MUDDBUNNIES INTERVIEWS CENTRAL CANADA’S CATHERINE HARNDEN

NAME: Catherine Harnden

NICKNAME: Cat

AGE: 17

BIKE(S): Currently I’m riding a Cervello S2, Kona Four Lisa, Kona Stab Supreme, and an old school Schwinn Fair Lady with a banana seat to get to class.

STYLES OF RIDING: Road and Mountain bike racing, everything but BMX and Trials

RACING HIGHLIGHTS: Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals, this year was my first year, 6th in overall omnium, 11th XC, 8th MX, 12th STXC, and after washing out on a corner in the DH I still ended up 6th in it as well.  In the SECCC I was 4th overall, and at conference I placed 2nd in DH and 4th in both dual slalom and the time trial.

RIDING HIGHLIGHTS: Clearing the creek gap jump for the first time at Clemson Freeride, Anytime spent at Ray’s Indoor MTB Park, Snow-Biking

BEST RIDING EXPERIENCE: Bluebird skies, Subway, good friends and no mechanicals

RIDING STYLES YOU WANT TO TRY: BMX

FAV FEMALE RIDER: Mara Abbott, she raced collegiate cycling and swimming which is what i’m doing as well.

FAV MALE RIDER: Special Greg Powell

TRICK YOU PERFORM: Tail whip

WHAT HAS RIDING TAUGHT YOU: Gravity can be your friend

AREA OF STUDY: I attend Union College in Kentucky and am a Marketing/Communications major, during the summer I work as a lifeguard and swim instructor in my hometown.

FAV RIDING LOCATION: Northstar, Sunday River, Highlands

FAV RIDING PEEPS: Shoutouts to my brother and roommate

HEADPHONES OR NO HEADPHONES: Headphones (unless i’m in a group)

FAV MUSIC: Rap, Hiphop, Techno, Dubstep, anything with a good beat really

OTHER SPORTS: Skiing (Alpine and Nordic) and Swimming

BLACKBERRY, ANDROID OR IPHONE:  I have “the Brick” fully indestructible you can throw it a jersey pocket and it will survive the rainstorms and the crashes.

CATS OR DOGS: Dogs

DREAM BIKE: I’ll know it when I see/ride it

FAV RIDING GEAR: My bright pink bedazzled TLD Ace gloves, the Karver and Line King by fiveten, and 661 protection works.

CLIPPED IN OR FLATS: Clips for everything road and cross country, and flats for everything gravity with the exception of some dual slalom courses.

SHUTTLE OR CLIMB: Climb, you have to earn it!

LOCAL RIDING SCENE: I’m from a rural part of Ontario, Canada where I ride mostly with my brother and a few friends, but our club has a women’s ride group started up and the turn outs are encouraging.

GO CANADA GO! Nice work Catherine! Keep at it and have a safe and strong season ahead.