Israeli mountain bikers persevere amidst warfare, uncertainty
Multi-time Israeli cross country national champ Rotem Ishay overcame serious off-bike adversity to qualify for the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Norway next month. Photo by Sitar Neveh
Though the 2014 Israeli cross country mountain bike championships featured back-and-forth racing between nine-time winner Rotem Ishay and risng star Schlomi Haimy that saw the latter take the title by 15 seconds, the event was overshadowed by a battle of more a serious nature—the ongoing warfare between Israel and Hamas terrorists in Palestine’s Gaza Strip that stranded many athletes and had them fearing for their lives.
“I wouldn’t have been surprised if there was a rocket touching down on the course,” said Ishay, who races professionally for Team Jamis. “Right now, it’s full-on war over here and there was a question of whether the championships would even take place”
The region’s situation escalated between the time Ishay, who lives in Durango, Colo., left for Israel and date of the race, with the Federal Aviation Administration banning flights to and from the country after he had already arrived.
Despite the US travel ban, a diminished training schedule, Ishay made his way to the World Cup finals in Méribel, France where he finished in 60th—earning just enough points to qualify for the Mountain Bike World Championships in Norway Sept. 6.
Ishay’s long trip from Israeli Air Force to pro mountain biker
Having served two years in the Israeli Air Force, Ishay is no stranger to the persistent terrorism and unrest in his native country. Despite the recognition and support of his athletic talent by the prestigious Isreali Athlete of Excellence program, Ishay felt held back, so he made the difficult decision to move to the United States in search of greater opportunity.
“I knew that I had the passion and talent to race at a high level,” said Ishay. “But my athletic and academic opportunities were limited in Israel.”
Since his move Stateside, Ishay’s mountain bike career has flourished. As a student at Durango’s Fort Lewis College, Ishay won seven collegiate national championships. In 2009 he signed his first professional contract with Team Jamis, where he has since remained.
The transplantation was also a boon for Ishay’s prospects off the bike. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, he became a director at the Durango Performance Center, a physiological testing center for athletes and coaches.
“Everything clicked when I moved to Durango,” said Ishay. “For the first time I had balance in my life.”
Balance and training disrupted by heat, unrest
That balance was thrown off last month as Ishay struggled to keep his training on track amidst the sweltering Israeli summer and the country’s relentless and widespread turmoil.
“Although it is safe to visit most of the time, Israel is much different than other countries and fighting is happening all the time,” said Ishay. “I have to be careful when I choose where I am riding to make sure it is safe.”
Rider sympathetic to Palestinian people, critical of Hamas
Like many Israeli’s Ishay sympathizes with the people of Palestine but sees Hamas, the terrorist organization with a political hold over the Gaza Strip, as the chief perpetrator of the area’s unrelenting violence.
“The Palestinians in Gaza are just trying to live their day-to-day lives but they are being used as human shields by Hamas and Hamas is not giving any thought to the people they kill,” explained Ishay. “People don’t understand the situation, but I am seeing it over here. Hamas are terrorists, and they are threatening our country and neglecting the people of Palestine.”
Ishay furthered his passionate condemnation of the Islamic extremists with an analogy to what he knows best—cycling.
“I had a realization. Sometimes competitive cyclists just get on their bikes to suffer. No goals like power or speed, just to suffer,” he continued. “I see that with the fighting here in Gaza—Hamas fights to kill and that’s their only purpose. That will bring no result that they are wishing for. The Palestinian people are sick and tired of Hamas, and so am I.”
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