Peter is the real deal when it comes to trials and extreme riding and he'll be putting those skills to the test at this year's Snowshoe GNCC.
Hey Peter! We’ve heard you were coming over from Denmark to race the Snowshoe GNCC. A lot of Danes may know who you are, but most Americans do not. What can you tell them about yourself?
I love playing on bikes. I used to do motocross, but extreme enduro and stunt/freestyle Trial is my big passions now. I’m 26 years old; I made my money during this summer from entertaining people with my show and some teaching enduro. I’ve won some championships here in Denmark and did a bunch of interesting races in Europe. My life is pretty simple. I just love riding bikes, whether is bike trials, motorbike trials, motocross or enduro.
For those who think Snowshoe is losing its luster, Peter is skipping out on the Erzberg Enduro to come race in WV!
You are missing the Erzberg Enduro to so that you can race at Snowshoe. How have your past experiences been at Erzberg?
I finished 82nd in 2008, 59th in 2009 and 58th in 2010. Not saying that I finished the race, because I didn’t, but that was my result of the 500 qualified. Not happy not to finish, but by far and large the best Danish result. I’m without comparison the best technical rider in Denmark, due to my trials riding. I was signed up for the race this year as well, but due to learning to backflip and other new tricks for my show, I have not been committed to riding enduro. I want my physique to be really strong if I would enter again, as I don’t like losing to the mountain. So the opportunity to go to Snowshoe and have a crack at it, came at a good time.
You have some great videos online from your trials bike shows and training for your shows. How long have you been doing trials shows?
I did my first trial show in November 2009, only 6 months after I got my first trials bike. I started trials in the beginning of 2009 while working for an American company doing live stunt shows in southern China. That first show got me going so I offered night clubs my show. That worked pretty well and I did 20 shows in 1 year at night clubs. When that got old, i decided to develop a mobile Trial-X show with more jumps than regular trials riding. I was inspired by the world’s best Trial-X (that is the moniker for freestyle trials) riders last summer, when myself and nine other Trial-X riders were invited for the world’s first freestyle trial competition, sponsored by Red Bull. I had a spectacular crash when I over jumped the biggest 60ft kicker. I regrouped and went for a killer ride in the semifinal but my bike broke in another crash. Long story short, I had fun and was inspired to build my own show. It took 7 months and roughly $25,000. So that’s how my show happened. It’s called MOTO-SHOW. I’m doing approximately 20 shows with my mobile setup this summer. I made an investment and it has been paying back over this summer.
Like The Hoff, Peter is huge in Europe.
Have you ever been to the USA to race before this?
Yes, once. My dad, big brother and I went to L.A. in the summer of 2008. We rented three fat boys and cruised along the coast to San Francisco and back through the national parks. No racing, just taking in the scenery and living the dream with our old man. As any other kid growing up in the 90s, I followed all the pro racing around the world. I have followed the American race scene for many years and always dreamed about racing here. To be able to go now, is very unreal, although my dream has changed. I’m no longer dreaming about motocross. I just love riding long and tough races and beating the terrain, more than beating my opponents. I’m competitive, but I just love riding and experiencing new countries, race-formats and the challenges in nature.
In some of your videos you are wearing a chest protector but with no jersey on. Is this a new style that you would like make popular in the US?
[Laughs] No, but usually I ride in t-shirts. It can be hot at days riding in the forest.
Not much of a caption needed for this photo, so sick!
Is there a large offroad riding community in Denmark?
No. We are 80 trials riders, 100 enduro riders and i don’t know, maybe only 4000-5000 motocross riders. We have an uncertain amount of offroad riders (those not participating in races), I guess that could be 500 at the most. Our highest mountain in Denmark is 147 meters (480ft), and it’s forbidden to ride there. We roughly have no hills and good terrain, so it’s hard to practice enduro. I have a bit of forest to play in though that you can see in my videos.
Thanks, Peter Weiss.
Thank you! I would like to give big thanks to the Huegel family, Trail Rider Magazine, and of course Digitaloffroad.com.
