Loeka's 2011 UK Ambassadors
Rider: Ellie MaxfieldBio: I have been an enthusiastic and motivated mountain biker ever since I first took up the sport in 2005. Back then I was just trying to get out of the city and would take my budget hardtail out on country paths and pick any muddy track I could find to see where it took me. After a while I realised that this was a proper sport with a wealth of people doing it and great places to ride. I was soon upgrading my bike and travelling to the other side of the world to ride. I entered my first downhill race in 2008 but started racing seriously in 2010 and have been hooked on the atmosphere, the people, the tracks and the challenges of technical line choice ever since. I am now keen to take up as many elements of riding as I can; this spring has been spent commuting on my road bike, down the pump track with friends on my hardtail, cross country riding over moorlands in the driving rain with good friends and at downhill races trying to push my limits on the downhill bike. Sponsors: Iam sponsored by Wideopenmag.co.uk online Bike Magazine, who organise various distributor sponsors including Electric Goggles, Superstar, Continental and many cycling product distributors such as Madison. I am really pleased to be on board with Loeka this year in the UK ambassador team. Getting decent women’s riding kit that is good quality, comfortable and looks the part has never been easy so this is a welcome change. Before my Loeka shorts, I was wearing the same ripped and battered shorts for trail riding since Jan 2007 as I couldn’t find any others! Now that there are so many more women in the sport it’s good to see there is some kit available for us too. 2011 Goals: In 2011 I have an exciting and busy race programme: DH I intend to race the British Downhill Series, National Championships and other regional championships and the Midlands Pearce Downhill Race Series. I am also entered to race Fort William World Cup for 2011. Endurance DH As I spend a lot of time on my xc bike I would like to enter some endure downhill races with an aim to get over to Les Get for the Mega Avalanche next year. 4 Cross This year is the ‘year of the hardtail’ for me, so I am planning to spend a lot of time honing in the bike handling skills at the trails, jumps and pump track. I will enter all the National 4X races that fit into the race schedule. This is an exciting new addition to my mountain biking that should open up new places to ride and people to ride with. During 2010 I was offered the opportunity to be more involved in the UK mountain bike scene through writing rider articles for an online mountain bike magazine, testing new kit and bikes, UK and European photo-shoots and helping a hand in organising local bike events. I’ve really enjoyed being part of this and intend to continue these efforts for the following year. Race Results:
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Rider: Sarah MuirBio: I am 27 and live in the north east of Scotland. After Hairdressing for 10 years I decided to pack up my things and do winter seasons snowboarding in the French Alps. After a couple of seasons I decided to put the party on hold and go to University to do a Bachelors in Business Management, which I am 1 year off completion. When I graduate, my mission is to travel with my Bikes, Snowboard and Surfboard, and experience some of the many places on my giant wish-list! Although I have been riding bikes since I was a kid it has really been within the last couple of years that I have grown to love as much as I do now. It was whilst spending summers in the French Alps going to various Mountain Biking events in Europe, that I realised this was something that I really wanted to get in to! So, it was back home to Scotland to earn some money to get a bike (or two maybe Three?) of my own. Without a doubt, what I love about riding bikes, is discovering all of the beautiful places it can take you to and the incredible people you can meet, whether it's at the races or in your local woods. The hardest thing for me so far, has been learning to take the rough with the smooth and knowing that when you crash, you just have to get right back on your bike again!! I am currently organising an all-girls Mountain Bike event bringing female riders together and hope to one day have a sports events company of my own. I am honoured to have the support of such an awesome company - Thanks Loeka. |
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Rider: Anna WaltersBio: I've only been riding 3 years but it has changed my life. I now spend my weekends trawling the country for good riding, and my holidays in France, Canada, wherever there is good riding to be had. Now this doesn't make me good, but it makes me happy. I ride an Iron Horse Sunday, and I love its big squishy forks (mainly because they soak up my lack of technical ability), I also have a Sunn Kern for xc. Occasionally I dabble in a bit of racing, I did the Mega Avalanche in 2009 and after vowing never to do it again, I am booked on again this year! The last couple of years has not been not good for me, after breaking my collar bone on holiday in Whistler (plated to fix up the 4 pieces of floating bone), I then, a year later, smashed up my front teeth commuting to work, and I really considered never riding again. But thankfully my trusty steeds reminded me how much I love riding; in fact, I love DH more than I ever have before. I feel like I have got my Mojo back… the smile just won’t leave my face |
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