Osprey Athletes: Thomas "the Professor" Schmitt
Thomas "the Professor" Schmitt
The Professor
Hometown: Betzdorf, Germany
Current address: Tübingen, Germany
Education: Diplom Sportwissenschaftler
Ocupation: Mountainbiker
Activities: MountainBIKE Magazin Test Rider und Photo Biker, Mountain Bike Guide, Bike-related modelleing, etc.
MTB since: 1989 – Racing since 1994
Type of Races: started with CrossCountry, then moved on to Downhill, now Freeride, Downhill, BigMountain, Street and Dirt & Road for fun
Sponsors: Cosmic Sports, Zimtstern, Norco, Formula, 5.10 fiveten, smith, Met, Crankbrothers, 661 sixsixone, smartwool and of course OSPREY
Competition results: 1st Place DM DH Mastersclass 2009, 3rd Place DM DH Mastersclass 2010, 3rd Place SchlaflosImSattel 2010, 1st Place DürrbachtalClassics 2009 und 2010, 3rd Place Team NordkettenDownhill.PRO (as the fastest wildcardrider)
Interview with the Professor
- What do you enjoy about Mountain Biking, you don’t get out of any other sport
Nature, endurance, speed, action, and recreation, relaxation and tension all in one.
- And why is it more than “just” a sport?
Well, because I earn a living from it too. - What is a key requirement for a Mountain Biker?
To have fun during mountain biking!
- Your favourite spot or trail?
Slowenien Bovec, Vinschgau Latsch, Brixen, Saalbach, Finale Ligure, Portes du Soleil. - What would be your perfect Mountain Bike Day?
Getting woken up in open air in my sleeping bag by a fresh coffee aroma in the air with a view over the mountain tops opposite. Getting up, and after a 2000m uphill ride, freeride downhill on the best trails with loads of natural obstacles. A picnic by a river, a bit more riding followed a BBQ by the fire to end the day. Finally, get back into my sleeping bag and watch shooting stars in the sky. - Your best competition so far?
2009 – when I spontaneously, without any training and preparation, entered and won the German Champions title in the master call. Amazing!
However, on the Innsbrucker Nordkette‘, where I raced with the Downhill Pros and ended up beating Brendon Fairclough, was also pretty fantastic.
- What are you particularly proud of?
All of my successes achieved without any training. - How important is the economical aspect to you during biking?
Very, actually. I find the ‘devil may care’ attitude unfair and short-sighted. We should be protecting the most important areas of our lives – which in my case, clearly is the nature.
Becoming the Professor…
1979 When I was born
1988 I received my first Mountain Bike for my Communion (a Pegasus with gears)
1994 I took part in the Marin IndianFireTrail, my first cross-country race in Betzdorf
1999 High School graduation
1999/2000 Civil Service in elderly and disabled care
2000 My first bike riding course – learning mountain biking techniques
2000-2006 Sports Degree in Tübingen, achieving a degree in Sports Science
2006 First Biketest for MountainBIKE magazine
2006 First cover page photo in MountainBIKE (01/07) magazine
2009 German Champion win in Downhill
2010 Three-times Champions in Downhill
2011 3rd Place in Team NordkettenDownhill.PRO (as the fastest wildcard rider)
