Zoe Cuthbert is a jack of all trades, and somehow, also master of them all.
Cuthbert is taking podiums across every discipline in the mountain bike game, and she’s only just getting started at the sprightly age of 22.
Taking out silver at the 2022 Commonwealth games XC and she’s the current Pump Track National Champ, and she’s chomping at the top spot in Enduro and Downhill. She is such a tenacious competitor, you can’t help but wonder, what have they been feeding her?
Turns out, a lot of hill repeats, dig days and Majura Pines as a backdrop, coupled with some Toblerone – more on this to come.
We caught up with the Canberra native to find out more about her relationship with this unique riding spot in the ACT.
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The Training Ground | Majura Pines
Growing up in a household of elite rock climbers, with Majura Pines as an extension to her backyard, it is no wonder Cuthbert has become the multi-disciplined mountain biking elite she is today.
A little mix of competitive spirit, the pain cave, and a love of exploring new places and new sports made for a strong base, or perhaps a different perspective on “normal.” Bushwalking, climbing and just a love of being outside meant most of her time was spent in the Pines, trail building, riding or just mucking around.
Majura Pines was home to Cuthbert’s first race, the place where she first started trail building as a volunteer and had her first crack on a dirt jumper. The Pines have inspired many aspects of her world.
“I remember as a kid, we set ourselves a challenge on a lot of rides. We called it the Toblerone challenge — if we could clear the whole section of climbing trail, well, there was chocolate on the other side,” she said.
On the surface, it may seem like a game created to convince, mum and dad to keep the pantry loaded with Swiss chocolate, but the Toblerone challenge created the foundation for Cuthbert’s mindset.
“I see racing as rewarding, it is a challenge I look forward to,” she says.
That mindset of positivity is also underpinned by a sense of creativity and exploration in her riding and training. Rock climbing, bike packing, bike polo? Just having a crack at new sports? All features of her program.
She is still following traditional periodised training blocks, and is out there every day of the week, either on the bike or in the gym. However, adding some flair and flexibility to her schedule creates a sustainable approach and a better mindset with such a TSS.
“The beautiful thing about doing different disciplines is you progress and learn new skills naturally. Learning to dirt jump has given me so much more confidence in the air which helps me on the enduro and cross country track on difficult drops or jumps,” says Cuthbert.
The art of not plateauing it seems, is also a product of this approach. With a greater focus on learning, progression and a “slow is fast” mentality.
“Usually at the start of the race, my focus is flow, and pushing myself physically, not just speed. Particularly in Enduro, I don’t feel pressure to do every drop and feature,” she explains.
Majura Pines is fertile ground for testing progression in speed and air-time that seems to serve Cuthbert in her training.
Trail Favourites | Majura Pines, home of the Toblerone challenge
If there is a love-hate relationship to be had, there seem to be a number of trails for the taking at Majura, but one in particular came to mind for Cuthbert.
“Auto Alley is an absolute favourite, winding above the fire trail with a huge amount of technical, challenging sections along the way,” she says.
Natural features are the name of the game for the original trails in the network; hand built, off-camber, with tricky climbing and descending. This is what Majura was built on. With touch-ups of flow trails added over the last few years, a new flavour has been created within the Pines.
Majura also is an active Pine Plantation, but thanks to a big push from the Majura Trail Alliance, harvest operations take into account the effect on the trails to secure the longevity of the trail network.
“I remember the natural trails that were all in place before the logging, and the way it has been reshaped with excavators, and hours of work for new flow trails since sections were replanted a few years ago. There has always been a really strong volunteer base that has advocated for the trails here.” Cuthbert reflects.
Cuthbert also spoke highly of her mates Barry and Larry, which happen to be trails winding through steep and tight terrain. Rocky technical climbs, to loose and fast descents, linking up to a smile-inducing blue flow trail by the name of Planet Claire.
“There is so much progression available in the park, and styles of riding to choose from,” she says.
Into The Mind | Don’t be afraid to try
The basis of Cuthbert’s training strongly features a sense of “don’t be afraid to give it a try”. Through Covid, she started trail building, riding dirt jumps and finding enjoyment in being terrible at something.
“Progression when you start a sport is so rewarding, you can get such large gains from just showing up,” she says.
For many, the setbacks in this early stage are gruelling, unmotivating and even intimidating. Instead of frustration, Cuthbert takes joy from the little wins, overcoming those little mountains of chocolate.
XC, on the other hand, seems to be a place of confidence. She thrives on head-to-head competition and suffering.
“When I line up for a XC race, it really is more about the mental preparation for what you are about to put yourself through physically,” she says.
Enduro and pump track seem to be a different ballpark, more fun, less pressure. Pump track has offered Cuthbert a new way to physically challenge the body, and learn where to find free speed.
“I think taking up pump track has definitely helped me ride with more intensity and is great for training arm strength too,” Cuthbert says.
The home training ground of Majura Pines has contributed to her attitude towards training and the pain cave. Pushing for all those Toblerone challenges along the way, whilst getting the reward of some quality flow trails in the mix.
Trail Building (wit’ the Girls)
Through the pandemic, young rake-wielding volunteers came out of the woodwork to build a new dirt jump area by the name of Majurassic Park. Big, bold lines, all amongst pine trees with progression in mind.
The countless hours Cuthbert has spent building Majurassic Park, and some of the older XC trails imparted a greater appreciation of drainage and digging, which has all been foundational for a career in trail building with Iconic Trails.
It was striking how many strong female figures Cuthbert is surrounded by. Freerider Harriet Burbidge-Smith is just one of her close friends in the trail-building industry and mountain bike scene.
“There is a perception that men in the trail-building game are stronger and more capable in this line of work. The way I see it, women have to be much more creative, and it often leads to finding a more efficient solution. Instead of picking up a huge rock and throwing your back out, like the guys, we always come up with a system with straps, winches and crowbars to get the same job done.” she says.
Cuthbert’s experience with Iconic Trails team has extended from running machines to carving out singletrack to the more complex hand-built variety.
“I love trying to find natural features to build into a trail, there is a lot more hours of work that goes into hand-built trails, but it also is just really creative.”
As a volunteer originally helping the local mountain bike club keep up the local network, she has come a long way, making a career out of it.
Life, work and bikes
Every Australian athlete is mixing in big training and racing schedules with work and life. For Cuthbert, this looks like work (trail building), life, training, studying design, starting a clothing brand called Rapt Apparel, and soon international travel in pursuit of a season of World Cups.
“It is awesome going overseas and seeing just how big the biking scene is over there. I absolutely love sharing the sport, and seeing how many people are involved internationally,” says Cuthbert.
The international mountain biking scene does offer another level of competition and scale that perhaps isn’t experienced on home turf. The tenacity of racing overseas and the size of the mountain bike industry seems to offer a greater sense of opportunity to elite athletes, Cuthbert reflects.
Australia is really far away from the rest of the world, and it’s extraordinarily expensive to fund a World Cup racing campaign. This gap in the scale of the industry and the cost to continue to show up at World Cup events is a reality that all Australian mountain bike racers face.
Cuthbert is already taking learnings from her experience in the mountain biking industry to find a niche that has yet to be plugged. Her own unique brand Rapt Apparel features some of the quirkiest designs on the market.
“I have worked hard to find a sustainable manufacturer, and there is a huge amount of time that goes into designing each one from scratch. I independently embroider each design onto the shirts and am currently packaging up as many orders as I can before heading overseas. I want to eventually move to also include bike pants as a product, but I have found they are much more complex to design.”
These creative pursuits of trail building, design and starting a brand as well, have created an opportunity to switch off for Cuthbert. A space to work on other things, to give the body and mind a break from the grind of training and competing.
“I really like the time to just focus on something different, that isn’t physically or mentally challenging and is just purely creative.”
What’s Next?
With a strong performance at the AusCycling MTB National Champs, Cuthbert is well aligned to launch into the international world of Enduro and Cross Country. She is ready to kick this off with the Tassie leg of the Enduro World Cup before she commences overseas to a back-to-back schedule to show up for both disciplines.
“I know it is a lot to be doing both, but I can always cut back if I need. My focus is pushing myself in cross country, but I am aware of clashes with enduro events and that I may need to take time for recovery too”
One thing is clear about Cuthbert, if she does something, she’s 100% committed. But despite her talent and success, her feet remain firmly planted on the ground.
She will have a crowd of Aussie fans cheering for her win this World Cup season, no doubt.
Words: Emma Chadwick / @wandering__about
Photos: James Hiscutt / @jameshiscutt