Hannah Report: Queenstown Training

With documentaries like Faster and Senna around there should be no loss of motivation in the off season. During training time I believe it's key to stay motivated. Everyone has a different way to stay focused. One of mine is to watch documentaries of the most genius and outstanding motor racing drivers/riders, like Ayrton Senna and Valentino Rossi. For me it's not as much the hard work as it is their minds. I am blown away by the strong minds that these guys have, and their genius way of conducting a race.


I believe that injuries affect the mind much more seriously and lengthily than the physical damage. The healing of bones and muscles usually happens naturally over time, however the healing of the mind is something completely different, it takes strength and persistence. The off season for me is to build a strong mind and build back the confidence that I lost. However, I don’t want to go back to the level that I was, I aim to be like my heroes, to know what I want and exactly what I need to do to get it. Failure must merely be a block in the road, not a hit to my confidence.


At the start of January I left the heat and humidity of Cairns and flew to Queenstown, New Zealand. It is my first time here, the reason I came was to ride some of the tracks that I had heard so much about; steep, technical, World Cup-like, and more. At home it's great training but I know those tracks. The off season is about getting confident on my bike to go faster on the steeper more technical World Cup tracks.


There is a short gondola ride to the top and once you're up there are lots of different tracks to choose from, beginning at your simple bike park trail all the way to the steepest tracks that are almost impossible to ride. Well, it was impossible for me yesterday in the wet. My main focus is riding downhill, usually I would focus on strength, or fitness but it is so important for me to feel good on my bike again. To feel confident in any situation, so I am working on what is lacking for now.


Other than riding downhill we also go out on a few trail rides for something different and some fitness training. The weather here is perfect for training, it's not too hot and not too cold. However, it has taken me until now to get used to it, and I’m about halfway through my time here.








Next month I’m off to South America to spend a couple of weeks riding with my downhill teammates and testing products before the season start. I am looking forward to this time because team bonding and product testing is so important before the beginning of the more hectic part of our year. If we can be comfortable on our bikes and in our team environment then it makes a race weekend run that much smoother.

Thanks to Vertigo Bikes Queenstown for the Heli Biking trip and all their help. Also thanks to my sponsors; Hutchinson Tires, Polygon bikes, BOS suspension, E.13, Formula brakes, Spank, Odi, Reverse, VP, 100%, Five10, Sony, IXS, Zefal, Ti Spring, Clearprotect, Jetblack, Blackmountain

Photo credit goes to: Kevin Triboulat


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