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Podiums and Parenting in Rotorua
If you’ve ever raced a mountain bike in Rotorua, you’ve probably seen Janine Kavanagh on the podium. But it turns out that Janine hasn’t always been a die-hard mountain biker. Read on to learn how Janine’s love of bikes started back in 2005, and how she’s now passing that on to her son Anton.
 | “I used to be a runner, but my shoulder and my knee were starting to give me grief - so when a group of friends suggested I join them in an upcoming mountain bike race, I decided to enter and give it a go. And much to my surprise, I ended up winning the race and $500!” |
Fast forward a few years, and that race was the start of something huge for Janine. Then in 2012, Janine and husband Tu relocated from Hamilton to Rotorua, and setup Mountain Bike Rotorua.
| “Everything changed for us in 2012. We launched into the new business, I bought my first ever full suspension bike, and I woke up pinching myself because we had the redwoods on our doorstep. It was amazing.” |
But despite the new bike, the location and the business - riding had to take a back seat for a little while as Janine and Tu became parents. Although that didn’t stop the Liv Ambassador getting a podium whilst 4 months pregnant.
| “I remember being pregnant whilst enduro racing was starting to gain popularity. I’d always wanted to do downhill, but at the time it was a bit intimidating. And I found cross country was fun, but it didn't quite play to my strengths or have the adrenaline element I loved - so when enduro came on the scene it seemed like the perfect type of racing for me.” |
Fast forward to 2018 (and many podiums later!), and now life as a Mother of two is about balancing parenting with riding bikes. And thanks to the Shotgun seat, Janine combines MTB training with forest adventures with her son Anton who is 2 years old.
| “Anton is our little adventurer, and he loves getting outdoors with me on the bike. It’s great to be able to get a decent training ride in and also have him enjoy the ride too - it’s the best of both worlds for me.” |
Special thanks to Janine for sharing her story, learn more about the Shotgun Kids MTB Seat or Mountain Bike Rotorua.
Author Info:
Member since Apr 30, 2019
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