It's All Downhill from Here
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Zanna Logar on her way the UCI World Cup Downhill Circuit
At some point, we’ve all imagined what it might feel like to be a superhero—flying through the air, moving faster than anyone else, doing what seems impossible.
For Zanna Logar, that feeling isn’t imaginary.
Zanna, a standout cyclist at Miller School of Albemarle, is now one of the top downhill mountain bikers in the world. This spring, she signed her first professional contract with Future Frameworks and will represent the USA National Team on the UCI Downhill World Cup circuit, racing across Europe and North America. She’ll also compete in professional events throughout the U.S.
This season marks a new chapter in Zanna’s career. A former USA National Champion in junior women’s cross-country, she’s now focusing fully on downhill—competing not just as an elite amateur, but as a pro among the world’s best.
Before heading to her first World Cup race in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, we sat down with Zanna to talk about racing at the highest level—and what it takes to keep pushing the limits.
Tell us about your move to downhill focus in 2025.
At the beginning of this year, I received an offer from a junior development team, Future Frameworks. This team presented the opportunity to travel overseas and race in downhill World Cups. With committing to traveling and racing overseas with this team, I decided to really focus on training and getting stronger and faster on my downhill bike for the upcoming season. I did compete in some early-season cross-country races and intend on doing XC nationals, along with my downhill schedule.
What will your first professional season as a downhill racer look like? Where will you race? Who will you be racing against?
I will be racing against the fastest female junior downhill athletes in the world in the UCI World Cup events starting in May this year. I will race in several countries from May to October, including Poland, France, Austria, Italy, Andorra, the USA, and Canada. In addition to the World Cup races, I will also compete in Downhill Nationals in California, Crankworx in Whistler, and the Killington Open in Vermont.
How did you get picked up by Future Frameworks? Are you one of the youngest pro riders on the UCI World Cup circuit?
I was chosen to be on this team because of my results from prior years; they saw potential in me for this season. I am one of the youngest racers on this circuit, racing in the Junior 17–18 category.
How do you train for downhill racing compared to XC racing? What overlaps and what is specific to downhill?
Downhill training involves shorter, explosive interval efforts, some of which mirror what you would see in XC training. Compared to XC training, I lift heavier weights. I have also been putting a larger emphasis on skills and speed work. On weekends, I spend time getting in practice laps in a downhill park when I can, versus putting in those 3+ hour endurance rides.
What has been your craziest experience racing so far?
It is hard to pinpoint my craziest experience racing because they are all unique, but one of the coolest experiences I have had is racing all the pro women at Windrock National earlier this year. It was really cool to be up against those professional, big-name girls who have been racing for years. It was awesome to get to practice alongside them and learn from them throughout the weekend.
It’s an adrenaline-pumping sport. From an outsider’s perspective, it might look a little crazy riding at the speeds you race. However, it is a highly calculated and rehearsed sport. Tell us about what goes into a successful downhill run.
Lots of focus and precision go into every run. I spend hours practicing and memorizing the course, watching GoPro reviews, and visualizing. Along with this, there’s lots of physical and mental preparation too. You need to be calculated, coordinated, and strong to be able to execute a winning—or even top ten—run. You have to bring your top mental game if you want to do well, too. It can be stressful and nerve-wracking, but in order to complete a run successfully, you have to have an extreme level of focus that can be critical to your performance.
How has Miller School helped you achieve your goals in downhill and mountain biking?
Meeting fellow cyclists that develop into a community helps make training overall more enjoyable. The consistency of the team meeting after school and suiting up together, regardless of each individual’s specific workout, is motivating. On campus, I am able to do a lot of skills work and laps on the campus and enduro trails to work on specific drills. In addition, the teachers and staff have been flexible with work when I am required to be away to compete. I have many friends who have had to go to online programs because their schools would not allow them to miss class for athletic event travel.
What has racing downhill taught you about life in general?
Doing any sport well requires discipline and hard work. I feel like these are qualities that will prepare me for many things in life. Downhill specifically requires overcoming fear, and that helps me overcome other challenges.
Closing thoughts?
For the past several years, people have asked me, “Which one (meaning downhill or cross-country) are you going to choose?” I have done well to juggle both. This unique opportunity has encouraged me to make that choice and see what will happen if I do choose one pathway to focus on for a while. I am excited to see where it takes me in the future!
Action Photos by Liam McMahon
