Anita Molcik is an Austrian rider on the Yeti World Cup team, and is probably a familiar name if you follow the racing, as she's often in the top results for both downhill and fourcross. She's also a great rider with an awesome attitude, and Martha Hucker caught up with her to ask a few Q's about what makes her life interesting, racing World Cups, and getting to travel the race ciruit on a team with her husband.
Anita Molcik, World Champs timed practice.
Photo: Rita Langley
Hey Anita! How's things? Are you keeping busy with training over winter?
Sure, the end of the last season is the start of the new season ;-) So I tried to escape the winter and went to see Jared Graves in Australia to do some good training on the BMX. And now I’m consistently on the indoor BMX track in Bratislava which is close to my home.
Anita Molcik going big.
Photo: Used with permission from Anita Molcik
No, not that much and I even like it more to train with boys, cause that’s harder and I can learn a lot!! I try to meet Angie Hohenwarter a lot, cause we motivate each other and I have a lot of fun with her and her boyfriend Flo Gottschlich. And during winter now even my husband Greg is riding with me and trying to push me really hard ;-)-
So you're one of these versatile riders who do both fourcross and downhill at the World Cups. What are the main differences, from a training perspective? Do you have a favourite?
I concentrate my training and the races on fourcross and do downhill just for fun. But the reason therefore is, that I had better results in fourcross first. Right now there is another aspect, why I focus on fourcross, because I want to qualify for the Olympics’ 2012 in London in BMX, cause I think that’s the biggest thing for a sportswoman, to compete at the Olympic Games. Unfortunatly just BMX is Olympic and because it is really close to 4X, I concentrate even more on 4X and BMX.
Anita Molcik, BMX 2010.
Photo: Used with permission from Anita Molcik
Tell us about Team Yeti, what are they like to ride for and travel with?
Oh there are great!! Not just a team, while traveling the guys are like a small family and it was so much fun with them.
Most of all Gregor and me have become really good friends with Jared and his girlfriend Jesse. He helped me a lot and I wanna thank him for all!
Can you sum up your riding career for us? How did you start, how has it progressed, and what are your goals for the future?
I started at age 16 in cross county, but I realized pretty soon that I needed more action, so I started 1 year later with dual slalom and then DH. I did my first WC race when I was 17. And since I was 21 or 22 I did all the world cups. But in the last 5 years I had my really good results like the 3rd place at 4X worlds 2006, 2nd WC Overall 4X 2008 or European Title in 4X 2009. As I already mentioned my biggest goal is the Olympics, but for this season, after a lot of 2nd places I would like to win a world cup ;-) And also to quit my full time job to work only half days and have more time for training would be awesome!
Do you have a favorite memory or moment from your past races?
Sure the medal ceremony at the Worlds 2007 was one of the greatest things, but also Schladming this year, where I came second at my home track in 4X and we won the day team ranking and also the overall team ranking with Yeti, that was great. To be on the podium with my husband (European team manager), Jared and the other Team mates was awesome!!
Yeti team on the podium, Schaldming 2009.
Photo: Used with permission from Anita Molcik
Best is to win, worst is to lose ;-)
No, on racing I love to meet all the other guys of the wc circus who are almost like a family or friends even they are competitors! I love to party with them!! What I hate is jetleg, lost bikes and the expenses!
What do you do when you're not riding bikes?
Think about riding bikes;-)
And I spend time with my two dogs Jersey (she is a mix) and Lakota (she is a Siberian Husky). Sometimes I do sled dog races with Lakota and my dad how has 5 more huskies. I also like climbing, skiing and reading!
Anita Molcik, 2010.
Photo: Used with permission from Anita Molcik
Oh yes, I wanna especially thank my husband Gregor, who supports me in want ever I do!! Also all my longstanding sponsor like Adidas, my boss, r.s.p., PRIM, Yeti and my new Sponsors Rockstar, Skins, Schwalbe. And my parents for letting my get into doing such a cool sport.
I hope I didn’t forget somebody
And you for that interview and that you are so enthusiastic in the female side of that man’s sport!
Awesome, thanks Anita! All the best for 2010, and hopefully we'll catch up again soon.
Older: Sarah Walker and Harriet Harper take titles at NZ National Champs
Fresher: Harriet Harper and Charlotte Clouston take NZ Champ titles for 2010
Published on 27/02/2010 by Martha Hucker.