If you’re having trouble tracking down Cassie Voysey chances are she’s on her mountain bike or at the gym.
Cassie, 15, is one of the brightest mountain bikers in the Sutherland Shire having claimed a stack of titles in 2017.
The Engadine athlete was introduced to downhill riding in 2014 and has since thrown herself into the sport, claiming multiple national titles.
Even a bad crash in 2016, which saw her admitted to hospital, has not deterred the rider who spends plenty of time training in the Royal National Park or building up her strength at the gym.
“You have to have at least one major crash or else you are not riding hard enough,” she said.
“I had a major crash at Woronora Heights in 2016 and ended up in hospital. I ripped my elbow open to the bone, and my seat went into my leg and left a big hole.”
She said that had thrown some of her confidence to tackle big jumps, but it had not kept her away from racing.
Last year, she recorded her best year to date in terms of results.
She claimed two downhill national titles in her division (U17 female) at the Australian Interschools Championships in March and the National MTB Championships in May.
She followed that up by winning nearly every event she competed in – including the downhill event – at a huge festival in Thredbo in December. She raised plenty of eyebrows during that festival, the Cannonball Mountain Bike Festival, and was named the overall Queen of the Mountain.
Cassie said she would love to make a career out of downhill riding in the future and was eyeing another big year in 2018.
“My goal this year is to get national champ again and I am going to my first Crankworx in New Zealand.
“I was going to aim for a win at Crankworx [in Rotorua in March] but I think it will be good just to get the experience and have a bit of fun there.
“I will be riding with a lot of international riders so it should be good.”
Cassie said she picked up downhill riding after joining Heathcote High School in 2014.
Heathcote High has a proud culture of nurturing top mountain bike riders. The school has now won the title of best performing school for 10 years running at the Australian Interschools Championships.
Despite her crashes, Cassie has only broken a thumb and a wrist.
She is coached by Jody Mielke.
To keep track of Cassie’s adventures and results check out here Facebook page here.