Patricia Druwen & Alma Wiggberg: How two young women are shaking up the MTB scene
FREERIDE Magazin
· 20.02.2023
Both young mountain bikers have already achieved remarkable results, landed tricks that no other rider has mastered to date and took part in legendary events such as the Audi Nines, Crankworx Whistler and the Red Bull District Ride.
Interview with two MTB stars of tomorrow
Interview: Petra Schuler
The 2023 MTB season starts soon. How was your winter and do you feel ready?
Patricia Druwen: I spent the winter at La Poma Bikepark near Barcelona and practised new tricks there. At home, I could only ride indoors and therefore couldn't work much on my tricks.
Alma Wiggberg: I had shoulder surgery at the beginning of September 2022 and have been focusing on rehab all winter. I'm currently back on the bike more, which feels great, and the many hours in the gym are finally starting to pay off. It will probably be a while before I'm physically 100% fit again, but mentally I'm more than ready for the coming season.
Freestyle mountain biking is considered male-dominated, how do you feel about that?
Patricia: I don't think it's bad because I get on well with the boys and I also enjoy learning new tricks with them.
Alma: That's how I see it too. I don't give it much thought. At competitions, it is of course noticeable when, for example, five women and 25 men take part. But I had the impression that there was always a good attitude towards female riders. Everyone is very open-minded and happy to give tips. And people are happy about the success of others, no matter what.
What is the atmosphere like with the other athletes and bikers?
Patricia: I would say that the atmosphere is good and when you see each other, you exchange ideas.
Alma: One of the things I like most about the bike community is the atmosphere. When it comes to ideas, I always find it great to share thoughts, upcoming projects or similar with like-minded people. And people are often happy to hear about it and make a contribution.
How long have you been mountain biking and how did it all start?
Patricia: I started practising a few tricks on a city bike in 2019 and tried to jump a bit and then I got my first dirt bike in 2020 and from then on I just tried to learn new tricks.
Alma: I started riding in the bike park in my region about five years ago. At first I wasn't really that interested in it, it was more something I did with my brother and friends a few times a season. But after some time in the bike park, my interest grew more and more, and in 2020 I took part in my first race at the Åre Bike Festival.
It was a women-only race, just for fun really. But I remember how much I enjoyed everything about it, the nerves, the thrill, and just the whole atmosphere around it. In 2021 I rode more enduro races and also bought my first hardtail, which opened up more opportunities for me and I started to move more towards slopestyle.
Which mountain bike disciplines do you particularly enjoy?
Patricia: For me it's definitely slopestyle because I have so much fun flying through the air and doing tricks.
Alma: Basically all of them. But last year I focussed more on slopestyle. I really like the fun part and the energy kick of learning new tricks. But I also like all kinds of races, big bike, enduro or speed & style.
Your greatest sporting success to date? The best moment?
Patricia: Definitely Audi Nines 2021, it was my first big event and it was so cool to ride with all the pros from around the world.
Alma: My biggest success so far is my second place in Speed & Style at Crankworx Whistler 2022. The whole trip was something special and I will keep the memories of it for a long time.
How often do you train? What exactly and with whom?
Patricia: For me, it always depends on when I have time to ride. During the week, I usually only manage it once and at the weekend I have to drive at least 1-2 hours to get to a good training spot.
Alma: At the moment I spend 3-5 days at the gym in the off-season and ride between 1-3 days a week. When it turns into summer and everything gets a bit drier outside, I usually spend more time on the bike and ride outside a lot with friends.
What are your goals for the 2023 season?
Patricia: I definitely want to take part in Crankworx Speed & Style and learn a lot more tricks.
Alma: For me, the Crankworx events are also the main goal. And I would like to ride more FMB events.
Mountain biking career alongside school and work
Patricia, you're still at school until the summer. How do you reconcile education and sport?
Patricia: It's not easy, but it's still possible. If I don't have time for longer trips, I usually ride with friends at our local spot and in winter I usually go to the gym in the evenings during the week and just try to stay fit on my bike.
Alma, you work part-time. How do you reconcile work and sport?
Alma: Lately I've been able to concentrate more and more on the sport, but I usually work the most in the off-season. I also work at the local bike park in the summer when it suits me alongside events and competitions.
What are your tips for other rookies?
Patricia: I would definitely start riding the pump track because it gives you a lot of bike control and then start with smaller jumps. Once you feel confident in the air, you can try to learn your first tricks.
Alma: I like to be inspired by watching other people ride. So one of my tips would be to find a few athletes whose riding style you like and who inspire you for your own riding. And then I also think it's important to surround yourself with friends with whom you can share all this.
How do you deal with pressure and stress?
Patricia: I just try to stay relaxed and not get stressed and then just ride. After the drop-in, all stress is forgotten.
Alma: The pressure comes and goes for me. I try to focus on what's coming and surround myself with inspiring people who help me stay focussed.
Which female riders and mountain bike stars are your inspiration?
Patricia: Definitely Erik Fedko and Thomas Genon. They inspire me with their style on the bike and their character.
Alma: One of my favourite riders is Veronique Sandler, I love her relaxed and playful style on the bike.
What does cycling mean to you?
Patricia: It means a lot to me because I can see what you can achieve with cycling. That's why I'm working on reaching the same level as the slopestyle pros are at now.
Alma: It means happiness for me. What I like most is the playful part, the energy it gives me and the freedom you have to create your own style. I also like cycling as a way to explore new places.
