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BEANI Thies (16) cemented her status as one of the best downhill riders in South Africa and Africa in her age group after placing second in the IXS Rookies World Championships held in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis in Austria.
The event saw Beanie being pitted against the best of the best from across the world with 270 entries, bringing some seriously talented young riders together to fight it out for the title of Rookie World Champs.
Beanie said that she felt good coming in second and hoped that next year she would do one better and come in first.
“It was an amazing experience. Riding overseas was a lot different to South African racing. It opened my eyes to how many other kids [who are] the same age race, how well they did and how well they are supported,” she said.
Thies acknowledged that the European tracks that she competed on were a bit different from the ones here in South Africa, citing that it was a much steeper and rougher ride.
“I just carried on the same way I would usually prepare in SA, although there were different people racing against me that I have never raced against before,” said Beanie on her preparations for the race.
Overcoming a few setbacks that she suffered given an injury that she sustained six weeks prior to the race, Beanie said that she fought a lot of battles and was rushed for time in order to be prepared both mentally and physically.
“I struggled getting mentally prepared for the race, it was my last race that I had to prove to myself that I am ready for next year’s season.
“I was injured six weeks prior to leaving, I had broken my wrist, which set back training and preparation for the race,” said Thies.
Making good on her hard work and preparation, Beanie finished in second place with a very respectable time of 3:25:73 and will now look to November where she will compete in her last race of the season.
“I have SA Enduro Championships in the beginning of November in the Karkloof, this is my final race for the year. Next year’s season starts in May and there is a possibility that I will be competing oversees again,” said Beanie.
