Mountain Biking with Heart: A Portrait of Simone
- 25.04.2025
- General
Between lecture room and trail - Simone's story in the spotlight.
Simone Kellner is a passionate mountain biker, organizes inclusive rideouts and mixes up the scene both professionally and privately. In episode two of Stories behind Students, she shows what it means to live for a sport - and how much power there is in real community.
In the second episode of Stories behind Students - G'schichten ausm Leben, we meet Simone, a Master's student on the Digital Marketing degree program. She has only been on a mountain bike for a few years, but her commitment is impressive: as the social media manager for Crankworx Innsbruck - one of the world's most renowned gravity mountain bike festivals - and for enduro.tirol, she also lives out her passion for the sport professionally.
What drives Simone is far more than just the next trail. She wants to get the scene moving - and open it up. The topic of inclusion is particularly close to her heart. She set a strong example with an inclusive rideout at Crankworx: a rideout is an informal group event where the focus is on having fun riding - without any pressure to perform, open to everyone. People with handbikes also took part - a first in the scene.
“It's about creating platforms for people who are otherwise often overlooked,” says Simone. After all, people who are dependent on a handbike due to an accident or illness have hardly found suitable racing formats in the DACH region to date. Together with her fellow athletes, the student was able to create an inclusive enduro event at the race at Kronplatz - a real highlight for everyone involved.
She is convinced: “It can happen to anyone. And everyone should have the opportunity to experience the sport.” At the same time, she is committed to getting more women into mountain biking. Her message to all newcomers: Don't be put off by social media - just start riding, keep at it and trust yourself.
The video for the second episode shows impressively that mountain biking is more than just a sport - it is passion, community and diversity in action. And Simone is right in the middle of it.