Episode 61: Flatmattersonline Exclusive with Irina Sadovnik

It’s been a minute since we have dropped a Flatmattersonline Exclusive, so much so that a few heads asked is it still going?!!!
The answer to that is of course yes, this belongs to you. If you have a clip, send it in. I was also in the middle of running the 2020 Flatmattersonline awards, and there is only so much time in the day to get stuff done.

We kick start the FM exclusives back up in 2021, with a few firsts for the site:

1. Obviously this is the first exclusive of the year.
2. This is the first female rider featured on the exclusive.
3. I announce a new category to the 2021 Flatmattersonline Year end awards.

Without further a due, it is time to introduce Irina Sadovnik the UCI 2019 World Champion , who stepped up to the task of throwing down the first video of the 2021. Irina reached out “Hey Effraim, I wish to put some light onto the women flatland riders out there”. I was of course down, she said was buzzing with excitement and when you watch the clip you will why.
With all of Irina’s well documented knee injuries, she is a massive inspiration for me and I am sure you at home. This line is a tough one, and the emotion she shows got me stoked.

To document share and progress, this is Flatland right here!

Thanks Irina, for stepping up. Whose got the next clip?

Can we get to 100 exclusives by the end of the year?

Photo credit: @stefan.csaky

Irina Sadovnik: The Flatmattersonline Interview Part 1

Intro/Interview: Effraim.
Photos: Nao King, Rob Alton, The Agency Photo, Stefan Csaky, Irina Sadovnik.

As many of us prepare to go into lockdown (some of you may already be) with the corona virus pandemic that already is causing havoc to our daily lives and routines. It’s hard to find something to be positive about, but then I think about the UCI Women’s Flatland World Champion, Irina Sadovnik. Irina is able to bring a smile to everyone’s faces on the tense contest floor, her positive energy is infectious.
It struck me that throughout the last 11 years of running Flatmattersonline I haven’t interviewed many female riders if any at all?! As I discussed with Irina, I felt awful about this, and decided it was time to do something about it.
We have been working on this interview since the UCI World Championships where Irina not only won the world title, but she did it a ruptured meniscus in her right knee!

Travis Collier once said “if you so spread positive energy, nothing but positive energy will comes your way”…
I can’t think of anyone who deserves some positive energy, than the woman that makes all the flatland community smile with her personality. and positive outlook on life.
It’s time to get into it, and find out all about this incredible woman. I asked Irina to dig deep, and she came through with an in-depth insight into her life of which I knew hardly anything about. I am sure I speak for everyone in the flatland community, when say I hope Irina makes it back to riding asap, she is already missed!
Show some respect, ladies and gentlemen this is part 1 of the long overdue, Irina Sadovnik FLATMATTERSONLINE INTERVIEW!

Continue reading