A chat with the MiSCA 2023 State Varsity Champ, Katja Opfer

Listen to the Daylight Spotlight Podcast

The quick overview:
Don’t let her age fool you. This 15 year old knows what she wants — your spot on the podium — and she’ll put in the work to get it. Katja Opfer discusses her love for MTB, racing, and competition. She comes from a family with a life-long love of cycling, setting her up with an early exposure to racing MTB. From the age of 10, her involvement led to a place of high competition and firsthand exposure to some of her MTB heroes on the trails. We discuss her experience with Michigan Scholastic Cycling Association (MiSCA) and later with Team Athletic Mentors Junior Development (TAMJD). Katja nerds out about seeing some of the women MTB legends that she’s come across while we recognize that she’s well on her way to legend status herself. A talented, driven, and warm-spirited, up and coming individual you’ll want to follow as she heads into a promising future of pro MTB and GRVL racing.

Katja Opfer riding pro at the Iceman Cometh MTB race in 2023. A couple miles into the race, crashed and yet continued the race to finish 12th overall.

Katja’ first mountain bike, which she loved and rode for some time before competing with her JV team

Katja with her TAMJD team after winning 1st in the Youth Team Competitive 18 mile race at Barry Roubaix 2023.
Katja also set the women’s 18 mile course record during that event.
It was her first ever gravel race.

Follow @KatjaOpfer on insta to keep up with her progress.

Also, if you are in junior high or high school and are interested in MTB or Gravel sports, check out Michigan Scholastic Cycling Association at MiSCA.org for opportunities to train with a community or to take the next step in your passion for MTB.

You can find Katja’s current team and information on how to join or support them at TeamAthleticMentors.com.