Subaru/Gary Fisher rider Heather Irmiger was nice enough to do a quick interview with us before boarding her plane for a 16 hours flight to South Africa to compete at the World Cup opener. She was excited about the upcoming year having just taken an impressive third at the Pro XCT race in Fontana, California.
MTBracenews.com: What is your race schedule like for 2009?
Heather Irmiger: My 2009 race season includes the full Pro XC Tour and possibly the entire World Cup Series. I’ve already been to Santiago, Chile for the Pan American Championships and Fontana, CA for Pro XC #1. Coming up, I’m actually headed to the World Cup opener in S. Africa, flying back to Sea Otter, then over to Europe for the 2nd and 3rd World Cups in Offenburg, Germany and Houffalize, Belgium. Whether or not I do the whole World Cup series will depend on how these first few races go.
MTBracenews.com: Where is the best spot for winter training?
HI: Believe it or not, Boulder is actually a great place to train in the winter. We have quite a few clear & sunny days and depending on the winter can often mountain bike quite a bit. My preferred location, however, is Maui – I’ve spent a couple weeks there every winter for the past 3 years.
MTBracenews.com: What changes did you make in your training over the off-season?
HI: The two biggest change to my training this year have been that I started working with my first coach ever and spent a ton of time back country skiing. I’ve always been a self-coached athlete (with major pointers from my husband, JHK) until now. I’ve always enjoyed the challenges of coaching myself, but recently started to really desire some outside input. My coach, Ben Ollett, is amazing and his philosophy fits very well with mine – very few gadgets, and a no-stationary exercise policy (no trainers here), good hard rides with a better timed amount of rest.
MTBracenews.com: When did you know you could be successful as a full time bike racer?
HI: From the time I started racing when I was 17, I knew I wanted to be a professional cyclist. Throughout college and even during my first “real” job my only mission was to become a full-time bike racer, so I guess I always thought I could do it. When I won my first national XC in 2005 I felt like I was going to be able to make it happen.
MTBracenews.com: What are your future cycling goals?HI: I’d really like to excel at international level. I love racing domestically, but World Cups and other international competitions have such large and competitive fields, being at the front would be a huge accomplishment. I’m also aiming for the 2012 Olympic team.
MTBracenews.com: Do you and Jeremy train together often?
HI: Not often, but Jeremy and I do the occasional training ride together - these usually include me riding on the rivet to not get as dropped, him riding ahead and then coming back to get me. We ride together a bit more when traveling because I have no sense of direction and need all the help I can get!
MTBracenews.com: What cycling accomplishment are you most proud of?
HI: I’m proud of two NMBS XC wins in Brian Head, UT (2005 & 2006) and my 3rd place finish at one of the Bundesliga Cups in Germany in 2007. Also, being ranked third American for the 2008 Olympic year and a multiple national team member.
MTBracenews.com: Your posture and positioning on the bike has always looked so perfect. Is that something you focus on?
HI: I’ve always been fairly prone to over-use injuries and very sensitive to bike position, so I usually am very careful about dialing in my race bikes at the beginning of each year. I have my fit done at a local shop with someone who takes great care in making sure my position is right for my body, rather than for pre-programmed software.
MTBracenews.com: Currently, the men on the Gary Fisher Team race 29ers. Have you considered racing a 29er?
HI: I actually have raced a 29er at a few local races and even a couple NMBS races in the past. I absolutely love the 29er but last year ended up mainly on the 26 inch platform because I was hoping to maintain some consistency in position/bike feel during an Olympic year. I hope to race the SuperFly at some of the 2009 races. I find the gearing and wheel size to be completely manageable for my size, I just need to get the feel of the bike dialed in.
MTBracenews.com: You’re known to excel at high altitude. What allows you to be so fast at high elevations?HI: I think mental outlook is a huge component to being fast at high altitude. I grew up mountain biking at high elevations around Boulder and in Winter Park (9000+ ft) with my family. The long sustained climbs that often accompany high altitude and the feeling that comes with the lack of oxygen just feels normal and “right” to me. I’m actually a bit mentally energized by that dizzy, heart racing feeling!
MTBracenews.com: What is your favorite race course? Why?
HI: My favorite race course is Tipperary Creek, part of the Winter Park race series in Colorado. The race is a point-to-point and has it all: long sustained climbs, tight rooty singletrack, stream crossings, rocky descents, open meadows, fast fire roads, and not very much oxygen!
MTBracenews.com: Name a race you have never done but would like to.
HI: I can’t think of a specific race, but I would love to do a race in Japan...
MTBracenews.com: Tell us something about yourself we probably don’t know.
HI: Even though I grew up in Boulder and LOVE back country skiing, I think I could live somewhere with no seasons – summer all the time. I also love everything 2 wheeled - I have 2 motorcycles and a scooter in addition to all my bikes.
