Tipped for the top by the greatest female racer of all time, we find out first-hand just how good Rachel Atherton’s 17-year-old protege is...
Norway isn’t a country renowned for producing toplevel downhill racers, but if we had to put money on it, we’d bet there’s one Norwegian who’s going to become a podium regular within the next few years, and her name is Mille Johnset. Aged just 17, this shy, unassuming girl has been turning heads on the race track and chalking up an impressive list of results.
Even before she was racing, Mille’s incredible talent got her noticed by none other than Rachel Atherton. The then 14-year-old was a ‘forerunner’ at the Hafjell World Cup in 2013, pre-riding the course to ensure it was in prime condition for the race. Rachel spotted her in action and, after finding out a bit more about her, was keen to get her on the team when she was a bit older. The pair stayed in touch and Mille joined the Atherton Academy last year. Fourteen-year-olds capable of hitting World Cup DH tracks don’t exactly come along every day, so we were keen to meet Mille and find out a bit more behind the girl who’s setting a new standard in teenage downhill.
Hitting up Hafjell
Around three hours from Mille’s hometown (and Norway’s capital) Oslo is Hafjell Bike Park. It seems like an appropriate place to ride, since this is where Mille started out on two wheels. “My dad took me here for the first time when I was 10 and I just loved it from the first run,” she smiles. Six years down the line and Mille has lost none of that early enthusiasm. We drop in behind her down one of the many twisting rocky trails that litter the wooded hillside and, watching the way Mille handles the bike, her skill is instantly apparent. She has a commanding style and a fearless attitude that you rarely see in someone of her age. “I think it comes from skiing,” she explains. “I started when I was two and raced alpine skiing until last year. It’s taught me a lot about line choice and not to be afraid of stuff. You’ve got to enjoy the speed and not be scared of it!” Ski racing is what inspired Mille to give downhill racing a go. “Compared to other countries, downhill is a really small sport here, but the advantage of that is you can just turn up at a Norwegian Cup and race for fun. At my first race I was the only one in my category, so there wasn’t much competition,” she laughs.
Beating the boys
“There’s not really a girls’ riding scene here at all, so when I race I compare my times against the boys’,” she continues – which reminds us of what her mentor, Rachel Atherton, used to say when she was growing up. “It’s been amazing being on the team with Rachel,” Mille says. “Just seeing how she and Gee do everything is really inspiring and I’ve learnt so much from them when it comes to training and racing.”
Riding for the Atherton Academy hasn’t only given Mille the opportunity to learn from her idols, it’s also allowed her to travel and race abroad. “I was over in the UK several times last year racing the BDS (British Downhill Series) and absolutely loving it,” she tells us. “Especially Fort William – that’s definitely my favourite track.” Fun must equal fast, because at the Fort William BDS in May last year, Mille won her category with a time that would have placed her third in Elite. She says her dream is to one day be up there with the very best riders in the sport. Given what we’ve seen today, we reckon there’s a very real probability of that happening.
Rachel on mille
“My first memory of Mille is meeting her at the World Cup in Hajell in 2013. She was this cute little kid in traditional Norwegian dress doing the opening ceremony. Every day for practice, she was at the start hut in her riding kit with her dad and the other locals running the event, grinning at all the racers and getting their autographs. She uploaded a photo of me and her on Instagram and tagged me, so I looked through her profile and was blown away by what she was riding!
“We started talking a bit, but I didn’t want to ofer her a place with our Atherton Academy until she was old enough to handle it. She was getting really good support from the rookie team she rode for, and was also part of the national ski team, training and racing all winter. When she became old enough, we arranged with her dad – who’s awesome and so passionate about Mille’s racing – for her to join the Academy. As a 14-year-old, she could already lift in the gym really well, which came from her skiing background.
“I’m so impressed with Mille. Her ability to ride technical stuf is amazing and her balance is so good. She’s pretty fearless, hitting those big jumps at Hajell since she was 14. Growing up ski racing, she has that competitive drive – she knows exactly what she wants and how to get there. She’s also young enough to have grown up with social media, so, like a lot of her direct competition (Vali Holl, Meg James and so on), she’s already a sponsor’s dream!
“We were at a Fort William national, on her first ever run down the track, when we got to the woods, where there’s a tricky wooden bridge drop thing that causes problems in the World Cup. I pushed back up to do it, expecting her to stay and watch. When I turned around, Mille was right behind me! I asked, “Are you sure?!” She just giggled and nodded, followed me in and hucked it. She crashed over the bars, but jumped up and tried again. So fearless and confident in herself!
“I see myself in Mille, which is superexciting, and I believe she’ll go all the way to the top step pretty quickly. Her parents are dedicated to her, but they keep her grounded. Her ability on a bike and her physical strength are incredible already. Exciting!”