy to meet you for another interview, live next time!
Actually my coach, Michel Vermande is French! I studied french
when I was at school for four years, it was compulsory for
the first year but it interested me so I continued with it.
I think French is quite a beautiful language. I have been
in France on two occasions, the first when I was very young
with my family and the second time when I was living in Sweden
and I travelled around Europe with friends during the summer
holidays. Unfortunately both times were far too brief and
I hadn’t yet discovered cycling, so I am looking forwards
to going there for longer in the future.
Profile: Bruno Masseboeuf
@ Lavoixdessports.com
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