Katarina Tothova jumping.
Photo: See watermark. Used with permission from the rider.

Katarina Thotova is a Czech rider whose skills range from tearing down a DH track at high speed, riding bmx and getting some well-styled airtime on freeride tracks. Check out this video of her riding from last year, and read on for the lowdown on what makes Katarina 'mad kate':

Hi Katarina! Firstly, why do they call you Mad Kate?

Because after I had been riding bikes for one year, somebody stole my dh bike. I didn’t have money for a new one and my friend gave me hardtail for a small amount. It was a 10 year old frame and without stickers. I gave it a new coat of paint and a new title, from ‘Black Horse’ to ‘Mad Kate’. It was five years ago :D

Hardtail, Mad Kate style.
Photo: Katarina Tothova

Can you tell us about where you live, and what the riding is like there?

I’m from Czech Republic. I live in a spa town and we have some small hill, but it is boring. Only the bmx track is good for training. It is five minutes from my home. Generally CZ has only hills, not big mountains. Some bikeparks, but often we have problem with conservationists.

Katarina Tothova - 4x.
Photo: Used with permission from the rider

How long have you been riding for, and how did you get started?

I got started 6 years ago on the bmx track. I had a very bad freestyle bike. And than my team found me through the internet and loaned me a dh bike. My start in downhill was very hard and punk :D

Busted wheel!.
Photo: Used with permission from the rider

You do a bit of DH, 4x and freeride. What’s your favorite kind of riding?

I think that it’s downhill and freeride. You can ride where you want and jump how you want. It is a lifestyle. Fourcross is dirty work.

4x at night - Katarina Tothova.
Photo: Used with permission from the rider

Tell us about the video. Where was it filmed, what was it for, and was it fun to do?

It was filmed on our dh track, where I won the national championship two times. Next location was a slopestyle track, it is only 20 km from my home. Fun was when I fell off the drop :D

Mad Kate styling it up while racing.
Photo: Used with permission from the rider

Haha! You are trying a drop, and you fall off the platform twice and keep going back and trying again! That’s a lot of courage. What goes through your head when you are trying a big jump for the first time?

It was only for the cameraman :D. Mostly I must jump in three attempts, because otherwise it is not probable that I jump. And when it is very big I must switch off my head.

Katarina Tothova .
Photo: Used with permission from the rider

Do you crash much? What was your best crash?

I didn’t have a big crash. Some concussion of the brain, some blood on my shin by pedals, one broken teeth, one broken blade-bone and last time, my injured shoulder.

Katarina's carnage.
Photo: Used with permission from the rider

So you are injured at the moment, how did that happen? Have you found other activities to do while you can’t ride?

I was at the World Cup in Andorra. I was riding fourcross in a good position, but then Lene poke me and I fell directly my shoulder. I thought that it will be good after 14 days riding again, but at every event my shoulder was painful and on the last time the shoulder dropped out. I ride a bike always, but carefully. It is not horrible, it will be good for next season.

Katarina Tothova .
Photo: Katarina Tothova

Anyone you’d like to thank?

Yes. To my sponsors, my sister, my most handy mechanic, my annoying photographer and my best little pony Tereza :D.

Cheers Katarina, hope your recovery goes well and look forward to seeing you shredding it next year!

Older: 'Chicks Ride Free' again this summer at Mt Hutt

Fresher: Southern Hemisphere Race Dates for 2010

Published on 26/10/2009 by Martha Hucker.