The master craftsman: How Andi Seeli changed racing
Twenty-five years ago, Andi Seeli launched the "Power Kids Cup" - a race series for children to teenagers only. His concept of practising riding technique with skill at an early age instead of building endurance on a racing bike still contributes to the success of Swiss cross-country riders today. However, the former national coach had to swim against the tide to implement it. In an interview in the September issue of Ride, Seeli, the revolutionary of junior racing, talks about fearlessness, threatening letters, overzealous parents and how the former junior cup has become the most important racing series after the World Cup.
Two gifts characterize Andi Seeli: Seeing what it takes to bring talented young athletes to the top and the tenacity to implement these ideas, no matter how great the resistance to them. He was the one who organized the kids' races on technical courses and not on "normal" circuits. In retrospect, this strategy contributed significantly to the international dominance of Swiss cross-country riders. "The courses were primarily aimed at promoting skill. The kids also have a lot more fun on them." The factor of good riding technique was not as important in top-level mountain biking as it is today, but Seeli recognized its importance very early on. Not everyone was happy about that. He received threatening letters from parents and was insulted, sometimes even by cycling clubs, because they explicitly labeled course riding as "shit". Seeli reveals these and other anecdotes in the interview and explains the incomprehensible resistance he had to fight against today.
In the end, his success proved him right: the "Power Kids Cup", the nationwide racing series for children and young people, became the Swiss Bike Cup - after the World Cup, one of the most important racing series in the world, in which young talent continues to have plenty of room. The Swisspower Team, which he founded together with Thomas Frischknecht, developed into the Scott-Sram MTB Racing Team and plays at the very front of the World Cup. However, Seeli's focus has always been on young talent, and this is still the case today, after almost thirty years on the side of the track. In an interview with Ride, Seeli also gives an insight into how and where he could imagine his future. A return to the race track is definitely on the agenda.
Order or download Ride 05/2019:
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.