Last weekend Mongoose pro Payton "P-Nut" Ridenour defended her 2019 title at the Wisp Downhill & Dual Slalom MTB Race in Fredrick, Maryland. There was some friendly competition between P-Nut and her coach Arielle Verhaaren, so that made this race that much more fun. We caught up with P-Nut after her win to ask her a few questions:
How was this different than a BMX race?
P-NUT: This event was a lot more laid back than a BMX race. The vibes were all about having fun and the atmosphere was super laid back. It was awesome to be around so many people I don’t typically get to see at the nationals and to watch my dad compete too!
Did you feel the same pressure or were you going into this for fun?
P-NUT: To be honest I was feeling a little pressure since there was a lot of smack talking between coach Arielle and I ha-ha. She had beat me in 2017 and 2018 and I took the win in 2019 (Arielle says because she was pregnant with her little boy). So, this was the ultimate long-awaited showdown!
How’d the Fireball perform?
P-NUT: The Mongoose Fireball SS performed amazing! I’ve tricked it out recently with some Shimano, Onyx, and E6 components so it’s extra fast. A Mongoose t-shirt, blue jeans, and flat pedals for the win!
