An Interview with Thömus maxon - Swiss Mountain Bike Racing
Read about how folding gazebos are used at mountain bike races around the world and the benefits they bring.
Ralph Näf can look back at a very successful mountain bike career: He was World Cup winner, he participated at the Olympics and since 2015 he is the team manager of the Thömus maxon Swiss Mountain Bike Racing Team, which consists of 16 young, motivated racers from Switzerland.
The team manager tells us about the successful moments that the entire team has already celebrated and about the numerous races where each racer has shown what they are capable of. "We regularly participate in regional mountain bike races in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, but also in World Cup races all over Europe and other continents." The entire team is on the road a lot and usually in the same place for three days in a row. This requires a very good organization and especially the perfect equipment.
The Faithful Companions
"In January 2022, we have acquired eight 5x5 m folding gazebos from Mastertent - brand new and perfectly adapted to our needs. Particularly helpful is that the tents, despite their size, can be set up effortlessly by only two people. Really anyone can do this." Thanks to the high quality, the folding gazebos retain their shape and function even after frequent mounting and disassembling. In adverse weather conditions, they can easily stay in place for a long period of time.
Infinitely Expandable
But why Mastertent? "We have had folding gazebos from other manufacturers in recent years, but the clever solutions, the size of the folding gazebos and the high-quality material of Mastertent have convinced us." The 5x5 m folding gazebos can be strung together as needed. After all, depending on the event, the racing team needs different amount of space and by means of connecting clamps, the folding gazebos can be easily connected to each other.
The Place Of Numerous Possibilities
Thanks to this "modular system" the team can create 200 m2 of area where all sorts of things happen: It is the place where fresh coffee is offered to the sponsors, where the whole team eats, rests, prepares for the races and much more. It is also a retreat, especially for the racers: Each racer has his own separate space under the tent, because each of the 5x5 m folding gazebos can be divided into three separate rooms and a corridor thanks to custom-made partition walls. "The solution that was offered to us was perfect - we are able to separate the rooms easily and quickly, so each of the riders has their privacy." In addition, everyone can train there, store their personal belongings and keep their bikes.
For windy and rainy days all tents were equipped with 4 sidewalls, which can be easily attached with a continuous Velcro strip. Thanks to the continuous Velcro strip, the tents are absolutely windproof. In addition, the sidewalls with windows and doors have been adapted to the needs of the racing team and, of course, serve on very sunny days as well. If the wind blows a little stronger, the tents are anchored firmly to the ground with pegs or weights.
Finally, Ralph Näf tells us that the racers are very proud of the beautiful new folding gazebos, which immediately stand out with their printed roof flags. Everyone feels very comfortable underneath them!
We wish the Swiss team continued success and hope that our folding gazebos will support them in the best way for a long time.
