A husband and a father; this gentllemen has a passion for racing and his business. Designing/Building bikes, race wheels and other goodies for fellow athletes is his specialty. Ladies and gentlemen please take a moment and read about: Mr. Sven Folmer

KK: Sven, please tell our readers a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up?

SF: I was born in Germany and left Germany in 2001. The past 5 years I lived and worked in Australia. In 2007 I was about to join the Australian Navy as a diver for the Special Forces. With the delay in the intake day, I started Triathlon and it turned out to be a good thing for me.

KK: What was your athletic background as a youth?

SF: I played all kinds of sports in my youth. Being German, soccer was on the Top of the List. However, growing up I started playing Table Tennis on a Semi-Pro Level. I never had anything to do with endurance sports. I was a fast sprinter and always have been athletic, but when I turned 16 years I enjoyed Bodybuilding and stuck to that for a long time. I was 225 lbs, which is not the best conditions to start Triathlon.

KK: What is your academic background?

SF: I was a Firefighter and Paramedic in Germany for many years before I left. However, I worked the past 6 years as a Dive Instructor and Supervisor for different big dive companies around the world.

KK: When did you start doing triathlons?

SF: First race was October 2006 on my MTB. I went for a little ride in the morning and passed the Defense Force Triathlon in Cairns. Some of my best friends talked me into the event. 20min later I was on the Start Line for my first Triathlon. I felt horrible, but I had a blast. I was hooked!

KK: Share with us your race day experience at Ironman Australia. How did you day go? What were the race conditions like?

SF: It was my first race as a Pro Triathlete. It was a bit scary being next to some of the top names in Triathlon, especially knowing it was my first Ironman distance race and it was my first Race as a Pro. It was cold and rainy, but believe it or not, just 15min before race start it cleared up. I felt awesome on my swim, but all my friends said before the event to not blow up in the swim, so I slowed down and then got rolled over by 1000 age group athletes only 5min later. When I got out of the water, I broke my toe (youtube video svenindersonne and you can watch it). I did feel that I hit something, but I didn't think it was so bad. I passed a lot of athletes on the bike but it got very cold and rainy again, so it was not much fun on the bike. Finally, coming into the run, it went from horrible cold weather to sunny and warm. 6km into the run on the first hill I start feeling my toe and it slowed me down a lot. I finished the race, and even with a broken toe, I had my fastest Marathon time. I felt horrible at night and the next morning I felt even worse. However, I loved the event and I decided to do 2 more Ironman in 2008.

KK: I see that you race a lot of long course events. Is racing the long courses your preference?

SF: I just enjoyed the Ironman in Australia and I wanted to do better than my first one. I knew that I could do better than what I did in Oz. However, the weather in Switzerland

KK: Why do you think long course triathlons have become so popular?

SF: I think for 98% of the athletes, the Long course is not about competing against someone else as much as it is about competing against yourself and seeing how strong you are. It is a life time experience and the atmosphere at an Ironman is AWESOME!

KK: Between training and racing, how does your body handle all the distance throughout the season?

SF: I eat healthy, use a lot of supplements and stretch. I also get a massage once a week and I use Complex Sport to help recover.

KK: Have you had to overcome any major injuries? If so, what was the process of recovery like?

SF: I did a lot of things wrong in my first season of Triathlon and then the Ironman races in 2008. I get an adjustment from a chiropractor once a month.  After the pinched nerve in my back during Ironman Louisville I wanted to make sure that my body could handle it. I had to get inserts for my shoes too. Since then, I have recovered well and I have had no major problems other than the normal problems of training. I should have listened to the signs of my body earlier.

KK: What advice would you give to someone just getting started in triathlon?

SF: Make sure you give your body extra supplements to keep up with the training. Get a coach to help you get into shape. It is important to have a mentor you can trust to help you reach YOUR goal.

KK: Training and racing is very time consuming. How do you keep balance in your life?

SF: Well, I really don't train enough during the s season. I have been in the water 3 times since Ironman Louisville in 2008 and my first Race is coming next month. I have my own business, Hawk Racing and it is going really well. This keeps me very busy. I hope in 2010 I can look into training more, but having a start up business makes training and family very hard.

KK: What do you like to do during your down time?

SF: I enjoy every minute with my wife TeriEnna and 2 children Jazlin and Garrett.
My son loves 5k runs with me and playing soccer. Otherwise, I go Skydiving or diving with friends.

KK: What is your most memorable moment in your career so far?

SF: Finishing my first race was already awesome, but the 12hr race in Sebring with a 2nd place finish and an age group course record was a blast. 219.2miles and being sick after 7hrs of riding was hard, but my family kept me going. Otherwise, finishing Top 10 in my Sprint Distance races kept me training and going. I need to be successful in some way to help me feel good about it.

KK: When people think of Sven Folmer, what do you want them to know most about you?

SF: My friends know that I love training and racing with them. I am a very social person and enjoy helping my friends to be able to race and enjoy it as much as I do. Hawk Racing was founded to support other athletes like myself to enjoy the awesome sport of Triathlon. It has grown into a business and without my friends nothing would have happened. I am looking after people and enjoy seeing them being successful.

KK: What are some of your goals for 2009 and beyond?

SF: Making Hawk Racing grow is my number 1 goal. My wife and I have invested a lot of money and time into the business. I want to see the athletes we sponsor with Hawk Racing doing well and being at the event where the athletes race. Hopefully I will race too....

SF: Long-term goal is to have a Hawk Racing Triathlon and also a Hawk Racing Cycling Team. I'm currently working hard to develop new products that will help athletes to perform better while saving money at the same time.

KK: Tell us a little about Hawk Racing.

SF: Hawk racing was founded by me; I am a Triathlete that believes in giving back to the athletes. Our products are made from the highest quality carbon fiber and they are being tested by some of the greatest athletes in the world.  We build bikes and wheels, assembling them in the US.  We also offer affordable custom painting and custom clothing.

Watch Sven give a review about one of his own products

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