We’re counting down to Christmas with 12 of our favourite pro riders.
Does Tahnee like sprouts? Does Gwin love a roast? Does Peaty get presents? Tune in to find out!
Anka Martin is our first pro of Christmas, coming at you all the way from NZ.
Photos by Sven Martin.
2018 is almost at an end. Was it a good year for you?
A different kind of year for sure. Five months off the bike with a gimpy wrist, BUT I did some amazing tramps, saw a few places from a different perspective & got to know, explore & fall in love with a new city that would never have happened if I didn’t have an injury. Every year is a good year man, you just have to roll with whatever it is.
With off-season in full effect, have you been relaxing or smashing out the intervals?
Ahhh mate, even when I was racing full time I never smashed out the intervals. Only at the end of a ride to get to the pub first. I’ve been off my bike most summer so real keen on the bike at the moment.
Favourite ride/race from this season and why?
The Kingdom Enduro in Lesotho was a highlight for me. It was so wild & raw & so completely different to most places & races, it was the kind of event that made me fall in love with racing “enduro” way back in the day – more about exploring new places & cultures than the actual racing side of things. I managed to take the win too, which was nice.
Worst race/ride and why?
The Kingdom Enduro in Lesotho was also where I was playing with the kiddos on the pump track after the race & had a big crash that took me out for the whole summer pretty much. Never succumb to peer pressure from 6 year olds people or jump on bikes with backwards brakes.
What was the last ride/race where you finished running on fumes?
Many a days during the 3000km Tour Aotearoa race. I almost quit that thing so many times. I’ve never cried, got so angry or questioned myself as much as during that journey. It didn’t help that I had surgery on my hand 10 days prior to starting this thing. Luckily my sore bum distracted me from the pins in my hand.
I’ve never eaten so much crap food in my life & still managed to loose 7kg in the 17days it took to ride this thing. It’s amazing how we tend to forget these experiences as soon as we finish up, thank God for that!
3 top tunes of your year?
What are you most looking forward to in 2019?
Good health. Riding my bike. More yoga. Definitely keen for some more stupid Type 2 missions & running on fumes. Making stuff. The beauty of not really knowing what 2019 has in store for me.
What’s on your Christmas list?
Surfing in warm water. Kiteboarding gear. TTR125.
Will you be eating sprouts with your Christmas dinner?
Hells no!
What will your New Year’s Resolution be?
More time in the water. Way more time on the bike. Improving my French (the actual language). Perfecting the art of giving no f**ks. Of course there’s always the skinnier, younger, save the world kind of resolutions right? Just kidding. Keeping it pretty simple really.
What’s your number one stand out moment from this year?
Waking up to clear skies & sunshine on Day 3 of the NZ Enduro, which meant that the helicopter could fly! That was a huge relief for us as event owners as we had to cancel that day the year before due to torrential rain. That was a rad day uplifting 140+ racers by helicopter into the backcountry. Months of work & prep all coming together.
