Mother And IronMan
Q & A with Esther Blom-Geiser
gO: Esther, you’re one the Aspen gO riders and we love having you on our team! How long have you been on the gO Team? How long have you been riding for?
Esther: I started training with Jenny Smith in 2014 and joined the gO team. My father was a professional road rider in Europe before I was born and when I was little. My uncle sponsored a professional road team in the eighties and a cousin and friend rode the tour in the late eighties. I grew up in a road cycling family. I rode back in europe, nothing serious as my father did not like racing for women…. When I moved to the states I rode a rigid MTB in the nineties, then had my 3 beautiful boyz and was not able to ride while I was caring for them. I picked up road riding in 2012 and starting mountain biking in 2013.
gO: What inspired you to start riding?
Esther: I always loved riding bikes. growing up in the Netherlands you can not not like riding a bike. We ride townies every day to commute to school and work so I have always ridden a bike. I loved riding and did some road riding from 1982-1990. There was a mini tour de france for kids aged 12-15 in my home town. For one week a year we would ride a “stage” together and then have skill competitions during the stages. It was such a great way for 100 kids to connect and have fun on their bikes. Then I moved to the states and rode little mostly because of lack of finances and than having my children and being a full time mommy while holding a full time job. I started riding again on an old Colnago a friend offered to me in 2012, the year my youngest went to kindergarten. I ran into a girlfriend who had finished the Leadville 100MTB and she talked me into riding it in 2013. I did not even own a mountain bike when I signed up and my first ride was not until memorial Day weekend 2013 when a group of friends invited me to ride the Rim Trail on Moab with them over the course of 4 days. After that I got talked into riding the Fat tire 40 in Crested Butte. It was a hard first race. I probably finished last but I had a blast. It made me realize I needed some technical MTB skills! so later that year I met Dave Ochs, Jason and Sarah Stubbe at a MTB camp in Moab and they taught me most of what I know now, and convinced me racing and riding is soooo much fun.
gO: Where’s your favorite place to ride? Or favorite trail to ride?
Esther: I love so many places, Snowmass where I live has amazing trails, as does Aspen and roaring fork valley. I am lucky to have friend in Gunnison and Crested Butte so I get to follow them on their amazing trail systems. Racing in Breckenridge always leaves me craving for more of their trails. Moab is incredible in the off seasons, as is Grand Junction and Fruita. It is all different, it is all great. Sometimes technical is what I crave, sometime smooth single track and big berms is what I want. Anytime out in the woods and mountains is amazing.
gO: Tell us about your summer and fall race schedule? What was/is your goal race of 2016?
Esther: My race season starts late april, early may. I usually duo the 18 hours of Fruita with a male friend and Duo the 12 hours of mesa Verde the weekend after, mother’s day weekend. Than the Full growler to get you in shape late May. This year I had a full iron man on my agenda late July. I did not really know how to swim prior to this. I know that sounds funny, because all of us can swim back to the boat or the side of the pool. But can we swim in a lake or ocean out for 1.2 miles and then back…… I had to hire a swimming teacher! I started Thanksgiving week and then unfortunately had to miss 6 weeks of swimming in March and April due to a surgery, but I learned how to swim. Then I had some other races on the schedule that did not come through due to injuries, but I am competing in another Iron man this weekend in Coronado.
gO: What do you do when you hit a wall while racing? Or does that not happen to you?
Esther: Ogh it happens. I am not good about feeding and drinking during races…. plus if I race at night I always throw up for hours if I eat. I just keep repeating the motto one foot in front of the other. You can do more than you think you are capable of. You and powerful beyond measure. Sometimes that means sit down and regroup. Eat and drink and get your right mind frame. We all have great days and day where we gO why?
gO: Esther, you’re one of the most amazing people we know: you are a phenomenal mother, have a full time job, are an incredible biker AND you are always positive with a smile on your face…how do you do it?
Esther: You are so sweet, I love life and my kids mean everything to me. I want nothing more than to show them you can achieve anything you put your mind to. They love the fact I train and race and it inspires them to ride with me or run with me. Family days on the trails is all that matters in the end. Having them at races supporting me, feeling the vibe of racing, friends and having fun doing what you love is the most incredible feeling. Positivity and smiles…. Love is all we need.
gO: What advice would you give to a biker just diving into the mountain bike race scene?
Esther: gO out there and ride, Love the things you do, don’t give up, take lessons, ride with people better than you and you will become better.
gO: One last question, what inspires you to gO?
Esther: The outdoors is the most incredible inspiration. It is our sanctuary. We work hard every day and need to unload stress. There is no better way than to go into nature and enjoy why we are here. We are here to Love, Enjoy, Support each other. There is nothing more fulfilling than being in nature and all its beauty. to bring your friends and family out there to feel like they have done something they would not have without you…..
gO: Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
Esther: I just love life and preach it. I love people and support them. Life is short, do the things you love, spend time with people you love and who inspire you. Always try to bring the best out in others.