I managed to spend a morning with World Cup 4X racer Angie Hohenwarter last summer at Crankworx, we shot some photos and talked about things that make her wheels turn.
Twenty something Angie Hohenwarter has been riding bikes since she was 4 years old, and racing since she was 9. Her results and riding style definitely reflect that, and she's chalked up a pretty decent string of results in the last few years. 4th place at the Schladming World Cup 4X in 2008, Austrian 4X Champion, 4th at the Bromont World Cup, 5th at the European 4X Championships and a few more...
Angie lists her favorite place to ride as Canada and she looks right at home cornering over Canadian roots...
Angie racing at Leogang, photo by Ale di Lullo
The Details: You race mountain bikes, how did it start? My brother and father always drove to XC Races – I got a bit jealous and wanted to do that too, so that´s how it started... that was 17 years ago.
Why do you race? Cause it is fun to compete against riders from all over the world.
What made you choose 4X instead of DH or XC? XC was too boring for me, I needed more action so I switched to DH and then to 4x because I like the battle between the racers.
What was your scariest moment on a bike? It was in Leogang where I was training for the “Top to Bottom Eliminator”, I crashed pretty hard and dislocated my shoulder...
Favorite place to ride?Canada!
What influences you in racing, who do you look up to? I love to travel around, meet people, see different countries/culture... it´s a once in a lifetime experience for me.
Are you inspired by any pro women racers, if so, which ones? There are lots of great pro women racers e.g. Jill Kintner racing 4x – she switched to BMX and won an Olympic Medal or Rachel Atherton, who was coming back so strong from a big Injury. I think every Woman racer can inspire you in different ways.
You're a girl, how does it feel to be in a sport that's predominantly males? At my Work it´s also the same with the guys, sometimes it’s not easy, but I don´t care. I have fun, enjoy it and girls rock too!
Do you do any other sports? Cross training? I like all kinds of different sports e.g. climbing, skiing, archery, yoga, tennis...
More Personal Stuff… Girlie or Tomboy? Mixed!
Dresses or Jeans? JEANS!
Favorite riding clothes? Maloja
Tea or Coffee? Coffee in the morning, tea at night.
Makeup? That depends on the event.
Pink or Black? RED!
In 5 years…? I´ll be older and still riding my bike.
Sponsors? Norco Bikes -
Maloja -
TSG -
Schwalbe -
Oakley -
Syntace -
Marzocchi -
WTB -
SkinsPhoto copyright Bause.at
Photo copyright Bause.at
For more info on Angie and some more great riding photos of her from
Tommy Bause and
Ale di Lullo you can check out her
website*The comments section of this post is not the place for the discussion of what is or is not appropriate in how people are portrayed in photos, posts, articles, interviews etc. Please post any comments on that subject here in the forums section and keep the comments here related to Angie.
Any comments on the subject that are posted here will be deleted. *
Great interview & shots!
Rant over.
Peace
To help more quickly hide bad comments, allow users with a significant amount of positive comments, to have higher influence on comment rating when they vote on something. For example perhaps a person who has had their previous 10 comments average +5 or so, when they vote on a comment it would count as +2 or -2. Or allow PLUS members more influence.
The main thing you have to do is put the power into the people who read the site and whom you can somewhat trust. Having staff or you police the comments has many drawbacks, and I'm sure you would much rather be doing something else.
That was a joke, but why are you inadvertently (but positively) segregating female riders by showcasing them distinctly apart from male riders? Rather than focusing on the fact they are female, why not just feature female riders and male riders in equal lights? And if you don't want sexually oriented comments, and the article is purely about a rider, then why feature the rider in a sultry pose, you don't feature guys with their shirts off looking all sweaty and manly!
That first shot looks like its straight off the set of some kids show. Wild haha.
All of this undermining and bitching just takes away from the facts that A) Angie is a cool girl forging her way in what could easily be classified as a predominantly male sport and B) Ian Hylands spent a bunch of his time and energy to bring Pinbike users the great story of an up and coming rider.
Now you all come on here and slag him off, or cat call Angie like a bunch of middle schoolers hiding behind their keyboards?
Time to grow up. Show some respect for Angie, Ian and Pinbike.
The only issue with covering women, which it sounds like is already being worked out, is that whenever a women is covered many juvenile idiots on the site make crude comments, that they would likely not make in person to her because they are too immature and cowards, and because its just plain rude. Just because you are behind the veil of your internet connection shouldn't allow you to be an ass. So check yourself.
Nice writeup. Its great to see good riders being recognized.
However, what isn't inspirational was all the low smutty comments that I have seen on previous 'women that ride' articles. In fact it really puts me off, as a girl, from riding. It makes me think - is this what men/boys really think of us girls that like to get out and rip it up on our bikes? Do they need the internet and websites to voice their opinions that they are too cowardly to say to us to our faces out on the trial? I don't want to be out riding my bike if this is what men/boys are thinking.
I love the photos of Angie riding, and I do like the lifestyle shots too, but the ones holding her t-shirt are getting a bit beyond life style! If photos are going to be put up like that, please do the same with articles on men. Its only fair!!
out on the trails/races everyone's equal - it's mainly just on forums where daft sexist comments exist
the photos would be just as pretty with an ugly bearded fat bloke in them (well, maybe not the 3 shirt piccies)
Nothing wrong with this photo, should be in the article too: www.pinkbike.com/photo/6277150
thanks!
or www.pinkbike.com/news/Crankworx-2007-Gala-Freeride-entertainment-2007.html
or www.pinkbike.com/news/Loeka-sun-peaks-womens-weekend-review-2007.html
or www.pinkbike.com/news/Gala-set-up-Crankworx-2007.html
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"At Sask - How can you honestly say that? Riding a bicycle is not only about pedaling". . . .Not what I said. But I would argue that pedalling is the most important part of riding a bike. Of course there are other, very important skills as well. I just like to "earn my turns."
Your from Saska-bush! Your opinion on XC vs. DH riding is invalid.
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Thanks for telling me where I live. I'm from Saskatoon yes, but do I live there? No. You gotta pedal to ride. DH racers would agree with me.
tha angel has wingz
whats is classed as lewd or inappropiate? whatever pisses Ian off on the day i guess
im so gonna get suspended for saying that haha
sorry;\
i love it..
Nice photos and good to see a chick who shreds!
And if you have ever been in the lift line at Bromont with your DHer girlfriend, you know what it means to be ’’ogled’’