REPRESENT: AMBASSADOR ROUND UP PART 1
It’s been a busy year for our INTENSE Ambassadors. Racing has returned, road trips have been happening and good times have been had. We catch up with some of the crew to see what they have been up to this year, the highs and the lows, and their hopes and dreams for next year.
KYLIAN BRELIERE
High point?
I think it was when my first professional video for INTENSE (with video maker Julien Abellan) became a reality. Also participating in Olivier Cuvet’s jam was the best weekend of the year. I met some great riders and made some good content with a photographer and videographer. I also won the ‘Best Style’ award. And lastly, landing a double backflip at my home spot.
Low point?
Not participating in more events, jams or things like whip-off competitions.
The off-season and next year?
During the winter my home spot is the best. So I will ride with my friends and take iPhone clips for Instagram and TikTok. I’ll also spend good times with friends and family, and prepare for next season. I hope to travel more in 2022, and have a better start to the year with a better mentality.
BILLY PUGH
High point?
The Southern Enduro National here in the UK, it was a really good weekend. Thirteen stages over two days were pretty tough. I was happy with second place in the under 15s. Also the Scottish National DH race was a great experience – lots of learning, racing in the toughest conditions and I managed a first place after only three practice runs. And I decided to change bikes right before my race run! The best track was Caersws in Wales, it was super fast and technical, and I finished first.
Low point?
The British National Champs. I was up on all the splits and then got a stick in my back wheel and crashed. I still managed seventh, but I was really disappointed. There’s lots to learn about in the low times.
The off-season and next year?
Plans for winter are to get back to some of my old training rides, plenty of freestyle BMX and CrossFit on the wet nights. I have booked on to some uplifts and will be getting ready for 2022.
JULIAN STEINER
High point?
I would say it was the race in Val di Sole for the World Championships. It was an amazing track, with a big crowd on race day. I felt good the whole week and after struggling to come back from an injury the whole year this was one of the first weekends I felt like things were clicking for me again.
Low point?
Definitely my injury at the start of the year. I put in a lot of work during the off-season and to get my momentum cut just five weeks before the first World Cup was hard. I managed to come back from that and finish the season well, but I’m definitely ready for a healthy one this winter.
The off-season and next year?
Basically straight after my last World Cup in Lenzerheide I started my off-season. With the first World Cup of 2022 in March I knew I needed to start training early. Unfortunately I got Covid in early November. I was pretty ill for 3-5 days, and I’m still recovering from it now. Once I’m back to training I need to keep my heart rate very low at the start, but I hope to be back to 100% very soon. I fly out to Gran Canaria at the start of December for my first training camp and I also plan to go back to Lousa in Portugal. I’m looking forward to getting a lot of time on my bike and escaping the winter.
MARIANO MARI MARI
High point?
For sure it was racing the Transnomad. It was an incredible five days of racing traversing the Spanish Pyrenees in the area of Benasque and Bielsa. It took us to astonishing places after long climbs and time pushing our bikes, but we had great rewards – long, natural and amazing trails that we were racing blind. A great time. I wasn't 100%, so it left me hungry for more.
Low point?
A bad wrist injury that I had at the first race of the season at 4Riders Bikepark, an unfortunate crash on the last jumps that I wasn't ready for. Definitely my worst injury, it took its time to feel good to ride, but I also learnt a lot.
The off-season and next year?
After recovering from the wrist injury I made an appearance at the last EWS and national races of the season, but I could not give my all, so I'll be focusing on getting my wrist back to full strength so that I can give it my best next year.
FRANCESCO COLOMBO
High point?
A trip to Barcelona… hands down! It was a training trip to prepare for the upcoming race season with my girlfriend Francy (Lucchini) and we had a really good time riding the Spanish bikeparks and trails. Enduro, downhill, dirt bike, we rode them all, and we had a lot of fun with the INTENSE guys at the European HQ.
Low point?
For sure my knee injury. Unfortunately at the first World Cup round in Leogang (Austria) I crashed in the last practice run and I broke my ACL ligament and two meniscus, this meant my season was over. I had surgery few weeks after and everything is fine now. Injuries are the bad part of our sport but we have to accept them and learn from them.
The off-season and next year?
I have a lot of plans for this off-season, first of all to be be back in shape and start my 2022 prep. Then I want to be back in Spain for riding a little bit more before the race season... but first of all I need holidays and beers!