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Martha hucker interviews Danice Uyesugi

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Danice Uyesugi in Andorra.
Photo: Danice Uyesugi

Danice Uyesugi is a Vancouver rider who’s been shredding on a mountain bike for over seven years. But she only started racing DH two years ago, doing well in Canada before making her international debut at the World Champs in Italy 2008, where she finished an impressive 15th overall. When she’s not riding she’s an ER nurse in back home in B.C., where she occasionally has to put back together broken bikers who arrive at the hospital. But that doesn’t stop her pushing her limits on her bike – the 29 year-old rides hard and fast, in is one to watch at the 2009 World Cup. And she’s recently started a great blog at www.daniceuyesugi.com with loads of photos and good stories about her racing.

Martha Hucker caught up with her to find out a bit more about Danice, her plans for ‘09, and ‘that crash’…

Hey Danice! Congrats on qualifying eleventh at your first World Cup round for 09 in La Bresse. Are you stoked to be racing in Europe?
Hi! Thanks! Yes I was super excited about this trip – my first European World Cups! Going to Worlds in Italy last year was my first time to Europe and I loved it – the race course, the scenery, the people, the food, the coffee, and all the challenges that come with travelling in a different country. My dream is to do the full World Cup circuit so hopefully I’ll be back again before too long!

You were racing for the Pinkbike.com/Devinci DH team last year, are you on a team for Worlds in 2009 or riding as a privateer?
This year I decided to go independently and piece my own ride together. I had a great year last year with Pinkbike and learned tonnes about being on a team and the whole “business/marketing” side of racing, but like I said my goal is to race the World Cup circuit and to do that you need to have some sort of support at those big races. I focused on getting support from some of the top companies that are at these races already and could help me if I was having mechanical issues – Trek, SRAM, Mavic. It was incredibly time consuming putting my ride together this year, but it’s come together really well and I’m so happy with my bike set-up!

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Danice Uyesugi representing Canada, World Champs 2008.
Photo: See watermark - used with permission from the rider

A lot of the WC riders have been racing since they were little kids, but you only got into downhill racing in 2007. How did you get up to World Cup level so fast?
Honestly, I don’t really know, and the fact that I did probably surprised me more than anybody! I used to watch Earthed and other biking videos with World Cup footage on it, and would imagine myself there… in about 3 years. I never ever thought it’d happen after my first year of racing! The only things I can attribute it to are my passion for riding and the fact that I ride a lot! A couple of years ago I wrote down on the calendar every time I went for a ride and at the end of the year tallied it up – the number of days that I rode way outnumbered the days that I didn’t. It definitely also helps to ride with guys/people who are faster than you, and I’ve always done that… and I like to push myself and see what I can do!

What have you been doing to prepare for your race season this year? Any big changes to your training that you think have paid off?
The past couple of winter’s I’ve started doing spinning classes at my local shop Obsession: Bikes, and I think that’s helped a lot. Riding the Shore all the time means that I love riding steep technical terrain but am not the strongest pedaller in the world, so building my legs up in the winter seems to have balanced out my riding a bit. This past winter I also got a personalized training program put together for me at Level 10 Fitness (North Van) and did some serious training there. I kind of fell off the gym bandwagon once my bike arrived and the snow melted, but having a proper program to adhere to and having someone crack the whip at you while you’re working out was something else – I definitely felt some good changes happen there!

That was a very gnarly crash you had in La Bresse! (Click to read about it on Danice’s blog). How are you feeling now?
Yeah that was one of the hardest crashes I’ve had in a long time. It’s been a week now since the crash, and I’m mostly feeling just fine! I saw pictures of the crash a few days after it happened and am so grateful I wasn’t hurt any worse. My neck is still tight and my shins are bruised and sore, but those are kind of everyday riding type of injuries. The worst of it is my right shoulder – I guess I tore some rotator muscles so still can’t lift if properly and it’s pretty sore. So physically still feeling it a bit, but mentally I’m ready to go!!

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Danice Uyesugi crashing in La Bresse.
Photo: Used with permission from the rider

Was it hard getting your bike and other gear ready again for the next race?
This is where my awesome sponsors stepped up to the plate and got everything ready for me in a matter of a few days! Trek replaced my somewhat compromised frame right away and SRAM not only completely replaced all the broken/potentially damaged parts, they also stripped down my old bike and built up the new one! They definitely went above and beyond, and I’m so grateful to them!! Turns out I couldn’t race anyways, but the bike was ready if I was!

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Danice's fresh replacement Trek and Sram/Rockshox gear at the race.

Are you travelling around with anyone in Europe? And are you living it up large in five star hotels, or camping and hitchhiking?
I came on this trip with my friend and fellow racer Miranda Miller, a young ripper from Squamish. This is her first year out of the realm of racing as a junior and she’s doing awesome! We’re definitely not living it up… we’ve done our best to be comfortable (because you need to be well rested and well fed when you race), but there’s nothing fancy about our travel. In La Bresse I had the exact same thing for dinner every single night: some salad with a can of tuna and some pasta. Not the most exciting, but balanced and cheap!

Is it very different racing world cups in Europe, in terms of the atmosphere at the events and the attitudes of racers, compared to races back home?
I suppose it is in a way because the level of competition is so much higher – there’s a bit more tension in the air at the start, and the crowds are so much bigger and louder! I love the crowds though – they yell and scream and get so excited, it really pumps you up! So yes I can tell it’s different than races back home, but in my head it’s still the same – it’s just a race. That’s what keeps me calm and relaxed when I’m out there riding/racing.

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Danice Uyesugi riding in Vancouver.
Photo: Danice Uyesugi

What have you got planned for the rest of the 2009 season? Any events you’re particularly looking forward to?
Well I was planning on going to the US Open after these World Cups but very unfortunately am heading home instead due to my shoulder injury. As for the rest of the season, I’m really looking forward to doing the Canadian World Cup races (Mont Saint Anne and Bromont) and Crankworx. I’ll also be going to the Canadian Nationals and likely a BC Cup race, and I’d like to try and make it to the World Cup Finals in Schladming as well.

And is there anyone you want to thank?
Definitely my family for being so supportive and encouraging! My current sponsors for supporting me this year and keeping me well equipped on my bike: CCN (www.cyclecomponentnetwork.com)- a new biking website that gives back to the cycling industry! I’ll be reporting on the races that I’m at on their website this year; Trek, SRAM, Mavic, POC, WTB, ODI, MRP, Dincus, Level 10 Fitness, Avita Massage. Also James and the crew at Obsession Bikes for keeping my head screwed on right and my bike running smoothly when I’m home.

Cheers Danice, and good luck for the rest of your 2009 races.

All photos used with permission from Danice Uyesugi.