Hi my name is Kath. I have lived here in the tropical paradise of Cairns since 2002 with my husband and 2 kids. My husband and I moved here from Adelaide and loved the climate and lifestyle so much we stayed on. I am a medical sonographer and work full-time managing and tutoring within a private radiology practice. I grew up in regional South Australia on a sheep and grain farm. My parents are adventurous and we were always road touring and camping, water-skiing on the River Murray in summer and motorbike riding. I have been road cycling and doing some mountain biking for several years here in Cairns, but this year has seen me focus more on mountain bike racing with the Astute Financial Racing Team. My husband is also into cycling (road and MTB) and our kids love MTB as well. We live close to Smithfield MTB park and 2 other mountain bike parks on the Atherton Tablelands are less than an hour away. Very lucky!
How did you start in Adventure Sports?
I have always been active and an outdoors person, I liked playing team sports such as netball and basketball until a knee injury in my 20’s. After my kids were born I was keen to get in to something to help me get back into shape and I started cycling to work back somewhere in 2009. It wasn’t long before I was feeling the benefits, finding a love of cycling and I also discovered my competitive streak! Challenge Ironman was coming to Cairns for the first time and some mates asked me to do the cycle leg, so I had something to train for besides passing the blokes on the way home from work. I loved it and haven’t stopped cycling since. Triathlon training followed with participation in a couple of olympic distance tri’s, plenty of team entries into Cairns Ironman events and participating in numerous fundraising cycling events. In 2016 I managed to train for and finish the Great Barrier Reef half marathon. Not being a gifted runner this was quite a big achievement for me! Over the years, while making more friends in cycling I started road racing with the Cairns Cycling Club a couple of years ago. It wasn’t long before I was encouraged to also enter mountain biking races which my husband and kids also do. I really love the challenge of learning new skills, the diversity of terrain around Cairns, the friends I’ve made and events I’ve done along the way.
What inspires you?
I love getting out into the beautiful environment around Cairns and I really love challenging myself to learn new things. We were lucky enough to have the UCI MTB World Cup in Cairns last year. Watching the pro athletes has inspired me to learn more technical skills and practice going faster (and not crash!) on my mountain bike. I also get a big inspiration from hearing or reading stories of everyday athletes like myself giving big endurance events a go and pushing their boundaries.
Did you get any help along the way?
I have had great support over the years from like-minded friends and family who are into adventure sports, and my local bike shop Discovery Cycles who I am now an ambassador for. This past year it has been awesome to feel the support and the backing of a team environment when I was asked to join the Astute Financial Racing Team.
So what's the craziest thing you've ever done?
So far a local 8 hour endurance MTB race the Elev8XCM. I wasn’t sure I could finish off a solo 8 hour endurance event, but I surprised myself. Oh and deciding to enter the Crocodile Trophy this year!
What's next?
Back to back events in the region! Bigger events are a 3 day road bike event Tour of the Tropics and Reef2Reef a 4 day MTB stage race late July/early August...then the real big one….. The Crocodile Trophy with my team-mate Alex in October.
Any advice?
I have discovered that if you prepare and train for an event you want to do properly, you can do it. If you want to do something, don’t listen to naysayers… Just make a plan, find supportive friends and just do it.
Why did you join adventurefreak.com?
When adventurefreak.com and Astute Financial Racing Team joined forces.
(Editors Note: It's a great pleasure to welcome you to the AF Team Kath. We look forward to hearing heaps more about your adventures.)
