Sabrina Jonnier Interview
Today Soul-Riders.com had a chit chat with super fast Women’s World DH Champion Sabrina Jonnier. A woman that shreads a DH track, that rides Moto's and hates the Tour de France! What a Cool Chick!
SR: Bonjour Sabrina
SJ: Salut! [admin: we had to stop the French at this point, as we have no idea what we're saying]
SR: Congratulations on your DH crown. How tough has it been to get to #1?
SJ: A lot of work, racing and experience! It’s a really nice reward after all those year of chasing that title!!
SR: What/who got you into riding bikes and then to race DH?
SJ: I always rode my bike when i was a kid; so my mum decided to take me a licence in a BMX club. After 10 years of racing I saw Anne Caroline on tv at a Downhill national so I decide to do the same... I always looked up to her in BMX and DH...
SR: What discipline gave you your grass-roots experience?
SJ: Bmx gave me a lot of experience in racing.
SR: What was your your first "real" bike?
SJ: My parents bought me a Sunn in BMX and for my 1st real dh race a friend let me borrow his Sunn.
SR: Where did you place in your first race? [If you can remember]
SJ: 1st it was in Bmx and we had to race boys; pretty cool to beat them!
SR: What's your favourite Race Course?
SJ: Mont Sainte Anne in Canada; and San Romolo in Italy.
SR: Worst injury?
SJ: I lacerated my liver 3 years ago in Whistler... Got 7 blood transfusions... And had to stay 3 weeks in Vancouver hospital! That day totally change my life and the way I lived it!
SR: Where do you see women in downhill heading over the next 5-10yrs? Is it growing?
SJ: I think it's growing pretty good, we are getting faster and more and more girls are into it. Nice to see
SR: Riders at your level have to keep themselves pretty fit. What's your training regime like?
SJ: Just try to have a healthy life style; training or not training.
SR: A good breakfast the key? Tracey Hannah is following our breakfast advice of a meat pie and a beer for breaky. Do you think you'd give it a go? It seems to be working for Trace ;)
SJ: Huhhhh Meat Pie for breakfast with a beer…. No thanks, I like meat pie but for Lunch! I will pass on the beer for sure… eeek!! [admin: we lied, Tracey also thought we were insane]
SR: What do you think of some of your newer competition? Of the likes of Tracey Hannah, is it better getting more faster girl riders to step it up?
SJ: That little thing is so quick! That scared me! So yeah I think getting faster is the answer!!
SR: Do you ever work or "tinker" on your bike, or do you rather leave that stuff to the team mechanics?
SJ: I'm a girl! Mechanic is not really my thing!! I prefer to leave that to our team mechanic!! I have a funny story on that; I got a brand new Iron Horse road bike this winter; a friend build it for me; I just had to put the pedals on it... I lost one of them 10 minutes after I left home...!! So I guess it's better if I don't touch my DH bike!! [admin: bwahahaha - GOLD! I too prefer getting someone else to fix my bike - makes me feel like I'm sponsored]
SR: What cool new gear is your bike at the moment?
SJ: I love my new gold color chain ring from E-thirteen [admin: how bling is that!?]
SR: Do you have any words of wisdom for the young up-comers of DH?
SJ: Have fun on your bike!
SR: Any hobbies outside of pushies?
SJ: I love riding my motor bikes in the winter. I'm also into Yoga, and going to do classes this winter to be a yoga teacher later. I'm learning Ayurvedic medicine aswell. I like to stay at home and read a good book or do some scrapbooking!! You can have a look of what is scrapbooking on the website I'm doing with my 2 good friends: www.lovelivelaugh.eu
SR: Do you have any plans after DH? Tour de France maybe?
SJ: No way! I hate that race I think it’s lame how much media they are getting even when they are cheating! I don’t know how long I will keep racing; but after I will like to be a Yoga teacher and an Ayurvedic practician. Just enjoy life like I’m doing right now. For sure I will always ride my bikes… can’t live without it!
SR: You have a pretty solid bunch of team mates in The Mad Catz Team. Do you all get along? Do you ride together outside of racing?
SJ: Yeah I think our team is pretty good, had heaps of fun with them… But I live in France so I don’t really ride with Sam or Sean and Jacy in the off season…
SR: Does a vocal group of hillybilly antics put you off in a race? for example, If we, oops, I mean them, would say something like... "c'mon, get ya balls out" as a sign to speed up... would that put you off?
SJ: I think I will laugh really hard all the rest of the way down!!
SR: Who do you see as your main threats this year?
SJ: Tracy Moseley, Rachel Atherton even if she is broken right now she is going to comeback really strong for the world! And I can’t forget Tracey Hannah she step up a lot this winter… Damn!
SR: Is there anything you'd change about the current DH format?
SJ: I wish we could have more World Cups!
SR: If Sam Hill and Nathan Rennie were all greased up in g-strings, who would win the wedgie comp?
SJ: Huhhh? I don't even want to see that!
SR: Anyone you'd like to thank or tell to get stuffed?
SJ: I want to thanks my family to support me all those years of racing; my coach Stéphane Girard;; Sean and Jacy and all the Iron Horse crew for the awesome support the last 2 season. the French team. And all my friends who encourage me all the time
SR: It's been ace, grouse and tops talking to you Sabrina. We wish you the best of luck and will be screaming for you as you head down the mountain. Thanks.
SJ: Thanks a lot.
