Motor Action Media interviews the “Pink Lady”, professional Jet Ski racer and dirtbike lover, one of the raddest chicks from the U.K., Anya Colley.
Anya, you are considered one of the Jet Ski industry’s biggest icons, how did you start out in this industry? What did it take to get you this far? Any particular accomplishments you are fond of?
Firstly it’s a huge honor for you to say I’m one of Jet skiing’s biggest icons, thank you for this comment. After persuading my parents it would be a great idea I started out racing as a junior at 12 in the British championships riding with boy and another girl, there was no such thing as a novice class beginners just got mixed in with the most talented juniors around which I believe made me stronger today this way I knew nothing different than to be the best you have to beat the best however tough that may seem at the time. I don’t come from a racing back ground neither of my parents raced or were really interested in racing. I was young at the time, no one forced me to race or do something I didn’t want to it all came from my heart, my love for racing & passion to win.
You are well known for being very talented on the four stroke stand up, the Hydrospace. Why do you prefer that machine over it’s two-stroke counter parts, the Kawasaki SX-R or the Yamaha Superjet?
I have worked my way up really.. I started on a Kawasaki 550, then onto a superjet, Kawasaki SX-R & then finally onto the hydrospace. To be honest I love all these machines & think they are all awesome in their own way. The hydrospace was the last in the chain for me and I stuck with this machine as I had fallen in love with the way it rode, the handling, style, sound & speed.
I know you have made the change to race runabouts! This is not a very easy thing to tackle, what prompted that decision? How has your time been racing them?
Well in 2012 I decided my time in standup jet ski racing had come to an end, I saw the sport change and racing these just didn’t seem the same to me. Then in the winter of 2012/ 2013 I received an opportunity to ride the UK AquaX series on a runabout, this was a brand new challenge for me one I had not had chance to pursue for a whole season and a race series I really believed would grow. I knew it would take a whole new set of skills and mind set to do well in this so I accepted the deal and started my journey to try become an AquaX champion.
You had a great year racing AquaX in the US last season. What are your goals for this season? What changes have you made?
I have made a big change this year by switching back to a Sea-Doo, I have never rode a GTR but decided to take up the challenge and ride this boat in the 250 class.
I understand you also enjoy dirtbikes. Could you tell me about your bike? Do you see any similarities between your bike and your Jet Ski?
Yes I have always loved watching dirtbikes and been fascinated with them but my parents are very against bikes so I never even sat on one until 2012 when I jumped on a friends Motocross bike to see if it was something I would enjoy. As you guessed I fell in love and went out to buy one… I now ride a KTM 250F and love it. I don’t have a runabout ski to practise on in the UK for the AquaX series unlike most the people I race against so I find the closest thing to it is riding my dirtbike. There are many similarity between my dirtbike and runabout but I don’t want to give all my secrets away [Laughs].
What advice do you have for other girls or women who want to be a successful power sports athlete?
Follow your heart girls and chase after what you want! If that means training 10 times harder because you have 30 men to beat then that’s what you do. Don’t let anyone make you think you can’t win just because you’re a girl, yeah it might be harder for us as girls but certainly doesn’t mean it can’t be done. I’ve had men tell me straight to my face on the start line that a girl will never beat them… I guess it was to try to scare me but the only thing that did to me was set me a challenge.
Will we be seeing you on the stand ups and racing in the future?
I now have a stand up jet ski in the UK to have fun on & try get some surf practice for the AquaX but I don’t expect to be racing this. I will however been flying out to Kuwait in a couple of weeks to train some girls to become stand up racers which I have absolute great pleasure in doing, stand ups are where it all started me and I can’t deny the love I still have for them. I enjoy seeing girls racing in the stand up classes and beating the boys, I will always respect girl racers in any sport I absolutely love it especially when they kick butt against the guys.
You are considered to be the original “Pink Lady” in Jet Skiing, how did that nickname come about?
Well this is quite funny being called ‘Pink Lady’ as this makes me sounds girly but I’m not very girly at all. When I first started I just ran a white SX-R with a red handle pole, my mum didn’t like this as she couldn’t tell who I really was out there in the mix of things during a race. So being only 12 I said right there are only two girls against all these guys, why don’t I show I’m a girl with some pink this way my mum would be able to see me too. We started with only a little bit of pink and then we began coordinating things and before we knew it everything was pink… I believe that is probably why people started calling me ‘Pink Lady’.
What are your favorite things about dirtbike racing and Jet Ski racing?
The feeling I get when racing, when I’m out there nothing else matters other than winning that moto. The preparation for me to be a competitive racer takes up most of my spare time when I’m not working, winning & accomplishing things you have worked so hard for is just a feeling that I can’t explain. I’ve explained it in this way as watching these doesn’t mean the same to me, I really enjoy supporting others but it’s the being a racer and out on the track that is my ultimate favourite thing about sports themselves.
Is there anyone you would like to thank?
Yes please… I would love to thank everyone that supports me, cheers me on & follows my journey with me. It means the world to me that I have support and backing from friends, family, fans & sponsors. The people that helped me at the very start of my career, in the middle and at present, I never forget who you are and what you did or do for me now. Big thank you to all my sponsors this year which are – Sea-Doo, Aysha Rensink, Hydro Turf, Rip N Roll, DuckSmart, Airoh, MRS Ltd, RP Signs, 219 Design, ShockTech & Burn Industries.
Photos contributed by Anya Colley.
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