Wise Words is our interview series talking to some of mountain biking’s most switched on people.
We’ll ask our short list of questions to a heap of influential, inspiring and outspoken people that we feel are driving the direction of mountain biking today. Some will make you think, some will make you laugh, some will be plain dumb, some will inspire you to better yourself and your riding. We hope!
Wise Words this week come to you from none other than Louise Ferguson.
If you’ve not heard of Louise Ferguson then you must have been living under a rock. A meteoric rise to World Cup stardom, Louise became one of two women to complete the Red Bull Hardline Tasmania course. You’ll likely not meet anyone as fast, as gnarly and as lovely in the same measure all at once.
How would your closest riding buddies describe you to someone who has never met you?
Definitely a faffer, 100% going to hold up the team talking to randoms and super indecisive on what trail to ride. Always keen for DH laps over pedals though.
What thing or things have you bought in the last year that had the biggest effect on your life as a mountain biker / cyclist / person that works in the bike industry?
Potentially my gym membership. I’ve found the yoga sessions at my local gym really compliment riding and training. I feel better for it physically and also mentally. Usually it’s pretty hard for me to consistently stretch so putting myself in a room with other people for an hour means I can’t escape it. And I treat myself with a coffee afterwards
What unusual habits do you have as a bike rider?
Probably my lack of habits, I rarely check anything including tyre pressure. Racing has kinda changed this and I’m trying to be more regularly checking my bike, tyres, suspension pressure etc.
What piece of advice do you think every mountain bike rider should hear? And what piece should they ignore?
Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. I think riding is so much in your head, so you should believe in yourself.
Ahh, probably when people say “just get off the brakes, or it’s easy”. I like to be in control and everyone rides their own way and have different strengths/weaknesses. So I think it’s good to surround yourself with your people, with a similar attitude. Not necessarily the same ability or experiences but just people that bring out the best in you, and not put pressure on you.
If you could go back and re-ride one day from your life so far, where/what/when/who would it be? Would you change anything?
I would go back to my first day on a bike because I can’t remember it. It would be nice to relive my first impressions, fears and achievements of riding.
What have you wasted the most time on in your life as a rider or bike industry career that you wished you’d given up years ago?
I guess this applies to almost everything but just caring what other people think. It’s pretty easy with social media to get caught up in it all but at the end of the day, it’s just riding bikes.
How do you motivate yourself when you’re struggling or lacking inspiration?
Definitely watch a sick bike edit or sports movie. They always seem to fire me up, if that doesn’t work then message someone I know to ride so it’ll be a good social activity and it gets me out the house. That’s the hardest bit, right?
What single and specific thing about riding bicycles do you gain the most happiness from?
Progressing to the point where you don’t need to think about a single movement or anything but just flowing through sections on my bike like I’m floating. That feeling.
What single thing would you like to erase from cycling history from the last year?
Gee Atherton’s crash at Rampage, that was gnarly.
What single thing would you like to make happen in the cycling world in the next year?
Continue growing this space for women and being a good ambassador for our sport. The UCI is limiting the amount of women in a DH finals but I think we should be increasing it.
Who else should we ask these questions to?
Emma Olofsson.