Adventure 222

Jess riding high during the South Island's summer months
Jess in ski-race action
Rising Star
Jess Blewitt
Images by Dylan Foote
18 year old Jess Blewitt grew up in the
surf town of Mount Manganui, where
she found her love of the outdoors in
the ocean. But it was a move to the
South Island that flamed her passion for
the mountains. Jess has been creating
a stir in the world of downhill ski racing
and now mountain biking. We caught up
with Jess for a quick chat…
Can you tell us a little bit about how you
found your love in the outdoors? I lived in
Mount Maunganui and was a competitive life
saver at Omanu Surf Club in the summer. I
was a life guard during the holidays for the
2016/17 summer. But the lure to the snow
in the winter was greater than the surf. So as
you can see I have always had a competitive
nature and been in competitive sports from a
young age.
Mum and dad were keen skiers. They
never ski raced, but wanted to pass on their
passion for the sport of skiing to us. My first
race was a “Friday fun race” at Sunpeaks
in Canada. My Mum and her friend Jan,
were keen to get the local primary school at
Mount Maunganui, Omanu Primary school
involved in ski racing. So the Omanu Ski
team was formed and we trained and raced
for our primary school at Mount Ruapehu.
Fed up with travelling to the North
Island, and most events being
affected by weather, in 2013, Mum
and dad decided to relocate the
family for the winter to Queenstown.
Both my brother and I attended the
local primary school, Queenstown
Primary school and learnt to ski race
with QAST (Queenstown Alpine Ski
Team.) We did the winter relocations
for 5 years, before deciding in
January 2017 that we would make
a permanent move to Queenstown,
because “ why not”. Mum and dad
said if we didn’t like it, then we could
always move back. So I started my
Year 11 at Wakatipu High School with
my younger brother in Year 9 and
haven’t looked back.
I got introduced to downhill
mountain biking in 2018 and started
competitively in the 2019 season.
There are obviously a lot of
similarities between downhill ski
racing and downhill mountain
biking. Can you tell us about
the similarities and differences
between the two sports. Do you
have a preference? They are both
adrenalin sports involving high speed
and risk. The only difference is ski
racing is a “set course” with just snow
to land on, whereas mountain biking
has rocks, roots and dirt ! I definitely
prefer mountain biking as there is
always something different in terms
of tracks.
You have had successes in both
disciplines. What are some of
the highlights of each? Skiing:
Second overall in New Zealand in
my last year of Ski racing U16. Being
selected to race in Whistler Cup for
New Zealand in Canada in 2017,
even though I didn’t go.
Mountain Biking: NZ National
Championships 2020 and Oceania
Champ 2020. | No. 1 Junior at
Crankworks in 2020 and 2nd fastest
time overall, second to Tracey
Hannah, from Australia who is
currently No. 1 Elite Female ( 2019
overall World Cup series winner )
You planned to attend two world
cups this year, but Covid 19 had
other plans. What was supposed
to be happening and where? I had
intended on traveling to Maribor,
in Slovenia and Losinj, Croatia in
April/May 2020 with my family to
compete as a Junior and represent
New Zealand at these two World
Cups, and then following selection
for the NZ team for World Champs,
and then Covid 19 arrived and
Losinj, got cancelled and Maribor
got postponed until October. But
then everything got taken out of my
hands when an announcement was
made on the Cycling NZ website that
NO JUNIORS would be selected
for World Champs and unless you
were on a “trade team” that you
could not enter any of the remaining
World Cups. These Junior races
are so important in actually getting
“recognised” by the rest of the world
to get on these trade teams, so I was
really gutted that this decision had been
made.
What have your experiences
been like in a predominately male
dominated sportor is that perception
changing? It is difficult, and especially
in New Zealand where there are not
many female riders. I truly want to ride
and race internationally where there are
a lot more female riders, inparticular I
would like to go to Canada and base
myself there.
When you are not mountain biking,
what would we find you doing?
Skiing for fun.
Best/worse/funniest thing about
your life/sport? The first year I moved
down permanently to Queenstown for
Year 11, I tried my hand at Rowing
competitively. My coach told me I
wasn’t allowed to mountain bike, as I
kept getting injured. I was constantly in
the dog box….… My rowing days were
numbered anyway as the sport didn’t
appeal as it didn’t have the adrenalin
buzz or speed of which I love about my
sports today.
How would your friends describe
you? Determined, focused,
competitive.
Local places you like to ride. I
would really like to promote the sport
of Mountain Biking in Queenstown
and give a plug for riding at Skyline,
Coronet Peak, Heli Biking New
Zealand, Queenstown Bike Taxis ( for
shuttling up Rude Rock, Coronet Peak
and Clyde, Alexandra and TrailConnect,
based in Wanaka. Also the local enduro
trails at Five Mile, Queenstown and
Sticky Forest, Wanaka.
Where to in the future? The
immediate future is focusing on the
New Zealand 2021 racing season, as
my first year as an Elite racer.
The season kicks off at 440, MTB
Park in Auckland on the 24th January,
followed by the second round , at Dome
Valley, North of Auckland on the 31st
January.
The 3rd Round is at Jentree, in
Marlbourgh, Blenheim on the 7th Feb,
with the final round at Coronet Peak,
Queenstown on the 13th February
The National MTB Championships
are to be held in Christchurch and the
Christchurch MTB Park on the 27th and
28th February. There has been no date
or venue set for Oceania’s for 2021
which will be in Australia in 2021.
With the uncertainty of racing next
year, due to Covid, I am going to start
University in 2021 in Wellington. I
have applied to do Architecture. My
dream is to transfer with a scholarship
to a Canadian University in 2022, and
continue my studies in Architecture
over there and ride and race as an Elite
female in the hopes of being in the top
10 in the world.
Have you had any significant
mentors/sponsors/parents who
have helped along the way? What
role have they each played in your
success or even your love of the
outdoors? NZMTB coach - Gavin Key
who is based in Wanaka and volunteers
his time to the youth sport of mountain
biking has been a great support and
mentor for me, especially in relation to
the mental preparation for this sport.
Tracey Hannah - Number one Female
Elite DH Mountain Bike World Cup
series winner for the 2019 season
(AUSTRALIA). I was lucky to be
introduced to Tracey earlier this year
in Queenstown, when she was training
with her factory team, Polygon UR.
I got to do some training runs with
her at Skyline and Coronet Peak (of
which is now open for mountain biking
with a DH track and a XC track). This
year Coronet Peak, hosted one of the
National rounds and will again host
round 4 of the Nationals on the 13th
and 14th February 2021(XC and DH).
And of course my parents - they
have supported me financially and
emotionally through the ups and downs
of this sport.
ADVENTUREMAGAZINE.CO.NZ 57