Linus Ott

Tell us about yourself, who are you and what makes you tick?
Hey, I'm Linus and I've been riding mountain bikes for almost 10 years. I've been racing almost as long and after a few years on the downhill bike, I'm now on the enduro. My beginnings were jumps we digged ourselves in the local forest and skatepark sessions with the dirtjump bike. That's probably where my smoother riding style comes from. I like to find alternative lines and try to ride as smooth and flowy as possible.

Racing or just riding? And why?
Racing. However, racing is just the cherry on top of the cake for me. I just like to train properly and have a lot of fun doing it. The race is the goal, but I enjoy the whole process of preparation and am happy when things go well at the race.

What is your best MTB experience so far?
Since I'm a racer, it has to be a race, of course. My favorite track is Maribor, I was there in 2019 for the European Cup and had a grin on my face the whole weekend because the track is just great. Then in the final I dropped my chain shortly after the start, which of course spoiled a good result. But it (almost) didn't matter, for this track it was more than worth it!

Why do you love MTB riding?
The combination of nature and sport is the biggest attraction for me. A long day in the saddle in good weather with a good crew is exactly what I appreciate in MTB. You are free and always have a bit of adventure along with it.

What are you most proud of in your MTB career so far?
I'm also a track builder and that's how I finance my studies and my sport. Last year I built a small trail park. Seeing how the trails are liked after all the hard work and how everyone has fun on them has definitely made me proud.

Some advise you would give to a young MTB kid who would also like to become a pro rider one day.
Spend as much time as you can with the sport. Whether that's riding bikes or building trails doesn't matter. The main thing is to have fun!