We like sharing our passion for mountainbiking with other people to teach them new skills. We both share as a goal to enthusiast other women to get into mountainbiking and mainly the other Œadrenaline¹ disciplines of the sports. For instance by riding a freeride-bike on XC events (it's hard, we know, but it's worth it because of all the curious looks and questions we get). We write reports on our races and trainingsessions, to try to open a door for them to give it a try. In 2004 we organised a four-X clinic and we had 27 girls participating, some of them never even rode a mountainbike! But by the end of the day, they where all competing furiously, with huge smiles on their faces. It had as a result that 6 more girls entered the Bikefestival Four-X of Bergschenhoek this year! In october Marieke and I are hosting two Freeride/Downhill events in Winterberg, for both beginners and advanced riders. Hopefully we by doing all this we get more women excited about this adrenaline sport and I hope we are able to do more events like this in the future.
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PERSONALIAName: Marieke BrinksHome: Groningen (NL)B Email: Marieke@girlzz-offroad.com Occupation: Account manager for an IT company
Facts Rides bikes since 2000, before that she rode horses all her life. But now she can't live without her bikes, and talks to them when nobody can hear it. She used to ride XC races (amateur) but after her first Downhill experience earlier this year, she fell in love with the sport and immediately bought a Yeti AS-X. She¹s been training for Downhill races (and 4x) eversince. This summer she entered her first Elite Downhill race and plans to a lot more next season.
Rescent Results2th Dutch championships DH Rittershausen '044th 4x Bikefestival Willingen '04190 on the UCI ranking list (due to Rittershausen)
2005 Goals - Trailfox Laax - King of bikepark - German Bundesliga- 2 downhill marathons (Megavalanche, Bike attack)- Dutch championships DH- Maybe some XC marathons (...if there¹s time left)
What I wantMarieke: As a child I was afraid of practically everything. One goal in my life is to overcome my fears. Racing Downhill lets me cross borders I never imagened to overcome.I want to get to the point where I know it's the best I can do. Because I only just started Downhill, I feel I learn so much every second of my training. I like the feeling at the end of the session, that feeling that I learned something new. I love it when I ride and feel the flow.
TWO BEST EXPERIENCES (on a bike)³My first race that wasn't on a XC bike, was the Scott Nutrious freeride during Bike Festival Willingen 2004.I had my Yeti for two days and only rode it for an hour on the streets. Because we took the wrong way on the road to Willingen I was so late that I didn't have the time to ride or even look at the track. So I started without knowing what I was doing.We started with twelve girls and all I could do was stay close to the rest so I could imitate them. I was so suprised that I was able to do that, that after some minutes I enjoyed every second till my derrailleur got between my spokes and finished last.But the feeling that I could compete with these girls gave me wings for the rest of the weekend...².
PERSONALIAName: Tanja de BieHome: Apeldoorn (NL)Email: tanja@girlzz-offroad.comOccupation: Graphic Designer
FactsRides since 1995, hopelessly addicted to the sports. Tried xc races, won a few amateur races in the past, tried dual slaloms and downhillraces. Then made the step towards freeriding and now also has added downhillracing to her resume. Keeps to many bikes around the house and is trying now to limit it to a singlespeed xc-bike and a Santa Cruz Bullit that's build to ride eighter freerides or downhillraces.
Recent results14th Megavalanche '043th Four-X Bikefestival Bergschenhoek '0418th Megavalanche '031st Dualslalom Bikefestival Bergschenhoek '031st Indoor Snow Four-X '03
2005 GoalsRace marathon Downhills like the Megavalanche (to finish top 10) and Trailfox, as many as possible. Ride the King of Bikepark, Dutch Nationals, German Bundesliga and I want to visit the UK for a few races in the Southern Downhillleague's.
What I wantI just want to ride! And become the best I can be. Riding gives me a sence of freedom and there's not much better than you and your bike, preferbly some good bikefriends, this mountain... and all the time in world to ride it over and over again!
TWO BEST EXPERIENCES (on a bike)'I quest these next moments in 2003. First I got to ride the Megavalanche as a complete rookie, because I had no idea and never done such a race before, it was an adventure of a lifetime. Every kilometer brought a new surprise, just like presents with christmas!².
'Second time was due to the fact a friend broke his foot. Not that I was happy he broke it. But he was kind enough to let me ride his Intense M1 for the whole day in Todtnau. Even though it rained and poored, I rode it all day, loving every minute of it. It brought me at least three things (apart from a great day on a great bike); huge progression, no more fear for rain or mud and an empty wallet as I then decided to buy the bike I now ride'.
GIRLZZ OFFROAD is a group of six enthusiastic dutch female mountainbikers, that have made it their goal to get more women into (all aspects of) mountainbiking. It's done through clinics, workshops, events, races and tours. GIRLZZ OFFROAD is supported by the dutch cycling union and all involved mountainbikers contribute voluntairily.
