Emilie Siegenthaler is the 2009 Swiss downhill champ, and is riding for Scott11 at this year’s World Cup races where she’s been consistently clocking up top 10 finishes. Although she’s no stranger to top-level mountain biking, Emilie only switched from cross country two years ago, so to be achieving such a good results already is phenomenal.
Emilie Siegenthaler and her Scott.
Photo: See watermark - used with permission from the rider
Martha Hucker caught up with the 22 year-old Psychology student when she’d just got back from the Canadian World Cups, to find out how her season’s going, what special Scott bike she’s going to be riding for World Champs in Canberra, and how she spends her spare time.
Hey Emilie, how’s your 2009 season going? Any favorite races this year?
It was pretty good so far. I’m really happy that i get to ride more constantly this year. I placed at every world cup between 7th and 11th. Its getting better and better, my riding is more controlled than before, and i learned to get bit faster and faster step by step, i learned my lesson after breaking my hand at worlds last year. My favorite race so far was Maribor, first of all because of the sick, fast track that became so sketchy after the rain. I qualified 5th, ended up 7th. was a great result for me. But I kind of liked Bromont very much as well… I never felt that good on a bike as in Bromont. I was just bit unlucky with that second that I missed to reach my best WC result…was never that close from the podium, I think that this season the level from the riders in the top ten is quite high, its getting closer and closer also by the girls!
How did you get into racing downhill?
I used to ride cross country races from 1998 to 2007. So I always was in the racing business… But i caught a mononucleosis for the second time in 2006, and tried to race again but i was sick of the pain endured in XC races for such bad results… My body wasn’t working anymore… So I just rode for myself with my enduro bike, enjoying the real pleasures of biking, freeriding. I was so depressed that I wasn’t able to perform as before… was hard for after being at the top as a junior.
In august 2007, I did a little enduro race in Switzerland, was real fun and I liked to be racing again, although it was in a different way… After that, the manager from my crosscountry team asked me if i wanted to do the Swiss championships in DH, with a prototype of the new Scott DH bike. I said yes, and i just got to try the gambler 3 days before the competition. Never rode on a DH bike before. Was weird!! But I rode my run full on, almost killed myself ten times but got second, behind the World Cup rider Marielle Saner who changed for XC racing just after that. That’s how everything started. I decided to try to do a whole season in 2008. Best decision of my life, no regrets! =)
Emelie Siegenthaler, Bromont WC.
Photo: See watermark - used with permission from the rider
Is it quite different competing at DH as opposed to cross country mountain biking? What are the main reasons you’ve stuck with downhill?
The first reason was that I wasn’t able to race XC at a high level after my disease, and I lost my motivation to train as hard as I did before. I just wanted to enjoy biking. I can’t live without biking. I discovered the Downhill circuit in 2008 and I kind of fell in love with this atmosphere and the people there. Concerning the pure racing feeling, its very different to compete against the clock, alone, and knowing that every mistake is crucial for your result. In XC you can crash 2-3 times and still win a race. That was the hardest part for me, i had no experiences and now I still have minimum 5-6 years racing less that the other girls for the TOP 10!
Tell us about Scott11. What’s it like being a part of their team? And what bikes are you on for this season?
You know, I’ve been on a Scott bike since I learned how to ride one! I never rode another brand. So I’m really stoked to be part of the team, to continue this “love story”… The team is very professional, a great structure to perform at the races. That’s maybe also one of the reason why I’m more constant this season. Claudio Caluori is a very good team manager, he does everything for us. He knows, as an ex professional rider, what we need. The atmosphere is quite cool, we have a kiwi, a French, and three Swiss downhillers in the team, plus 2 Swiss four crossers. Interesting mix for sure! Like Claudio used to say, I try to keep these boys under control… =)
The material support from Scott is great, they are really listening to us to improve their products. for example I’m now racing on a new frame, the Voltage FR, since Mont St Anne. It’s actually a Freeride bike that will be in stores in 2010, but its quite a lot lighter and smaller than the gambler. It has 180mm travel at the back, we reduced my fox 40 to 185mm at the front, and its 1.5kg lighter than my older bike. I’m one of the lightest, smallest rider on the circuit (apart from Mio hihi!), so this bike is perfectly fitting me. It will be good for the track from Worlds in Canberra, the boys from the team will probably also be competing with it there!
Emilie Siegenthaler, Bromont.
Photo: See watermark - used with permission from the rider
There’s some gnarly stuff in the World Cup courses. What’s your mental process for hitting the really big jumps?
Well, first I look at the track very carefully… I’m always the last one down the hill when we do track walking with the team at the World cups! I had to drop over two tricky section in Bromont, that only a few girls were doing. I just looked at the section, looked guys riding it and then i just tried! for the jump where you need a lot of speed, its easier to first try behind a team mate or an other better girl, I sometimes try jumps behind Emmeline or Fionn, so I know exactly how fast I have to go to clear it. But I mostly have to courage to do stuff, the problem is more if I try and it goes wrong… ;-)
What are the best things about being on the World Cup circuit?
I love being at the races because it’s like a big family, everyone knows everyone and friendships grow between the riders, I have my bests friends in the circuit. I like also the fact I meet people with the same passion as me, but they think and act differently, maybe its a question of different culture or education, and that makes it very interesting. Its so cool to ride with Japanese, Ecuadorian, British, French, Canadian or Australian people at the same time, at the same place! And, of course, I love to party after a good race week end with people who know how to get wild and have fun, with or without a bike!! =)
Emelie Siegenthaler in Canada.
Photo: Emlie Siegenthaler
What do you get up to when you’re not riding bikes?
I’m studying at the Lausanne University, I’m doing a bachelor in psychology. That means that I have school from September to December, and from February to may. The bad thing is I also have intermediate exams in January, June and August. With the traveling and training, its sometimes very stressful to study for the exams, I mostly do everything at the last minute… Normally I finish my Bachelor in August 2010. Will see after that…
Otherwise I love to go skiing and snowboarding in the winter, I also do cross-country skiing for training instead of biking, because it’s mostly very white here in Switzerland! I did XC skiing races a couple of years ago.
I played the guitar when I was younger, I try to get it back a little bit now but it’s quite difficult to start again! I love music…especially singing loud in my Golf TDI when I’m driving around… But, i have to admit, my favourite thing to do is taking care of my darling… =)
Anyone you’d like to thank?
Well, first I would like to thank my wonderful parents who always supported in every way, and my whole family.
I would also thank Scott and my team manager Claudio Caluori who are the best partners I could ever ask for in the racing industry!
My trainer Louis Heyer is also very important to me, we are on the way to our goal and I’m so glad to work with him!
I also thank my world cup buddies, especially Emmeline and Fionn, who always helped me since I began to ride DH races…
There is other people that helped me in my first year racing downhill and I never really had the opportunity the thank, like Gery Peyer & his family, Lukas Haider, Ernst Schurter, and everyone who supported me in any special way.
And, last but not least, I would like to thank Cindy for being in my life!
Awwww, nice! Cheers Emilie, good luck with the rest of the season. Seeya in Canberra!
All photos with permission from Emilie Siegenthaler.
Older: Bromont Video Roundup
Fresher: Sram’s Pink and Red Bits – 2010 Bling is Here!
Published on 07/08/2009 by Martha Hucker.