Emily Horridge

Interview: Emily Horridge on Winning DH Masters World Champs

by 8

Masters World Champs went down in Pra Loup, France last weekend. With a few Brits taking home the titles, we decided to catch up with Emily Horridge. Emily took home the win in the women’s 40-44 category, as well as the fastest time of all women competing.

So who is Emily Horridge? She’s an all-around lovely human and has some pretty nifty skills on a mountain bike. She’s been riding since she was young, and nowadays you can find her living in France as a mountain bike guide and YouTuber. She posted a vlog on her master’s world champs experience, so we decided to fire her a few questions about who she is as well as the race.

https://youtu.be/EK2V1Y9V8P0

Introduce yourself!

My name is Emily Horridge, I’ve been riding bikes since I was about 12. I used to race National and World Cup downhill and moved to France in 2012. I’m a mountain bike guide and skills instructor, working in Les Arcs and Morzine. I also make instructional videos for YouTube.

Aside from guiding, the YouTube channel seems to be going well. How did that all start?

I had a few female riders say that they found riding with me quite inspirational, but I kinda live in the back of beyond so I don’t get to ride with women very often. I decided to start the YouTube channel so that I could hopefully inspire female riders “from a distance” to try to learn new skills.

Apart from Crankworx earlier this year, you’ve not competitively raced for a few years, what changed and made you step back from racing?

Yeah, I stopped racing DH in 2012, I noticed that I would be really excited 6 months before a race, but then in the days leading up to it I really really wished I wasn’t going. So I just realised it wasn’t fun anymore and stopped.

When I was still racing I’d always talked about racing Masters World Champs, but never did it. In more recent years I had a lot of friends from back home telling me I should do it because they thought I’d do well, which was really encouraging and got me thinking about it again.

It was scheduled to be in Pra-Loup last year. It’s just 5 hours away from where I live in Les Arcs, so I thought it would be a cool way to usher in turning 40. Obviously, it got cancelled last year, so here we are! I did Crankworx and a couple of other races as preparation for this one and really enjoyed them.

Emily Horridge

You fractured a bone in your ankle last November, has that given you any problems since?

Yes and no – I did it doing a skid in some leaves on a road, so a pretty freak accident! In terms of getting back on my bike, I’ve not given it a second thought. Unfortunately, at the Coupe de France in Les Arcs, I came up super short on a road gap, landing to flat hard enough to snap a spoke and flat spot my wheel. That hurt my ankle so much I shed a few tears trackside, and had to retire from the race. It felt like it had set me back 3 months, but luckily it rallied and felt good again after 3-4 weeks.

Also, quite notably, you’ve been riding pretty much your entire life but this is your first break? That’s got to be some kind of record.

Haha yes! I am slightly gutted to have broken my record, but also stoked that it did take me 40 years!! I hope there won’t be another.

What was the track like at the Masters DH World Champs? The conditions looked pretty dry and loose.

It was really good fun and wasn’t particularly complicated. There were just two or three techy/steepish sections, and very fast. It was so so dusty that it was like riding in fog if you were behind someone!

It was one of those tracks where a relatively small mistake could easily cost you several positions on the results list, and you couldn’t tell which piles of dust were solid and which weren’t! I don’t think I’ve ever raced a track like that before.

Emily Horridge

What were your goals going into the event?

I wanted to set the fastest women’s time of the day. As the week went on, I also thought it might be possible to score a top 100 overall, and I managed to do that too.

Masters DH World champ, and fastest time of the day of all women’s categories. How did you feel when you won?

I was super pleased to have done it, but unfortunately, the commentator wandered off for the final 4 women’s runs, and there was no one directing us to the hot seat which was a really cool set-up that I’d been excited about potentially getting to sit on! So I didn’t know what my time was and whether or not I could celebrate in the finish arena, so from that point of view it was a bit of an anti-climax.

Later on, the podium was certainly the most grand and impressive podium I’ve ever been on, and I did get a bit emotional up there! I’ve had so many nice messages from people, it’s been ace, but I still don’t feel like it’s sunk in yet!

What are you riding at the moment?

I’m riding a Scott Ransom and a Scott Gambler, both fully equipped with SRAM drivetrain and Rockshox suspension.

What are your plans for the rest of the year and beyond?

I am absolutely buzzing to go racing again, which is really cool. It’s really nice to have rediscovered the love. I’ll have to wait until next year though, but potentially going to do some French Cup races and we’ll see what else will fit with my schedule of guiding and skills coaching.

To see more from Emily Horridge, you can check out her guiding page on Facebook.


Video: Manon Carpenter Rides Mont Thabor

Downhill Replay – Crankworx Innsbruck 2021

Masters World Championships, Vallnord – #MakingUpTheNumbers


Singletrack Merch

Singletrack Skateboard Grip Tape

Very limited edition and yes it’s a bit weird us doing grip tape, but here we are. There’s a few skaters out there – we see you on the forum…

Singletrack Sponsored Features

Think global, ride local – A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood Part 1

In the first in a series of diary entries, Sanny contemplates finding adventure in the everyday. In association with Ortlieb Let’s get real, dear reader. There is a lot not…

18 Bikes

At 18 Bikes we specialise in mountain bikes but with two NVQ level 3 qualified mechanics we are able to work on any bike, whether that’s your sunny weather road…


Join our mailing list to receive Singletrack editorial wisdom directly in your inbox.

Each newsletter is headed up by an exclusive editorial from our team and includes stories and news you don’t want to miss.

Signing up to our mailing list is not only a great way to keep up-to-date on all things Singletrack but it is also a great, free way to support us.

Sign up to receive awesome editorial content from Hannah every week.

We appreciate how handing over your email address is a mark of your trust in us. Check your inbox for our confirmation email and click the link to activate your newsletter.
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check out a previous newsletter here

Singletrack Weekly Word

Sports Newsletter of the Year finalist at the Publisher Newsletter Awards 2024. Find out why our newsletter is different and give it a go.

Not too good about writing about myself, but not so bad at writing about other things. There was a time that I hated bikes, but then they became my life. Wouldn't be the person I am if I hadn't been on this journey. Here's to bikes, drinking tea and everything that comes with life on two wheels. I'm Lauren, I like bikes and writing about them. Always trying my best and up for adventures.

More posts from Lauren

Home Forums Interview: Emily Horridge on Winning DH Masters World Champs

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
  • Interview: Emily Horridge on Winning DH Masters World Champs
  • matt_outandabout
    Full Member

    I really enjoyed that video. I’ve subscribed.
    Congratulations on the win!

    oldfart
    Full Member

    Last time i spoke to Emily she was working on the reception at a solicitors in Glastonbury 👍She lived next door to my in laws.

    andrewh
    Free Member

    Last time I spoke to her was in a youth hostel in Glen Nevis.
    I’ve met a famous person😁

    oldfart
    Full Member

    andrewh
    Yep seems like i broke Rule No 1🙄
    Not my intention what i meant was hadnt heard of her for years since i delivered the post to the solicitors where she worked
    Oh never mind IGMC 😕😕😕😕

    andrewh
    Free Member

    Sorry, wasn’t getting at you at all @Oldfart,just wondering how often we all bump into people who then go on to achieve something special, the biking world is still quite small, everyone knows everyone almost. Must be a good few more on here who have come across her at some point.
    I don’t think rule 1 was broken at all

    oldfart
    Full Member

    andrewh 😬😬😬😬
    As you say the MTB ” scene” is relatively small in the scheme of things, i got my mate into it a few years ago. Hes often saying to me ” Is there anyone you dont know or who knows you!” 😁😁😁😁
    Big fish small pond comes to mind 😬

    spoonmeister
    Free Member

    Another one here that’s met Emily. She guided our group in Les Arcs in 2012 and I fully agree with the ” an all-around lovely human and has some pretty nifty skills on a mountain bike ” line in the article!

    Ambrose
    Full Member

    Our dogs were from the same litter. True story.

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

The topic ‘Interview: Emily Horridge on Winning DH Masters World Champs’ is closed to new replies.