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Martha Hucker interview with Gabby Molloy

Gabby Molloy is one of the fastest women on a DH bike in Aotearoa (NZ). But most Kiwis know her from the MTB skills clinics she runs alongside partner and fellow downhill racer James ‘Dodzy’ Dodds, where she teaches anyone with two wheels how to improve their skills and have a bit more fun on a bike. Gabby is one of 5 women already selected to represent New Zealand (click for BikeNZ’s team) at the World Champs in Canberra in September, and Martha Hucker caught up with her to get the lowdown on what she’s up to before she heads overseas.

 

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Gabby at Nelson.
Photo: Used with permission from the rider

 

Hey, Gabby! Congrats on getting selected to represent New Zealand at the 2009 UCI World Champs. What are your riding plans between now and September?

Well I am off to Canada at the start of July to do the next two World Cup races, pretty exciting! We are heading to Whistler first to warm up after riding in the rain every day for the past two months, much as I love it… then after the world cups we do a US National (not sure if they are still called that) in MT Snow and then back to Whistler to warm up for Worlds.

You’ve been racing for a few years now. What are the best things about racing DH for you, both here in NZ and around the world?

I love racing, it is far and away the best way to improve your riding because of the atmosphere and pressure. It is also sooo much fun. There are loads of your mates to ride with, it’s usually summer and everyone is on holiday and generally having a good time shredding the local trails and ripping up the local bars – literally…

How did you get into coaching MTB skills?

The coaching was started up by my partner Dodzy and over time I joined the fun. I absolutely love the coaching, it is awesome being able to help somene really improve their riding and people are always really appreciative when they next see you. It was definitely slow to start. Boy, Kiwi’s are not the type of people to “get a lesson” if you know what I mean. What do you need that for, I can ride a bike….. but now I think mountainbikers are slowly learning that there is more to it than sliding down a hill on your head.

 

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Gabby dropping in.
Photo: Used with permission from the rider

 

You do seperate womens clinics too. What are they main differences between how women learn and how guys learn?

I think that physically there is no difference at all, we both have two arms and legs (hopefully) and need to ride the bike the same. The things I have noticed are that women tend to listen really well and respond to being told the truth, usually “just ride it you’ll be alright” doesn’t quite cut it. Because we break all of the skills down to absolute basics it is really easy for a woman then to understand what a man sometimes does quite easily. Once they understand what to do they often end up with better technique than your average guy (I would imagine most instructors would agree there – rock climbing, skiing, kayaking etc). So, basically the girls only clinics allow me to slow the pace of information delivery down to simplify it even further – less physics, more experiencing….


What do you get up to when you’re not riding bikes?

Hmm, that is not very often. I sit on teh computer answering enquiries which isn’t very exciting… nah, I get out on my moto – I have a little CR85 two stroke ripper. It likes to rip my arms off…. and I try to keep up lots of Pilates and Yoga as flexibility is the secret to being able to hit the ground and bounce back up. I have a farm and lots of cool animals to feed and try to fence in – they like going walk about in the block of bush out the back of our place. Reading and hanging out at the local bike store watching MTB vids, that kinda stuff….

 

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Gabby & Anja.
Photo: Used with permission from the rider

 

Anyone you’d like to thank?

Yeah definitely. Dodzy has been the most awesome boyfrend ever and I totally wouldn’t be doing any of the cool things I do now without him. He has taught me so much and given me so many wicked opportunities. Also, I don’t know if I would have kept up the racing if my buddy Amy hadn’t been there the whole time, far out man we have had some funny times… usually at races when we were planning some jump we wanted to do and spent hours talking each other into it, she is such a pinner rider and cool friend. Plus all the other rad people I get to ride with, both at home and Nationals, thanks.

Cheers Gabby, have an awesome time overseas and good luck with your racing.

If you’re interested in doing a course with Gabby, check out www.mtbskillsclinics.co.nz for more information. There are also some great skills tips on there under NZMTBiker articles, which give you a free sample of how they break skills down for riders. And you can follow Gabby and Dodsy’s overseas adventures on the Dirt’y Diaries section of their website.

All photos courtesy of Gabby Molloy.