CaniVTT in competition: Testimony of an international champion
This article is dedicated to all caniVTT fans. Today, you have the chance to discover the experience of Anne, international caniVTT champion. An incredible athlete, who tells you about her progress in caniVTT competition and reveals how she managed to reach such a level. And of course, she will talk to you above all about her dogs because caniVTT is a duo sport. It's a team sport. Anne wasn't champion on her own, you'll see… Nothing would have been possible without her dogs. Happy reading Wouafer's!
If you haven't started caniVTT yet and want to get started or just want to find out more, you can also consult the article in which Anne gives excellent advice to Wouafer's wishing to start caniVTT.
Anne shares her life with her 5 dogs, but she mainly competes with Tails, her dog who is crossed braque et greyhound.
Anne's progress in CaniVTT
I practice the caniMTB for 15 years. I discovered the discipline somewhat by chance: my first dog, a Jack Russel, was full of energy and I got into canicross to try to calm him down a bit.
During my first little Canicross race, I saw caniVTT departures, and I found it so fun that since that day I get up, eat, go to bed, go to work thinking about this sport. which has become a real passion for me and my dogs. In 15 years I progressed slowly but surely.
I've never had any particular predispositions for this sport and I've often been told about my little thighs which don't look like much and contrast with those of other athletes! I still have big weak points despite my hours of training, but I got into the game and developed other qualities to manage to be competitive despite everything and not be the burden of my dogs. I thus spent hours perfecting my training techniques, analyzing my mistakes, learning, I questioned myself… I did mental preparation, which is training in its own right in order to be more “ reliable" and more efficient for my dogs, in order to no longer transmit my stress to them, simply to be with them without them suffering from my emotions.
Yes, there was a time when I systematically failed at the foot of the podium in the European championships. There was a time when my dog was shaking and laying down when it was time to leave… This caused a big realization for me. Sharing great moments with your dog, working as one, giving yourself to each other, it's magic, but the doggie is only there for fun, to race with the friends and in no case to suffer the discomfort of its owner crestfallen by the importance, quite relative, of the objective! Thanks to them I learned on all levels and they literally transformed my life.
Strangely after having worked on me a little, my sports practice has grown! I now manage to take the start of international championships without excessive apprehension, focused on the objective, well in my head. The results were immediately there and I was finally able to taste the joys of international podiums.
Anne Fulleringer's track record in CaniVTT
I'm never very comfortable with the inventory of sports results but if I have to take out the main ones, those that have marked me the most:
– With my dog, we were ICF (International Canicross Federation) European champions in 2017: no one was expecting us, my dog had no experience, I fell on the 2nd run and I do half of the course with a flat rear tire but we still managed!
– 2018 ICF world champions: the course did not suit us because my dog is very light for a canivtt dog. Many people did not imagine winning at all and I took a lot of pleasure in making these people lie!
– 2019 ICF European champions: the course was made very physical and technical by its large amount of mud. Many people think that acrobatic courses are made for me and you have to admit that I have this ability to give the maximum in the technical portions to compensate for my lack of power. It was a great victory.
– vice-world champions IFSS (International Federation of Sled Sports) 2019: A light female dog with a cyclist who lacks a little power on a very physical course that offers a nice show! We did everything mentally when we arrived at the finish line at the end of our rope! I don't even know how I was able to cross this line so much my body was telling me “stop”. My Swedish competitor in front of us put on a spectacular show with an extraordinary and unequaled performance. I think this championship will remain etched in my memory forever! This Swedish woman proved to me that nothing was impossible in life, and that the limits are there to be pushed back.
In short, I really had the chance to have extraordinary dogs, at the same time voluntary, attentive, indulgent. They all have their little personalities but they have all played an important role in my life by giving me magical moments, making me meet extraordinary people while practicing caniVTT. This sport literally transformed me.
Anne's challenge: Transmitting her passion for caniVTT
My challenge for the next few years is to manage to share these few years of experience and learning with as many people as possible.
I would like to make people aware that anything is possible, that champions are often “normal” people, that they have just given themselves the means to achieve their goals, people who have evolved in a structured and disciplined way, who have experienced failures but have been able to take advantage of them, who have taken the time to create a good relationship with their dog. If ordinary people have managed to become champions just thanks to their will and their efforts, we are all capable of it. I am sure of it.
I intervene occasionally on weekends to talk about all this with other enthusiasts and I find it as rewarding as performing in competition. I also recently created a website on which I publish a few small articles: www.wuw-coaching.fr
I couldn't tell you what is my favorite caniVTT race in France because there are so many great races! France is full of beautiful regions and therefore of pretty caniVTT routes. In addition, the organizers are generally very welcoming, passionate and warm. It's a real pleasure to participate in caniVTT races.
Musher and Sophie : “Besides, we have listed 10 great canicross and caniVTT races in France. You can go to the article to find out the specifics of each race.”
CaniVTT during the Covid-19 crisis
This year has been a bit special for everyone. During confinement, of course, dog training had to be put on stand-by and the daily outing only took place on a short straight line near the house, free, so that the dogs could stretch their legs. .
For my part, I continued training on a home trainer in my garage: I am the weak link in the team so I have to work hard to try to be up to it!
Now the races are slowly resuming but there will be no international championships for us in 2020, so it's a bit of a special year without big goals.
If this disturbed me a little at first, I quickly found other sources of motivation to keep moving forward, 2020 will be a period of transition for us.
Precautions to take when practicing caniVTT
Anne has already reminded us of this in the article on starting CaniVTT with her dog, but it is important to remember the precautions necessary to practice CaniVTT, whether it is a leisure activity or a competitive sport.
The practice of caniVTT requires constant vigilance in order to be able to react quickly in the event of an unforeseen reaction of the dog in front of the MTB, you must be careful never to go beyond what your dog can do in good conditions.
In mountain biking, the speed can quickly become a little sustained, especially if the terrain is rolling. Without realizing it, you can then quickly impose a pace a little too fast on your dog or chain the kilometers without realizing it.
Sometimes the dog transmits small, rather discreet signs which can alert the cyclist behind, but this implies that one is vigilant and that one knows his dog very well.
You must therefore be very careful not to exhaust your dog, pay attention to his needs and know his limits.
Also, do not feed your dog within 2 hours before or after exercise as this may cause your dog's stomach to turn over. It can be deadly.
Don't forget, the caniVTT must remain a pleasure for your dog and for you. Avoid transmitting your stress to your dog during competitions, and keep in mind that your objective is above all to share moments of happiness with your dog!
Another big THANK YOU to Anne for this great testimony. It's really a wonderful way to introduce us to the caniVTT in competition. You send us your passion and your love for your dogs through this testimony and that's the most beautiful thing. Like what, it is also thanks to the love you have for your dogs that you were able to get here today.
You can also consult the article in which Anne gives lots of good advice for start caniVTT.
If you want to contact Anne or follow her journey more closely, visit her Instagram account @anne_fulleringer