Trails, Triumphs, Thrills & Spills
Meet Elle de Nooyer, a local Mountain biking champion tackling the sport with grit and grace.
Photography: @_insculpt
Written by: Nicole Yap
Mountain biking as a modern discipline has only been around since the 70s, but it is not a new sport – long before the era of automobiles and paved roads, people have been off-road cycling on rough terrain ever since the invention of the bicycle in the 1800s.
Today, it is both a recreational and competitive sport – one that provides an escape to nature and pushes the limits of human endurance. From steep descents to aerial maneuvers, mountain biking requires a diverse skillset, extraordinary technique and a fearless attitude.
Toowoomba local Elle de Nooyer has just that. A mountain bike champion at only 19 years old, she is taking the sport by storm, placing ninth in the world at last year’s UCI Mountain Biking World Championships.
She also holds two national titles as a junior, an Oceania title, is a four-time state champion, and placed fourth at the 2023 Oceania Championships in her first year competing as an elite rider.
Elle was just 13 years old when her family encouraged her to give off-road cycling a go, and soon she made friends in the mountain bike community who introduced her to mountain bike racing.
“Riding with them meant I progressed quite quickly, then they took me along to a race and I absolutely loved it – I then started training and racing more which has now led me here today,” Elle said.
She races two physically demanding courses – Downhill, a short course consisting of big jumps and rocks that start from the top of the hill to the bottom, and Enduro, a similar race but with multiple downhill stages over four to six hours.
When Elle is not training or racing, she is working towards a Bachelor of Business – a typical day in the life of an elite student athlete is always eventful, requiring early starts and plenty of dedication and hard work.
“Race weekends can be pretty tricky with study – it takes a lot of planning to make sure I don't need to do much uni work when I'm racing, otherwise, you'll see me studying in the pits,” she said.
“Sometimes I need to sacrifice other things I like to do, like going out with friends, but when I do well in a competition it makes it all worth it.”
Part and parcel of an extreme sport is the risk of injury that can inflict athletes not just physically, but also mentally. Last year, Elle suffered from a severe crash at an international competition, leaving her with broken bones, a concussion and a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). While bouncing back was a long and arduous process, the accident shifted her focus back on her goals and her love of the sport.
“I found it was really important to make goals no matter how small they were, and not to dwell on my injuries. Racing at an elite level has these risks, which some of my friends have been through before, so I was fortunate to have them to talk to and have guidance.
“Throughout the whole recovery, it made me realise how much I loved and appreciated riding my bike,” she said.
But to the talented and accomplished athlete, mountain biking means so much more than racing or competitions.
“Although I do lots of racing at a high level, nothing compares to the feeling of riding through the bush with mates and having a good time. I enjoy the feeling of being out in the bush, the wind in my hair – it gives me a sense of freedom and escape,” Elle said.
She has competed at international events, yet Elle still finds the Toowoomba mountain biking scene to be “very friendly and encouraging” and the camaraderie within the community “hard to beat”.
“This enthusiastic community has overcome floods, bushfires and drought to keep the trail network going over the years,” Elle said.
“The Toowoomba Mountain Bike Club is constantly growing and I'm always seeing new friendly faces out on the trails. Our trail network is also growing and expanding and always evolving – there is no better feeling than riding a new trail for the first time.”
Toowoomba is home to three main mountain biking facilities – Jubilee Park is the biggest with the majority of the trails, Stenner Street Skills Park has a progression line for practice, and Mount Peel has a smaller trail network comprising green and blue-rated (beginner to intermediate) tracks.
Toowoomba Regional Council and Lockyer Valley Regional Council have developed an Escarpment Mountain Bike Master Plan for implementation by 2026 to create new and expand existing trails, such as those in Jubilee Park. Ultimately, the plan proposes the development of a world-class network of trails to make Toowoomba a nationally recognised hub for mountain biking.
“I definitely recommend that everyone tries mountain biking – it's a sport that everyone can enjoy and it caters to all skill levels. You get to spend time outdoors on the beautiful Toowoomba escarpment and it's a fun way to get some fitness with your family or mates,” Elle said, encouraging local beginners to try out the green trails at Mount Peel and Jubilee Park.
A bright future is ahead of the young and fearless athlete, with her sights set on the World Series in 2024 and even the Olympics.
Elle is especially excited for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, with rumours swirling that Toowoomba may host mountain biking events.
“It is definitely an event that I could possibly compete in, which would be so cool. I think that Toowoomba would have the best elevation and trails around South East Queensland to host mountain biking.”
Elle de Nooyer is making her mark in the national and international arena of mountain biking, yet she is also a testament to the wonderful opportunities and possibilities the sport offers right here in the Garden City.
@elle.denooyer
