CrossCountry, Uphill...Why?

My first downhill-race was in 1989. No suspension in the back, no fancy RockShock or Manitou in the front. The only safety was a old polysterol cycling helmet (bell) and 2.1" Panaracers Smoke (for the grip). I was scared and nervous because i never did something like this before and i saw how steep it was going down thru a forest with big boulders and a lots of mud. I fall over several times and i had some bruises and scratches but, I LOVED IT.

I attended almost every regional race after my first race and in 1992 i joined a mountain bike team called "TEAM CHICKEN" and from there on i began to take it serious as a licenced pro-mountainbiker. That ment that i had to do at least 10 races per year and earn points. Meaning being within the top 20. The Sponsors we had: MTB-Cycletech, RockShocks, TIOGA, RaiffeisenBank and PowerBar.

My biggest success was in 1994 March, 3rd at the Aegeri-downhill-race. In my category (1974) participated 112 Downhill-Racer. After that i went to races in Italy, Austria, Germany and France. My unluckiest day was in 1998 at the Grindelwald Downhill-Race, Smashing in to a tree and having my kneedisk holding in my hand........locked very tasty.