July 12, 2004 – Model, downhiller, cross-country rider – Australia’s Niki Gudex is definitely an all-rounder. Whether in the pages of Maxim, In Style, FHM (where she was ranked one of the top 100 sexy women in the world), Gudex is far from a stereotypical model: she’s tough up and down the hills. This year Gudex is riding cross-country with Intense and has been riding the NORBA and some select World Cups, after beginning her season with the Australian series. Gudex has already met many of her goals: including a top-20 at a NORBA event, and is just returning from a two-week stint in Canada after racing the Mont Ste. Anne and Calgary World Cup races – she placed 23rd in both. Pedal Magazine caught up with the hottest thing on the MTB circuit since Moab in July.

Pedal: How has your season gone thus far?

Gudex: My season this year is going really well. I have been racing events from both the NORBA and World Cup Series. I am continuing to learn so much about XC, which makes a difference. My results are improving as well. I set myself a number of goals for this season, some of which I am starting to achieve, so it’s rewarding to know that they were realistic. It also makes me very excited about next year.

Pedal: How is your team working out for you? How did you get involved with them?

Gudex: I ride for Intense Cycles. It actually started last season when Jeff Steber offered to set me up on one of the new Spiders. I really like his bikes and what Intense represents. It’s good fun, and everyone on the team is pretty easy going.

Pedal: How do you handle the “extra” cycling press — does it get to you?

Gudex: I love mountain bike riding, but spending all day in the dirt and mud is not that glamourous. Modelling shoots are a good balance to make you feel feminine again. A better question might be, “does getting on a bus with 50 sweaty stinky downhillers get to you?!”

Pedal: When’s your next shoot?

Gudex: I just did a shoot for Maxim Magazine in the USA so that should be out on the newsstands pretty soon.

Pedal: Are you enjoying XC a lot more? You began in DH, right?

Gudex: Yes, I began as a downhiller. It was fun and I am glad that I started there. I still race DH but my focus is becoming more and more XC orientated as the need to become more specialized increases. XC is fun too – it’s different than DH. They each have their perks.

Pedal: What about ‘Oz? Are you missing home?

Gudex: It’s definitely nice to get home every now and then. I feel like I have two different lives going on, international racing and my life in Australia.

Pedal: How about all the travel? You drove from Quebec To Alberta last week, right?

Gudex: Yeah but I love World Cups. The Ste. Anne course was awesome! The drive to Calgary was fun, for the first hour. Actually it was a good experience, I got to know my teammates a lot better. It was interesting though, racing a World Cup, then driving for days on end, then racing another WC with not much riding in between. We finally arrived in Calgary late one night and I actually rode around Calgary city by myself at 1am to get a training ride in. (I hadn’t ridden since we left Mont Sainte Anne and the windtrainer didn’t look appealing!) That made it more fun though. I love punking it. If it snows or hails then that makes it even crazier.

Pedal: What are your long-term goals?

Gudex: My long term goals are to have fun, be healthy, keep learning, and get faster and stronger. To compete at my best. I know that I can be much faster than I am now. I learn something new every day. I want to find out how far that is.

Pedal:Question for the guys: How come you turned down posing in Playboy?

Gudex: Answer for the guys: It didn’t interest me.

Pedal: Good answer. Thanks Niki, and best of luck.

Gudex: Thanks Matt!

For more about Gudex, including racing and modelling pics, visit www.nikigudex.com