Amy Rambacher
Current residence:
Mission Viejo, CA
How long have you been riding for?
About 6 years
Who or what influenced you to start riding?
A friend of mine and my husband suggested that we might want to try mountain biking, based on the fact that we participated in other "extreme" sports (rock climbing, snowboarding, white water kayaking, etc.). Our third ride out, we rode down the Lynx trail in Aliso and Wood Canyons, which is a short but technical trail. I was somehow able to ride most of it and it got me completely hooked on mountain biking, especially the downhill aspect of it.
What disciplines do you compete in and what do you love most about this type of riding?
I mainly compete in enduros now. I started racing Super D three years ago and, through one of the girls I raced with, found out about enduro. I call Super D the gateway drug to enduro since, Super D is a lot of times a one and done race, similar to DH. With enduro, you have at least 3 courses to rail and have fun with. Enduro is very different from other race formats I have tried. The transfer (mostly uphill) stages are super chill and you can just hang with your friends and treat it like a regular ride. But when you get to the top of the timed stages (mostly downhill), it's time to shred and you can let loose and go all out, since stages are normally run on closed courses and you don't have to worry about other trail users. Also, with the staggered starts (20-30 seconds), the need to pass or be passed by other riders is minimized.
Give us some of your racing/competition highlights:
Last year was my first full season of racing, as the year before in February I broke my ankle during a training ride and spent the year recovering from that. I won the Open Women's division of the KMC Winter Series Super D at Fontana, came in second in the Open Women's 30-39 division of the Kenda Cup Super D Series, second place finish in the Women's Expert division of the California Enduro Series, 4th in the Women's Sport division at my local XC race series (Over The Hump OC) and first place in the Women's Expert division of the SoCal Enduro series.
Goals for 2015:
I just moved from the expert to the pro category for this race season. If I'm going to keep up with these fast ladies, I have to up my game. I'm doing whatever I can to get faster and stronger on the bike. I'm focusing on XC-like, long distance training as well (thank you, Petal Power, for making my long rides comfortable!), since I've got a few two day enduros I'm planning to do this year, including the Finale Ligure EWS race in October!
What is some of the best bike related advice some one has given you that made a huge difference for you?
Look where you want to go. Sounds basic but it is so true! Especially when you are railing a course, you have to concentrate on the trail. Looking at anything else off the sides of the trail could lead to a wreck or cost you seconds on a stage. This is true in biking as well as in life. Focus on where you want to go in life. Focus on the positive and don't get sidetracked by the negative.
What's your day job?:
LOL! This is kind of my day job now! I'm lucky to have a super supportive husband who encourages me to go after my dreams. When I stop racing, I may go back to being a physical therapist assistant. So, if you see me stretching someone out on the side of the trail, no, I'm not torturing them. ;D
2015 Sponsors:
Fly Racing, The Path Bike Shop, The Path Racing Team, Industry Nine and Petal Power! I am a blessed girl!
Mission Viejo, CA
How long have you been riding for?
About 6 years
Who or what influenced you to start riding?
A friend of mine and my husband suggested that we might want to try mountain biking, based on the fact that we participated in other "extreme" sports (rock climbing, snowboarding, white water kayaking, etc.). Our third ride out, we rode down the Lynx trail in Aliso and Wood Canyons, which is a short but technical trail. I was somehow able to ride most of it and it got me completely hooked on mountain biking, especially the downhill aspect of it.
What disciplines do you compete in and what do you love most about this type of riding?
I mainly compete in enduros now. I started racing Super D three years ago and, through one of the girls I raced with, found out about enduro. I call Super D the gateway drug to enduro since, Super D is a lot of times a one and done race, similar to DH. With enduro, you have at least 3 courses to rail and have fun with. Enduro is very different from other race formats I have tried. The transfer (mostly uphill) stages are super chill and you can just hang with your friends and treat it like a regular ride. But when you get to the top of the timed stages (mostly downhill), it's time to shred and you can let loose and go all out, since stages are normally run on closed courses and you don't have to worry about other trail users. Also, with the staggered starts (20-30 seconds), the need to pass or be passed by other riders is minimized.
Give us some of your racing/competition highlights:
Last year was my first full season of racing, as the year before in February I broke my ankle during a training ride and spent the year recovering from that. I won the Open Women's division of the KMC Winter Series Super D at Fontana, came in second in the Open Women's 30-39 division of the Kenda Cup Super D Series, second place finish in the Women's Expert division of the California Enduro Series, 4th in the Women's Sport division at my local XC race series (Over The Hump OC) and first place in the Women's Expert division of the SoCal Enduro series.
Goals for 2015:
I just moved from the expert to the pro category for this race season. If I'm going to keep up with these fast ladies, I have to up my game. I'm doing whatever I can to get faster and stronger on the bike. I'm focusing on XC-like, long distance training as well (thank you, Petal Power, for making my long rides comfortable!), since I've got a few two day enduros I'm planning to do this year, including the Finale Ligure EWS race in October!
What is some of the best bike related advice some one has given you that made a huge difference for you?
Look where you want to go. Sounds basic but it is so true! Especially when you are railing a course, you have to concentrate on the trail. Looking at anything else off the sides of the trail could lead to a wreck or cost you seconds on a stage. This is true in biking as well as in life. Focus on where you want to go in life. Focus on the positive and don't get sidetracked by the negative.
What's your day job?:
LOL! This is kind of my day job now! I'm lucky to have a super supportive husband who encourages me to go after my dreams. When I stop racing, I may go back to being a physical therapist assistant. So, if you see me stretching someone out on the side of the trail, no, I'm not torturing them. ;D
2015 Sponsors:
Fly Racing, The Path Bike Shop, The Path Racing Team, Industry Nine and Petal Power! I am a blessed girl!