„And just like that, everything was suddenly different.“
When I hurt my shoulder at the beginning of the season, I was feeling good on my bike, but thought, it still wasn’t good enough. So instead of taking a day off, I rushed for another lap, and found myself 20 minutes later, with a lowered head, sitting in an ambulance. Knowing my season was over before it had even started. From every injury, I learn something. From this one, to enjoy the rides with my best friend, far away from the race tape.
This video was filmed late summer, as I was starting to feel better on my bike again.
I don’t know where to start it was just over my expectations.
Crankworx was amazing. Of course, the spectators were missing and it was a bit different to normal. But overall it was so nice. I raced the Pumptrack race and the Downhill race, which was also our National Champs race. Everyone was hipped to see each other and catch up after such a long time. And everyone as blessed that the organizers tried everything so that this event can actually happen. So big thanks to the whole crew from Innsbruck well done.
My Pumptrack training went well I enjoyed it a lot and so also the heats. I placed 5th in qualification and also 5th at the final race. In DH I had so much fun I really like the track and I am so glad that I manage to come every year to race there. I had a good run with one bigger mistake and at the end, I finished 12th and 3rd at the National champs, which made me very happy. Valentina Höll got first and local Angie Hohenwarter 2nd.
This year I couldn’t wait to come back to Innsbruck or more exactly Mutters. I really like the venue and this time we raced on a new DH track, which was even more fun than the one from last year. FRESH DIRT.
Dual Slalom went okay. In pump track bad it wasn’t my day I guess and in DH I had a good one.
This year it all worked out perfect again. The weather was great, the media team was on point and of course, my racer girls were brilliant and unstoppable.
We had so much fun and I am so proud of my girls.
Big thanks to my sponsors, who supported me so well and gave such nice presents for the goody bag. Feel free to spread the videos on your channels.
Ja es ist wieder bald soweit das Niva ! No Diva Race camp is on. Du kannst mit mir 3 Tage racen, viel lernen, an deine Grenzen gehen, Spass haben und fühlen wie es ist ein Rennen zu fahren. Vielleicht hast du das eh schon erlebt, aber ich bin 3 Tage bei dir coache dich. Verrate dir alle meine Tricks von 20 Jahren Rennerfahrung und das alles in einer netten Mädlsgruppe die gleich wie du racen wollen.
Außerdem bekommst du eine mega cooles Goodie bag. Angefangen bei einer neuen Go Pro Hero, SP Gadget adapter, HT pedale, Skull candy kopfhörer, propilot lenker, Iriedaily outfits, Verival Müsli, Coco drinks, Praxis worx goodies, Maxxis goodies. Also ganz viele coole Sachen. Du wirst sie lieben.
Also anmelden. Es gibt nur noch einen Platz. (Stand 06.Juni.2019)
bis dann eure Helene
Wann?
5-7 Juli 2019
Wo?
Im Zuge des Glemmride Bike Festivals in Saalbach Hinterglemm (PLZ 5753 / Österreich)
www.glemmride.at
www.saalbach.com
Für Wen?
Du bist ein Female-Rider, hast Lust auf Aktion, Spaß und eine neue Challenge. Wolltest immer schon einmal ein Downhill Rennen mit fahren, aber hast dich noch nicht drüber getraut. Bergab fahren oder technische Passagen und Geschwindigkeit sind voll deins und am Besten in einer netten Mädlsrunde?
Du fühlst dich bereits ganz sicher auf deinem Bike und möchtest die nächste Stufe erklimmen? Dann bist du der NIVA! NO DIVA – RACE genau richtig! Schwerpunkte
Anmeldung für das Rennen unter www.racement.com (open Women)
Wir treffen uns Freitag 10:00
FREITAG, 5. Juli 2019
12:00 – 18:00 Uhr // gemeinsame Startnummer abholen
12:00 – 15:45 Uhr // Pro Line offen, dass nützen wir gleich und fahren gemeinsam
17:00 – 19:00 Uhr // Track Walk
SAMSTAG, 6. Juli 2019
08:00 – 14:00 Uhr // Pflichttraining – 2 Läufe (nur mit Startnummer)
14:00 – 14:30 Uhr // Streckensperrung, da gehen wir dann gemeinsam Mittagessen.
ab 14:30 Uhr // Seeding Run (Pflicht) – mit Startzeiten
SONNTAG, 7. Juli 2019
08:00 – 11:00 Uhr // Offizielles Pflichttraining
ab 11:30 Uhr // Rennlauf
Nachbesprechung
Bei Fragen einfach mailen an info@viennabikeacademy.com oder anrufen 0043 650 8381111
Allgemeine Informationen (bitte bei Teilnahme lesen)
Das Kursbike sollte mindestens 150mm Federweg haben und für Downhill und Freeride ausgelegt sein.
Falls du kein eigenes Downhill Bike haben solltest und planst eines zu kaufen, bekommst du bei Intense cycles Europa einen super Preis auf ein Neurad. Bitte rechtzeitig anfragen bei Helene.
Für absolute Anfängerinnen, die gar keine Downhill Bikepark- Erfahrung haben ist die Racegruppe zu anspruchsvoll.
Du brauchst einen Vollvisierhelm, Langfingerhandschuhe, eine Brille, Knie, Rücken, Elbogen Protektoren. (Falls du keine eigenen Protektoren haben solltest bekommst du von uns Protektoren geliehen. bitte nur bei der Anmeldung sagen.)
Die Liftkarte ist nicht im Preis inbegriffen.
Wer in Saalbach übernachtet sollte darauf achten, dass das Hotel ein Jokercard Hotel ist, weil mit der Jokercard bekommst du eine Liftkarte gratis.
Die Racegruppen Teilnehmerinnen bekommen bei der Rennanmeldung eine Liftkarte also keine kaufen.
This year was the second time the Wexl crew organised this event. Last year I won it and had so much fun.
Because it isn’t just a bike race. It is something special. You have to run/ hike up a steep hill then you have to race with a stand-up paddle 4 times back and forward on a small lake and then finally you ride down with your bike a Bikepark track but without a chain. This time it was also my birthday and I was very determined to win this thing again. I gave all, especially at the uphill run and at the end, my effort, in this category, saved me and I won again. It was also my birthday and one of the best birthday present ever.
I don’t know if other countries have this too but in Austria, you get a special reward when you get a World Champs medal. And so I got invited to be honoured in the first district of Vienna. And the Austria sports minister gave it to me in person. The Austrian TV was also there and I got interviewed, which was broadcasted the next evening in the prime time.
The next day I also got invited to the „day of sports“ event in Vienna and I got another award. My name was also written on the big Wall of fame.
I was so proud of myself and it felt so good to get the respect and reward for your achievements. Of course, I do it for myself in the first place but it just feels just good to stand there and get a fancy golden medal.
Thanks, Republic Austria for this honour.
These are my beauties. I am so proud of myself to achieve this.
It is a lot of work and it is a lot of responsibility aaaaaand it is a lot of fun.
I absolutely love my racing and ride camp.
I had again some amazing personalities. Very strong women and personalities.
Like every year, the NIVA! No DIVA weekend is based on the racing and riding group. I have the „RACE“ group from Friday to Sunday and my guest coach the „RIDE“ group on Saturday.
This year I, unfortunately, all started with a big tragedy. My other coach GLORIA had a serious work injury one week before the camp. She must have had few guardian angels with her because she nearly died. (head injury). She is getting better her mother told me but it is a long way back and I wish her all the best.
So I had to find quickly another coach for the Saturday group, which I did Manuela Walder.
My race group was very special and strong.
This year I had a very interesting mix of women/ girls.Freda /34/ Flightatendent: A good friend of mine, who always wanted to take part in my race camp since the first day. But always something cropped up like an injury one day before the camp started or her children or the job but this time she made it. But this year she made it and she was amazing. After every training run, she got better and better and the final run she said was the best of all. So delivered on point and improved by 4 seconds with a time of 4:55
Sarah / 28 / architect: A women who live just in the other valley (Leogang), rides very well but wanted to know for herself if she is fast or not compare to others. One good reason to race. I had the feeling she was a bit nervous, her family and friends came to watch and in her seeding run, she crashed hard. But she kept on riding took one painkiller and fought it out. She raced very well in her final run and found herself in the very good 12th position. She was very happy and it was officially proved that she is fast with a time of 4:43
Kathrin/ 32 / IT- specialist: Kathrin is a typical sportswoman you could tell. Her mindset was so focused and strong even if her body was not. She competed in the past on skis so she knows how racing works. I mean who would come up with the idea to take part in a race camp without any time on the bike for 3 years (baby break), someone with a lot of confidence I would say. During practice, she was on the limit (also her bike). But at the end, she scrapped some energy from somewhere and just missed the podium by one place with a time of 4:45.
Mira / 12 / Student :
About three weeks ago Mira’s mum called me and asked me if I take also 12-year-old ones and said that she rides very well. I just said: „yes of course“ and was super excited to show I girl so young the world of racing. When I hung up the phone I was thinking:“ How tall is a 12th-year-old one. What can she already do? Did I say too quick yes? Will she fit in the group? Does every mum say about the child that she is extraordinary good? “ I had no idea to what exactly I said yes.
But in the end, it was all good and this young lady was extraordinarily talented, exactly how her mother said.
She had the fastest seeding run time and with this time (4:34) she would have also won on Sunday. I am saying would because she got a puncture and a chainsack just before the finish line. But instead of giving up she dragged her bike down the last slope. But this is not the last time we will hear from her.
My race run worked out well for me and I found myself on the top spot at the IXS Rookies cup race in Saalbach Hinterglemm with a time 3:59.
Fredas Final Run was her best of the weekend. I just say right on point.
Manus Ride group on Saturday
This year the Niva! No Dive ride camp was again booked out and again the weather was perfect. Saalbach Hinterglemm is such a beautiful place and because the Glemmride festival was running the city was packed full of riders, brands, spectators and more.
The riding group started early and went to the top of the Z- Line, where Manu showed the girls the basics of Mountainbiking. It is crazy who quick you can improve just when someone tells you from the outside what you should change or do. So yes the girls improved a lot and by the end of the day, the elbows pointed to the side, the knees didn’t touch the top tube anymore at the same time, the break lever got touched by one finger not two and many more things…
Manu the riding coach in her element at the Hacklberg trail
Elbow out and eyes straight ahead.
I want to say a big thanks to David Keusch the filmer, Christian Fessl the photographer and Saalbach Tourism for the hotel and of course to my sponsors, who support me.
Goody bag supporters: Go Pro, R.S.P, Iriedaily, Verival Bio, Dr. Antonio Martins Coco Drink, Maxxis, Skull Candy, SP- Connect, Epic-Wear, Novatec Wheels, Selle San Marco, Carbocage,
and Troy Lee Designs, SP- Gadgets, Spy, Ciclopia, DVS, 9point8, Praxis Works, SR Suntour
You are a female MTB rider, ready for some action, fun and a new challenge.
You always wanted to race a downhill race but you didn’t want to do it alone and didn’t know how? Downhill, tricky section and speed is your thing and you like the share your MTB passion with other girls and also wanted to be coached by a woman? You are ready for the next step to improve your riding skills.
Then is the NIVA! No Diva Jam Session the perfect girls camp for you.
With a world champ medalist Helene Fruhwirth and the Austrian Pumptrack founder and DH racer Gloria Schnopfhagen. You have two great coaches next to you, who will make this weekend unforgettable for you.
The girls have planned many nice things and the icing on the cake is the phenomenal goody bag.
You can choose between the RACE and the RIDE group. The race group will take part in the IXS Rookies cup race – riding and racing on the proline the whole weekend. Helene will guide you, help you and show you how a professional deals with racing.
Gloria has the RIDE group, where you learn all the MTB basics and the advanced stuff the whole Saturday without racing stress.
The main focus for both groups.
• Jumping drops
• Jumping doubles
• Roots section
• Railing berms
• Jumping gaps
• Of camber roots section
• Line choice
• Rock section
• Increase your speed
• Breaking skills
The RACE Group has maximum 4 girls, and the RIDE group maximum 7 Girls.
Registration for the race www.racement.com (open Women)
from 15.MAI.2018
any questions just write to info@viennabikeacademy.com
Race group Helene
The timetable is not 100 percent sure
Friday:
depending if the racetrack is open in the morning we can ride together there
16:30 Welcome
****GOODY BAG ****
16:00 numberplate pick up
17:00-19:00 Track walk together
Saturday
09.00 – 14.00 Uhr Training on the race course
14.00 – 14.30 Uhr track closed so we have lunch
ab 14.30 Uhr Seeding Run (you need this run just for the start order)
After: Go Pro Videoanalyse
Sunday:
08.00 – 11.00 Uhr Training
11.00 – 11.30 Uhr track closed
ab 11.30 Uhr race run (this one count)
having a good time after and reflect what has happened in the last days.
RIDE group Gloria:
Saturday:
9:00 – 10:00 WELCOME everyone and goody bag surprise
10:00 – 10:15 Bike check
10:30 – 13:00 Bike Skills Training on the Milka Line / Z- Line
13:00 -14:00 Lunchtime with the RACE group
14:00 – 17:00 Bike Skills Training on the X – Line and the Hacklbergtrail
if you have a question feel free to ask info@viennabikeacademy.com or call 0043 650 8381111
Gloria and Helene are happy to ride with you on the nice trails.
Regular information:
for the registration, you have to fill out the registration formula.
You have to pay in advanced.
In the Ride group, your bike must have min 140mm travel and must be a full suspension bike.
In the Race group, you should have min 16mm travel a DH bike would be the best.
If you don’t have a DH Bike and you are planning to buy one, just ask Helene and she can help you to get a good priced Intense Bike
If you are a total Newbie you can’t register for this Camp
You need a full face helmet, long finger gloves, a goggle, Knee, Elbow and Back protection. If you don’t have on of these ask Helene she can lend you some.
The lift ticket is not included in the price
If you stay in Saalbach make sure you sleep in „Joker card“ Hotel because then you get the lift ticket for free.
The Race group gets a lift ticket at the race registration too.
From all my events and camps I do. This is my favourite. The Niva! No Diva Race and Ride camp in lovely Saalbach Hinterglemm. It is for a woman, who wants to get better on the bike, wants to share their passion with other girls, wants to learn new things and races her first downhill race together with me.
You are a female MTB rider, ready for some action, fun and a new challenge.You always wanted to race a downhill race but you didn’t want to do it alone and didn’t know how? Downhill, tricky section and speed is your thing and you like the share your MTB passion with other girls and also wanted to be coached by a woman? You are ready for the next step to improve your riding skills.
Then is the NIVA! No Diva Jam Session the perfect girls camp for you. And the icing on the cake is the phenomenal goody bag.
You can choose between the RACE and the RIDE group. The race group will take part in the IXS Rookies cup race – riding and racing on the proline the whole weekend. I will guide you, help you and show you how a professional deals with racing.
Gloria has the RIDE group, where you learn all the MTB basics and the advanced stuff the whole Saturday without racing stress.
You find detailed info about the timetable, prices, goody bag and registration here www.viennabikeacademy.com. The places are limited: RIDE max 7 girls and RACE max 4 girls
Thanks to my sponsors:
GoPro, Sp Connect, R.S.P, Epic wear, Iriedaily, Carbocage, Maxxis, Verival Bio, Coco Drink, HT Components, Selle San Marco and many more
First Heat in Minute 28:00 and Final Heat in Minute 41:00
Finally I can say I got it.
This night my biggest dream came true. I always wanted to have a 4X World Championship medal. I didn’t even care which one. I just wanted to stand on the podium with my austrian national jersey and lean my head forward to get a medal around my neck.
„I achieved so many things in my life but this little thing which is massive for me was missing so far.“
So this year it was my year I thought. For those who watched me last year I had a massive crash at the pro section at the second double and walked away with nothing apart a concussion and a broken heart. I was so sad I can’t tell you. So this year I wanted to make better. anI trained a lot, had some heavy ups and downs and self doubts if it will be enough or if I will have a realistic chance to get this medal?
I arrived earlier to train the pro line. But I was so afraid to jump it. I rode so many times into the jumpline but everything in my body told me NO. So in my first official training session I said to myself. Don’t jump it and train the other line you can ride this fast too.
It was a good desicion I wrote fast and qualified 4th on thursday. On friday at the main race, in the heat where I could advanced in the final I had a good gate and stayed at the back wheel from Caroline. I was so happy and relieved that I made in the finals.
I stayed focused and because Natasha Bradley (GBR) made it also into the final but qualified 6th I could bike the gate before her and choosed third. So it was Caroline , Romana, me and Natasha in the gate. Caroline and Romana both BMX Pros had excellent gates. But my one was good too and I managed to rail the first turn very well and sticked behind Romana. Romana and Caroline went over the pro line and I chose the left line. Natasha planned to jump the pro line but then didn’t and had to roll the big doubles so I was gone. I came very close to Romana but not enough to make a move at the rocks.
I crossed the finish line third and couldn’t believe it. My knees felt like jelly pudding and I wanted to cry and smile the same time. I finally achieved my biggest dream to get a medal.
Results Women
Caroline Buchanan (AUS)
Romana Labounkova (CZ)
Helene Fruhwirth (AUT)
Men:
Felix Beckeman (SWE)
Quentin Derbier (FRA)
Giovanni Pozzoni (ITA)
my future:
I am not 100% sure yet but I want to stop 4X racing and I saw this race as my last 4X race. I really love the 4X family and how we all help each other especially the Brits. But the last races were so much stress for me and I wasn’t really happy, how I dealt with this and my emotions. I also love my downhill bike more and prefer jumping with this bike. I will keep you up to date what my plans are. My next stop is now the Eurobike in Germany so see some of you there.
I want say a big thanks to my sponsors, who supports me. Go Pro, Iriedaily, Baby-G, Verival Bio, Dr. Antonio Martins Coco Drink, Troy Lee Designs , Skull Candy, Novatec Wheels, Selle San Marco, Carbocage, Maxxis, SP- Gadgets, Acros Components, Board-Shack Shop, Epic-Wear, Ciclopia, R.S.P, DVS,
My dream came true this evening. Standing with these two ladies and playing with champagne, because we have achieved something great.
Look at this crowed it was just amazing to race here. Bella Italia and the name Val di Sole proofed right. I didn’t rain.
so relieved and happy
my idol Greg Minnaar, didn’t have so much luck this weekend a flat tire cost him the victory and the overall title, but he still smiled for the pic. thx.
When this event is coming up it means we are at the end of the 4X Pro Tour. It is always the biggest and most spectacular race in the season. More than 10.000 people come to watch. There is a live cast. A redbull Airfighter flying show a crazy Masters of dirt after party. I really like it and I also like the track. But this time my mind was not ready for it. I was so exhausted from the weeks before that I didn’t really looked forward to race again. But because I was afraid that I will regret it afterwards I decided to compete and luckily I didn’t regret it after.
I can’t complain at the end it turned out well for me. I qualified 2nd on Friday and could keep me second spot also in the final. It was a tough one but I kept focused. I didn’t have the best gate and was behind Romana and Natasha. Romana went to the left and Natasha went for the pro Line (big respect for that) and I followed Romana. In the wood section Natasha tried to push Romana away but instead passing her she crashed so I rode by and followed Romana to the finish. Romana got first , Simona 3rd and Natasha 4th.
In the men race local man and organizer Thomas Slavik won.In the 4X Pro Tour overall I ended up on the 3rd spot. I am very happy about that.
First got Romana and second Natasha.Now I have some time to relax and will focus on my training. Their is still a lot home work to do until the World Champs in Italy until then I havn’t planned some races.
I love to coach and I love to see someone else getting better and better on the bike. I guess you already have figured out that I also adore to race. I am the generation who improved their riding when you race, because the good tracks were just open for races and chair lifts were just running on race weekends. Now we have many bikeparks and you don’t have to race to ride the best tracks. But I still think when you race and you like to compete (thats very important) you get definitely much faster and better.
So three years ago I decided to make race camps for girls who had never raced before. I teach them all the stuff I had to learn by myself and pass on my experiences and secrets. I really enjoy the time with them I pretty much live with them again through my whole DH career. It is very emotional and can be stressful.And every year we have some little dramas but nearly always with an happy end.
This year it was something special. The first time in the Niva! no Diva history one of my racer girls made it to podium next to me. She was all weekend long very fast and sticked to my back wheel. But it is something different to ride fast in the training or ride fast in the race run. She kept it together and kept her 3 place from qualification.
At the beginning of the race camp we were 5 girls. On friday we did the track walk together and talked about the fastest lines. Unfortunately on girl got really sick over the night and could continue the race camp. So we were 4 on Saturday. We did some good trainings runs and in my opinion we were a very fast group this year. I was totally satisfied and happy. The qualification run went fine for all of us too and because we were riding the whole day with our gopros we could discuss afterwards the best lines by watching our videos. On raceday (Sunday) Mara had bad luck because in her first trainings run her breaks didn’t work and she got of the track very bad and decided not to race. And so at the end it was Nicole, Stef and myself. But the girls very already like professionals and stayed focused even we missed one dream team member.
In the race run Stef had very good run just one mistake at the top and Nicole hit all the lines she wanted and also did the big gap which she did just twice. My run was also good and I didn’t make a big mistake. I ended up on the second spot behind my good friend Angie Hohenwarter followed by my Niva! No Diva Ladie Stef. The only girl who beat us was the local young gun Valentina Höll. She smoked our times and is the future of the Austrian downhill scence – or even of the world. She is so fast and I can’t wait to see who she will do at the World cups in two years.
I want say a big thanks to my sponsors, who supported the camp and made my girls smile, because of this big goody bag stuff. (Go Pro, Iriedaily, Baby-G, Verival, Coco Drink, Ion, Carbocage, Maxxis, Acros, Board-Shack, Epic-Wear, Saalbach Tourismus, Glemmride)
My Heros for the weekend Stef and Nicole. (and Mara even if she couldn’t race)
Big thanks to Saalbach Hinterglemm trourism and the Glemmride crew.
Niva! No Diva race group
Number plate perfection …
Where is the best line? Thanks Go Pro for the cameras. #Heros
On the same weekend was also the Niva! No Diva Ride camp, for girls who prefer to ride than race. My friend Michèle Quint was leading it. They have all a lot of fun and improved their riding skills.
INNS‘ BRUCK CRANKWORX in one word – WOW. I just can’t say anything negative about the first Crankworx Event in Austria. It was just a blast for me. The venue was great, the weather was perfect, the downhill track was something „new / old „. It was great to see old friends and have actually time to chat with them. The vibes were good. I had so much fun riding the Pumptrack and the Downhill race. I didn’t get hurt and I didn’t had mechanicals. We had nice place to stay and good food.
The only thing maybe I would like to have is a qualification run at the DH. Because I am more a two run person. In the first run I give much and in the second run I know where I can give even more. But yes that shouldn’t be an excuse.
In Pumptrack I had two solid qualification runs but I didn’t made in the top 8. In Downhill I finished 11 th.
Tracy Hannah won in DH and Caroline Buchanan got first in Pumptrack.my next stop is the Glemmride Festival in Saalbach Hinterglemm, where I also have my Niva! No DIva Camp running. If you want to be part of it go to www.viennabikeacademy.at and register.
From all my events and camps I do. This is my favourite. The Niva! No Diva Race and Ride camp in lovely Saalbach Hinterglemm. It is for a woman, who wants to get better on the bike, wants to share their passion with other girls, wants to learn new things and races her first downhill race together with me.
15
