Tracey Hannah Takes a Step Back
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008
Tracey Hannah (Photo: Kathy Sessler)
Tracey Nicole Hannah sent us through this message to address her plans this year. Unfortunately she won’t be attending the World Cup races this year. See what she says inside.
I have written this press release to address all of the comments and questions I have been receiving regarding my decisions for the 2008 international racing season. I hope that this is something you will understand, and know that Mountain Bike racing is not over for me.
I have been riding bikes all my life, I did some BMX when I was younger, raced at the BMX Nationals when I was 4½ and started downhill mountain biking when I was about 12. My brother raced, so of course, I wanted to race as well. I thought the world of him, and anything he could do I wanted to do. He has such a natural style on the bike and a great technique. It is hard to get into bad habits with him around. So from a young age I was learning so much that it made riding downhill, smooth and fast come naturally. Ever since I started I have always wanted to be riding, and working harder to get faster. When I was 14, I raced my first MTB National Championships. I finished with a 2nd place in Elite Women. From that year on I have been National Champion 5 times.
In 2004 I headed over to the USA to race my first international series. I ended up 5th overall in the US NORBA series. The next year I had to stay home, we couldn’t fund 2 years in a row of overseas racing and the sponsors didn’t offer the support that I needed. I spent that time at home riding all year and racing the Australian National Series and the Australian Championships. In 2006 I went back to America and won the US National NORBA series. I attended the World Championships in New Zealand as a junior, and took home the gold medal and those rainbow bands I can wear for the rest of my life.
2007 was my first year racing Elite, and my first year on the World Cup circuit. I ended up, 1st at the forth round of the World Cup series in Schladming Austria, 3rd overall in the World Cup Series, 3rd at the World championships in Fort William, and am currently the Australian National Champion.
This year I have decided not to attend the World Cup Series.
Lately I have been asked a lot of questions about the up and coming season. My answer seems to raise some concern about my decision to not attend the World Cup Series this year. To clear up some things I want to make it clear, it is not because I do not love riding. I am not quitting. I am not finished with this sport.
I arrived home from the 2007 racing season in September, with a large credit card bill and with perhaps the false expectation that after doing as well as I did I would be getting a better deal from sponsors. A deal that might cover my living expenses whilst I train 100% and also I would be able to service the debt I have accumulated over the past years. This didn’t happen.
To the people that are working every day, and struggling to pay for bikes and gear and just want to ride, the offers I have received are awesome. To most people, I would be considered so lucky. I have had offers of all expenses paid to race World Cups, gear, bikes, accommodation, training facilities, etc. That’s great! But it still costs me to race and I have less than no money.
I have made the difficult decision to not travel this season because I am a professional. I want to be the best and if every effort is not getting put toward that then I must refuse these great offers. At the moment that is how it is, the sponsorship and support that is getting offered to female mountain bikers is less than what I need to be competitive.
There is not the support for the hard work and time spent training in the off-season. I am at home working everyday still paying off my credit card bill from racing overseas last season. Whilst still putting every effort, and time, that I have into training. It isn’t working. Going at it like this is going half hearted. If I am racing at a World Class level then I must put every effort into working hard toward the top, because there is no time to waste when competing in a high class.
To be the best in the world is a full time job. I don’t want to go back overseas and come home with a second place knowing that I could have done more toward being number one. To race to my full and best potential it takes professionalism.
I am taking this year off from racing but not from trying to improve as a professional bike rider. I am planning to do a Business Marketing course to learn how to sell brand “Tracey Hannah” thus making me a better prospect to potential sponsors. I am continuing to put a lot of effort into training and working to pay my bills.
Athletes need the funds to support themselves in the off-season, just like it would be a job. We are a talent that people like watching, because not everyone has it. It’s amazing to see any sportsman performing to their best having trained hard and using the talent they have. I want to be overseas racing having put all my effort and hard work into being number one.
I want to train and race to my full and best potential, and at this time it is not possible.
Tracey Hannah
April 30th, 2008 at 11:10 am
What a pity situation. I hope you’ll get paid all the bills and be ready for the 2009 season.
April 30th, 2008 at 11:14 am
jeez..! someone needs to pick this girl up…. i still remember her booting the huge step down at durange when she was like… 14..! when half the semi-pro men where staining their drawers……
YO… santa cruz syndicate.. do you have a female podium threat..? pull out the check book baby…
P”
April 30th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
That´s the girl, totally confident… I´m sure 2009 will the best season for you Tracey… keep riding and you´ll be the best.
Good luck!
April 30th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Man this sucks…
Lack of funds/bills is no way for someone as talented as tatented as Tracey to be held back.
Totally understand where she’s coming from, and getting sponsored is only half of it when it comes to racing. Flying, lodging, and food kinda cost money too.
Man if someone could give her a yearly salary… damn. I think her going to school to get some business background is a VERY smart move on her part. Might be able to work for her sponsors in the off season to get some extra cash.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Props to her. Thats a tough decision for her to make, but it shows a LOT of maturity and conviction to get her financial/domestic life back in order.
I hope to see her again on the next Earthed.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Man, this is tough. Bike companies need to put their money where their mouth is. It’s not enough to make a female specific bike, they need to have female role models to get girls on those specific bikes.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
This really bumms me out! I saw her racing at schladming and beating the crap out of sabrina jonnier and that is one hell of a course…
It’s a shame for the industry and for who ever does the marketing for media rights and stuff like that! I think if DH was running on national television again, this would probably not be an issue at all….
Keep your spirit and come back for 2009 to kick some ass!
April 30th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Now this is one smart lady. Don’t rely on others to give handouts, develop your brand and make some coin and come back and show them how it’s done. Hey maybe she should talk to Cedric about branding, I think old CG would give her some pointers.
May 1st, 2008 at 6:34 am
This girl is not only a good rider.She is smart.. “We are a talent that people like watching..” That was poetry.. Just never stop riding your bike Tracy you were a touch of joy at this years Worlds.Good luck
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:48 am
It is perhaps a smart decision in particular given this is an Olympic year. Our sport gets hammered out of the little mainstream coverage it gets from June onwards every four years, so if you are going to take a year out, this is the best year to do it.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:14 am
I really appreciate your explanation and I think you did a big help to every one involved in racing or enjoying to ride. None spoke before you about money efforts. I wnat to race this year but I still didn’t have the chance to sell my ‘05 bike to buy a new pure DH bike and you know? That turned in a loss of interest for the upcoming season, even as a spectator. I was complaining in past topics in other sites about the pour lady part in the videos, such as Earthed5; it’s not fear in front of you, girls. I hope you’ll find a way to race as a job.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
good luck,