Master of mountains

Andrew Mathieson
Absorbed with mountain biking and sick of traffic snarls, Jessica Douglas uprooted her family’s suburban life and headed bush for good reason.
The Otway town of Forrest that was built on the timber industry had seen the mills closed down only for undulating mountain bike trails to wind through its high trees and clean air instead.
Resident Jeff Fox came up with the idea to attract mountain bikers – a hearty lot for whom a good view is as important as a fast ride – by building about 60 kilometres of trails at nearby Yaugher forest.
As a girl who grew up in Whittington and loved riding to Queenscliff or Ocean Grove and back home in an afternoon, Jessica likened the move to the quiet country retreat 15 months ago to having a backyard with no fences.
“We were just sick of the traffic,” Jessica grumbles.
“We lived in the East Geelong area for so long and there were just too many lights.
“They have even taken out so many roundabouts there.”
The 36-year-old had married a navy man and then experienced life in busy Sydney where a bike was her choice of transport.
The couple briefly moved to the Gold Coast, where a riding buddy was only too happy to swap Jessica’s standard road cycle for a mountain bike.
It could have been the last ride for the reigning Australian 24-hour solo champion, such was her contempt for the pain and spills of the rough terrain.
“I gave mountain bikes up for a long period of time because I was no good,” she admits.
“I had the endurance but I was scared – very scared.
“I didn’t like going downhill too fast at all.”
But 12 years later back at Geelong in 2004, Jessica discovered the awe-inspiring mountain bike trails of the You Yangs while training.
“We were going downhills and my eyes were popping out of my sockets because there was no front-wheel suspension on my old clunker,” she recalls.
Jessica got serious, bought a brand new bike and won five races from 13 podium finishes in her first year of competing.
At an age when most are slowing down, Jessica is now eyeing off the next hill or ditch.
The Forrest Fairy, as locals like to dub her, introduces novices to mountain biking with the line “It’s like bushwalking on adrenalin”.
Prior to moving to the picturesque town, Jessica and husband Norm started taking enthusiasts on mountain bike skill sessions for fun.
It was only when the numbers of interested people reached the hundreds over a year that close friends said they could get paid for what they loved.
“Living in suburbia isn’t conducive to running a mountain bike skills business,” Jessica points out.
“The move gives you more credibility for training.
“But also we had to check whether Forrest had broadband (internet) – if we couldn’t get it, we weren’t moving.”
Norm also builds websites for a living and he frantically changes keywords on their homepage every day to ensure the Google ranking is on top.
With a shot at the world championship this year, Jessica’s students hang off her every word.
Jessica’s mantra of improving just one per cent at a time is not only advice her students strive to observe but a characteristic her competitors have learned to regret.
Just ask world number two and defending champion Katrin Van Der Spiegel, who was under the impression the Geelong rider had slowed to a walk during the 2009 Australian titles.
“I just needed a toilet stop,” Jessica grins.
Up by more then 10 minutes, Jessica’s rival decided to take a longer meal break – to her own detriment.
Jessica says the endurance race is won in the head rather than the legs.
“I was happy to let her think she had it in the bag,” she winks.
“This 24-hour caper can be a bit of a poker game.”