Andi Wittmann in an interview - from action hero flying through the air on dirt bikes to invalid in an instant - this sudden change in life was not easy to digest even for the Bavarian sunny boy. How e-mountain bikes helped him get back on two wheels and what the young family man and brand ambassador for Haibike is doing in his new life as a bike professional, you can read here!
Andi Wittmann in Interview – Action on the E-MTB | Photo: Andreas Jacob
Interview with Andi Wittmann – from acrobat to e-bike professional
Contest rider in slopestyle, photo athlete even on a racing bike or show actor and track builder - life as a professional athlete on mountain bikes was always varied for Andi Wittmann. In camps he was even able to pass on his skills on freeride and downhill bikes to the younger generations as a coach. The likeable bike freak had no idea that all of this could be over in an instant.
Liquid-Life: Hi Andi! You became the E-MTB ambassador for Haibike almost involuntarily. How did that come about and what was your job before?
Andi Wittmann : Hello everyone. Exactly, I have been with Haibike for over 2 years now. I was a mountain bike freeride professional until August 2015 and with Giant Bikes as my main sponsor I took part in slopestyle events, implemented video projects and organized the Nine Knights event. On August 1st 2015 I had a bad fall at a show and broke both of my feet in a very complicated way . After 4 months in a wheelchair and the prognosis that I would never be able to walk again, let alone ride a bike , the E-MTB got me back to the top of a mountain. It changed my attitude towards this sport 180 degrees, it's just amazing what advantages it brings.
What was your opinion on E-MTBs when they were new on the market?
First of all , as a full-blooded mountain biker, I was definitely not happy . When training uphill, I always tried to battle with the e-bikers and just found it ridiculous. 😉
Haibike has signed a dirt jump expert, Sam Pilgrim, who can be seen doing some great tricks over big hills on his E-MTB in his videos. In your opinion, is this more about polishing up the bike's image or what purpose can you see as an expert? 360s and backflip combos haven't been a specialty for E-MTBs up until now...
Hehe, in the end it's mostly about a good image, right? I think it's just meant to show that an E-MTB isn't sluggish and cumbersome at all . You can have a lot of fun with it, you can also move it stylishly in the air and it's a lot of fun. This also underlines the versatility. AND it's something different from what the others are doing and THAT'S always great these days when it's so difficult to establish yourself.
As a photo rider, you also ride racing bikes etc. What type of cycling do you enjoy the most?
None 😉 The mix of all the different bikes is what makes it for me. I've been riding a bike as a professional for 12 years now and I can honestly say that it never got boring and never will. When I'm fed up with the freeride bike, I go for a ride on the road bike and just switch to power. Everything is possible, it's amazing and then I'm also lucky that Haibike offers the complete range of products , a dream!
As a new dad, you're probably planning cycling activities with your kids. Trailer, child seat - what do you like most about your Haibike?
Yes, another positive aspect of the E-MTB. Even when my girlfriend was pregnant, the E-bike proved to be a great piece of sports equipment . We both had motors and were able to go biking together until shortly before the birth, enjoying mountain experiences and strengthening our psyche. Super valuable! In the future, we have already got some great Thule equipment with an amazing trailer and I'm looking forward to pulling the little one up with me and enjoying the fresh mountain air.
Andi Wittmann documentary from beechstudios on Vimeo .
If the little one becomes more into MTBs at some point, do you think a special kids EMTB would be an option?
Well, there's still some time. First of all, the balance bikes are absolutely amazing. They learn to keep their balance so quickly and then we'll see where it goes. But I think there's time for him to ride with a motor, he should decide that for himself 😉
You have been active in the bike scene and industry for a long time and know your stuff. How do you predict the proportion of e-bike riders in the MTB sector in relation to bikers without motor support? Will the latter soon be rare exceptions?
Phew, difficult. There are still more regular bikers, but I think we'll soon reach 50% . Especially because so many new customer groups are joining who weren't even on the road before.
In the past, you've always worked on new tricks or your style. What new things that you don't know yet do you want to learn as a challenge on the E-MTB?
Luckily, my addiction to challenges has somewhat subsided and I'm really happy with it. In general, it's all about being able to just be outside, riding flowing trails and just feeling the bike , being able to control it, etc. - what counts more is the overall result that I get from each tour and sharing it with others.
Trial-like uphill passages appeal to many experts who get on their E-MTBs. Do you see this as a niche or do you think that via ferratas will be used more and more as uphill playgrounds in the future?
I see it as a niche. Of course it's fun to play around and that brings us back to the little challenges - every technical uphill you manage is a great feeling of success... I personally prefer to ride on flowing trails, whether uphill or downhill - key points make it interesting, but if it's too technical for too long it quickly turns into a flop for me 😉
Daddies love playing in the snow too!Where and on what kind of bikes do you see yourself in 10 years?
I hope that my plans for E-MTBs will come to fruition and that I will be able to pass this on in 10 years' time. And otherwise, I am open to all new challenges - I would also like to expand my part-time job as a driving instructor and stunt driver in a car 🙂
Thanks for the interview and see you soon, your Andi 🙂
