Kurt Exenberger in an interview: Fat bikes are certainly a topic when we talk to him, but the versatile MTB professional and coach also deals a lot with e-mountain bikes . Sure, as a guide and riding technique trainer in the Kitzbühel / Tyrol region, the friendly bike freak has to deal with a wide variety of people and bikes.
Kurt Exenberger on his Ghost Asket | Photo: Armin Walcher
Bikacademy, Kurt Exenberger's bike school, is one of the first of its kind and has become known beyond the Austrian border thanks to its YouTube tutorials. In addition to the “normal” bikers, Kurt also frequently coaches competitive athletes, such as the successful Lisi Osl, who won several World Cups during her time on Ghost Bi.
Kurt Exenberger in an interview 2018 – Fat times in Tyrol
Hi Kurt. You are known as a riding technique expert and not exactly a slow MTB racer. How did this come about and what was your job before?
When I was very young, I worked at the post office, but I was also very involved in road racing on the side. Then I spent many years in the winter as a ski and snowboard instructor, which was and is my basis as a skiing technique instructor. During the very intensive snowboard instructor training, I also perfected my methodological and didactic skills . From movement theory I learned how to break down complex movement sequences down to the last detail and teach them to my students. This could of course also be applied to mountain bikes . Now it was just a matter of mapping out the optimal technology. And I've always been motivated to race: whether on skis, snowboards, cross-country skis, on a racing bike or on a cross country bike and finally on enduro and downhill bikes - it doesn't matter, mainly “a fun”.
Your YouTube tutorials have reached many bikers. Are you interested in doing more in this direction in the future or what is your plan for it?
My plan is to do more tutorials in the future, not only on riding technique, but also on how to properly prepare for mountain biking and avoid injuries in the first place.
In your home region of Kitzbühel / Wilder Kaiser, cycle tourism is very present in summer. What developments do you enjoy and where would you like to see changes?
It's cool that more and more trails are being built and you see more bikers every year. I would especially like to see changes in the behavior of mountain bikers . A not insignificant number behave terribly on the nature trails. Shortcuts and erosion are increasing rapidly. Our standing among outdoor athletes and property owners is only getting worse.
Fat bikes have become a tourist factor in winter. How did you come to this topic and what experiences have you had with fat bike course/tour participants?
Just for fun - a friend worked in sales for a few American fat bike brands and had the idea for the first FatBike Festival. We then implemented that and it was very successful and fun - since then I have been driving and guiding in the Kitzbühel Alps. Unfortunately the industry pretty much dropped out again and we couldn't organize a second festival. In terms of tourism, it is of course a by-product for us, but my guided tours are becoming more and more popular . Of course, there are a lot of people who are very hesitant, but everyone is really excited after a tour. The fat bikes with e-assistance now push the whole thing even further - everyone can experience fat biking with them!
What did you think about e-MTBs when they were new on the market?
With my racing background, I had a rather negative attitude when the first e-bikes came along.
Families and mixed groups are happy about E-MTBs and can ride them off-road. How do you estimate the potential danger from untrained and inexperienced people who now take advantage of the opportunity to ride on the trails?
It's great that so many people can get out into nature on e-bikes ! The risk of injuries from falls naturally increases enormously with the larger number of beginners and inexperienced users - driving technique courses can provide the best remedy here!
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 become rare exceptions?
There will certainly still be some experienced bikers switching to e-bikes, but in my opinion the “old school party” will not die out. It's a great feeling to climb a mountain using your own strength. Why do you go running, mountaineering, ski touring, etc.? Maybe 70% E and 30% Muscle?
As an athlete, you train for enduro races and impart new knowledge to the participants in your camps. What new things that you can't yet do would you like to learn as a challenge on fat bikes, e-MTBs or other bikes?
I finally learned how to do a wheelie properly on the fat bike, as the lateral balance is easy to maintain. My mud skills have definitely improved through biking in the snow . There is still so much to learn in the trials area, unfortunately I don't have enough time.
Trial uphill sections appeal to many experts who get on an e-MTB. Do you see this as a niche or do you think the hiking trails will be used more and more as uphill playgrounds in the future?
I think this will remain a niche because before you can ride a trail uphill, you first have to master it downhill. Despite e-bikes, the demands on riding technique and fitness quickly become huge on uphill trails! What I see as a danger are people who suddenly want to move their e-bike uphill on trails that are intended for downhill riding. You wouldn't want to believe that someone would come up with such ideas - but I have personally had such encounters.
Where and on what kind of bikes do you see yourself in 10 years?
On an uncompromising enduro bike with 160 or 170 mm travel and under 10 kg. I can then drive through the mountains all day and only have to charge my own battery with the finest food .
