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Contact us at:
sicchicsofbmx@yahoo.com.au
Gemma Smedley
Tell us a
bit about yourself.
Gemma “MSCHIF” Smedley, 20 years of age, I’m English born! I’ve
lived in NZ, Australia & America. For the last 3 years I’ve been
living in Rarotonga (Cook Islands) where I work with my family in a car
& bike rental company. I fly back to NZ about 5 times a year to race
in the major comps.
What type of bike do
you ride?
A Nirve - rail
Who are your
sponsors?
This year Troy Lee Designs helped me out with my race gear but I basically
pay for everything else involving BMX (so I’m usually broke!)
How did you get
involved in BMX and how long have you been racing for? How long do you
think you will keep racing for?
I started when I was 11, some friends convinced me to give it a go! I
remember the first race pants I owned… bright pink & orange (they
were skin tight too… Oh yeah, I had it going on!!)
What major results
and achievements have you had?
2 x NZ National Champion 2 x NZ Elite National Champion 1998 World
Champion
What has been your
most memorable moment in BMX?
The World champs in Melbourne, there was such an amazing atmosphere in the
stadium. It was the first worlds I’d raced too so the hype of just being
there was bad. Winning the number one just topped it off!!
What has been your
biggest disappointment in BMX?
Seeing the pressure some people put on their kids, I’ve seen so many
riders with real potential leave the sport as the result of mental &
physical abuse from their parents… it sucks.
What is the racing
like for girls in New Zealand?
It’s not too bad, at the major comps we usually have a 14 years &
over class which attracts about 4 to 10 riders (we rarely have more than
one gate though).
What is the pro
girls class like in your country?
You need more than 4 riders to make a class, our pro girls usually have
about 6 or 7 riders entered. The prize money for us is peanuts compared to
the guys but it’s determined by the amount of riders entered so ya
can’t complain.
Can females make a
living out of racing BMX in New Zealand?
No, you can earn a bit of chump change but it’s usually gone by the time
you get home from the competition!
What is the racing
scene in general like in New Zealand?
We have quite a few little meetings throughout the year and about 4 major
ones. There is no racing in winter as the weather is unpredictable but you
always know there will be rain!! You have to attend three sanctioned
meetings to qualify for the National champs.
What other countries
have you raced in? Have you ever raced in Australia?
I’ve been lucky enough to attend the last 4 World Titles, which has
taken me to France, Argentina, USA and Australia!
What has been your
favourite country to race in and why?
I couldn’t pick a favourite, the level of competition in each country
was basically the same, the only difference was the scenery and the
temperature… France was the worst, it was way too hot to race in!!
If you have been to
Australia, what did you think of it?
I like Australia… especially the Gold Coast, weathers nice, beautiful
beaches & the nightlife rocks!
What Australian female bmx’ers have you heard of and what do you think
of when think about these riders?
I’ve raced quite a few of the Aussie girls and they’ve always been
really fast and hard to beat! The majority of them are talented riders,
even some of the younger girls are flying, give them a couple of years
& they’re gonna be unstoppable!!
How often and what
do you do for training?
I do gym work & I’ll go for a run every so often. I have no track
where I live so I’ll jump on my bike & hit the road 3 or 4 times a
week. I try to fly back to NZ a bit before a competition so I can get some
track time.
What is your
favourite TV show?
I don’t watch much TV
(we only have one channel in Raro) so we mainly rent out videos.
What is your
favourite type of music?
Anything with a beat, that’s good for dancin!! My favourites R&B.
Do you play any
other sports or have any other hobbies besides BMX?
I play soccer & touch. I love sports!! I’d do a lot more if I had
the time.
What do you do in
your spare time?
Hit the clubs… see how much trouble I can get up to in one night! Cruise
round the island on a motorbike (no helmets… it’s so good!) snorkel,
swim etc the bonuses of living on a tropical Island.
What are your future
goals/ambitions? Is there anything that you haven’t achieved yet, but
would like to?
I’m going to get into training mode this year & hopefully do well in
Perth.
Are you planning on
coming to Australia for the 2003 World Titles?
Yes… you will definitely be seeing me there!!
Is there anybody you
would like to thank?
My family, friends, all those lovely people who have offered me a second
home when I’m away racing & everyone who has ever helped me around
the track, whether it be with my bike, training or just given me a smile!!
I can’t forget you guys too… thanx for devoting a website to the girl
racers.
Thank you for
your time and we might see you in Perth in 2003.