Anneke Beerten - the bike phenom from Netherlands
Oct 15,2007 00:00
by
dhzone
Current World 4X Vice-Champion 2007, the star of dutch mountainbiking scene – Anneke Beerten, is a female rider that is making a lot of good results lately. The bikes started to be her passion since she was 4 years old. Then she started her hard work to bee one of the leading world female mountain bikers. We have a pleasure to introduce to You the dutch rider, Anneke Beerten -Date of birth: 07-07-1982
Residence: Marienvelde, the Netherlands
Height (cm): 173cm
Weight (kg): 61kg
Marital status: Boy friend
Hobbys: Riding my little motocross dirbike.
Any pets?: My parents have 2 dogs.
Riding since: I was 4 years old.... so 21 years.
Disciplines: Downhill- 4Cross - BMX
DH: Anneke You were only 4 years old when You started riding a BMX. Do You remember those days? The begining was only fun or was it hard training for You?
AB: In the beginning it was all just for fun. Until I was 14 years old I was just riding National BMX races and go to the BMX track twice a week. After that my parents took me to some international races and from that moment on I started riding and training a lot more serious.
DH: Can You tell us about Your racing history? When did You started riding MTB bikes? How did Your career start as a professional biker?
AB: After winning a lot of National championships and winning the World Championships BMX twice I was looking for a new challenge. I got in contact with the BE ONE team trough a friend of mine, he told me that team was looking for a girl that would like to try and do Downhill. The Be One team took me with them on a training's camp in France and from that moment on I knew that Mountainbiking was going to be my new challenge.
DH: How and where do You practice?
AB: At this moment a lot in Holland and the South of France were I have some good bmx/4-cross tracks to train on. I train a lot with the National bmx team and almost run the same training program as them. I also try to go to the Bike Parks in Germany often. Willingen and Winterberg are only 2 hours driving from were I live.
DH: How does the downhill/4cross scene look in Netherlands?AB: It is a very big scene.... I know we don't have mountains but a lot of people are into freeriding, Downhill and 4-cross here. The just take there bikes and go for the weekends riding in Belgium and Germany were there are some awesome trails.
DH: You already visited many different places in the world. Where would You like to come back and ride for pleasure?
AB: WHISTLER, CANADA!!
DH: This year was very successful for You, winning Jeep King series, World 4X Vice-Champion, as well as three World Cup 4X races and overall ranking. Do You feel mentally stronger? What are Your main goals for next year?
AB: Yes, at the end of the season I was feeling really good on my bike. Everything went almost right.... and the way I had it in mind. My biggest goal for next season is winning that rainbow jersey!!
DH: Earlier You were also riding downhill, as a professional teams member. Why did You choose to focus on 4X and BMX races? Are You still training downhill?
AB: Yes, I am still riding and training Downhill. I just wanted to try and see how things will go if I was just focusing on one event at the World cup races. Doing both...DH and 4-cross is a lot in one weekend. And doing one thing went better, you only have one focus and you can give it a 100%. Doing the BMX races was a lot in preparation for my 4-cross season. Only this winter I will try and see if I can get points or qualify for the Olympics.... its the Olympics... I got to try.
DH: Who in Your opinion is going to be the hardest competitor to beat in next Year?
AB: I think the will still be Jill Kintner.
DH: How do you stay in shape during winter?
AB: After my season I will take a couple of weeks off and than I am back on my training program again. I will do a lot of endurance and power-training during the winter and try to work on my weak points.
DH: It's a beautiful, sunny weekend. What do You do?
AB: Mmm.... Get my bike (or dirtbike) out of the garage and go riding somewere.
DH: Do you do some winter sports, like snowboard or skiing? What about riding a bike on a ski-slope?
AB: Haha...uhm nope. I went INDOR snowboarding a couple of times here in holland... but I am really bad at it. Maybe one day i will learn how to ski or snowboard.
DH: Ok, is there someone you would like to thank?
AB: Ofcourse on top of the list is my family, they've supported me from the beginning on..... I think my parents were kinda happy when I was 18 and got my driving license! So they would-end have to drive me 4 times a week to the bmx track and all the races any more. My coach Bas de Bever and all my sponsor.... This would all not be possible without there help.
DH: We want You to know that You did a great job this year. We're looking forward to see You once again in Maribor, at first 2008 World Cup event in may. Keep it going and all the best in future!
AB: Thanks a lot to DH-zone for this interview and see you all again next season!
2007 results:
UCI World Cup Overall 4X 2007 4X 1st
UCI World Cup #6 - Maribor Slovenia 4X 1st
UCI World Championships Fort William Scotland 4X 2nd
Jeep Series Overall U.S.A. Overall 1st
Jeep Series #3 Beaver Creek, CO U.S.A. DH/4X 2nd
Jeep Series #2 San Luis Obispo, CA U.S.A. DH/4X 1st
Jeep Series #1 The Canyons Resort, UT U.S.A. DH/4X 3rd
Crankworx Whistler Jim Beam Air Downhill Canada DH 11th
UCI World Cup #5 Schladming Austria 4X 2nd
UCI World Cup #3 Mont Sainte Anne Canada 4X 1st
UCI World Cup #2 Champery Switzerland 4X 5th
UCI World Cup #1 Vigo Spain 4X 1st
European Indoor Championship Denmark BMX 5th
More about Anneke at: www.annekebeerten.com
Interview: M.Sojka
photos: www.annekebeerten.com, mtb.si, www.bikepark.ch
Anneke Beerten (Netherlands, 2007)