Rae Morrison

Team	Liv Racing Collective
Birth date	September 4, 1989
Location	Nelson, New Zealand
Birthplace	New Zealand
What are some of your favorite places to ride locally?	I love the trails in Nelson, long, super steep, natural and techy terrain. I love being able to problem solve a trail and figure out the best line down.
What is your specialty on the team/ what is the main cycling discipline you ride/race?	Enduro
What are some of your notable cycling career results and/or achievements?	1st Crankworx Rotorua Enduro 2020 8th Overall Ranking EWS 2019/2020 1st Crankworx Rotorua Air DH 2016 Two 5th at Enduro World Series
What is your favorite event (race or non-race) on your calendar? Why?	I love the World Series/ World Cups. Competing against the very best in the world over various venues, terrains and trails. It pushes my performance and it is a whole lot of fun. I couldn't just pick one singular race this year, I think the whole series is going to be awesome.
What's your favorite Liv bike?	Pique Advanced Pro 29. It's a great all-round bike whether I'm riding pedally tracks and steep hills it glides up and I feel super comfortable climbing, but without compromise on the descents. I can still rail turns, jump and bulldozer over roots and rocks no worries. It's my go to bike for the majority of my riding.
What is your favorite Liv gear?	Rev Pro Mips Women's helmet. My absolute all-time favorite saddle.
Why do you ride? How does cycling make you feel?	I love getting out into nature away from traffic and into incredible places with insane views. I love the people you meet and share adventures with. I love the physical challenge, fitness and health benefits it brings, and of course I love the adrenaline rush you get from riding fast or doing something that scares me. It gives me peace on the inside, physical health, and an adventurous thrill.
When did you first realize you loved cycling?	My brothers and I rode bikes around the school and local streets when we were super young. I think it first dawned on me that I really loved biking when I kept on wanting to bike even after my brothers stopped. I would nag my dad to take me cycling, he would run and I would bike next to him.
Is there a woman in your life who has played an important role in your cycling journey?	I was fortunate enough to have three highly talented and competitive women in New Zealand that were doing well overseas when I first entered the sport. They inspired me and it gave me the insight that it was possible to do this as a career.
What do you wish you knew when you were starting out as a cyclist?	I wish I knew more about bike maintenance and basic mechanical skills.
Who inspires you?	I do get excited and inspired by anyone overcoming odds, taking chances and living their dream. It's easy to do nothing, or play victim or make excuses, it's really hard to rise above and turn pain into strength - anyone who can do that is an inspiration.
What does the future of cycling look like to you?	Lots and lots of riding, coffee and food.
How do you hope to have an impact on the next generation of cyclists?	I would absolutely love to inspire some up and coming athletes to race abroad, also to have more girls get into mountain biking at an earlier age.
What have been the biggest barriers for you so far in your cycling journey, and how have you navigated/ overcome them? Did you have help? And what advice would you give others facing similar challenges?	The biggest barrier has been myself, I've had a lot of self doubt and a lack of confidence to believe I was good enough to race, let alone race overseas. I should have got help, that would have saved a lot of time, and that would be the advice I would give to others in a similar situation. It wasn't until I had a massive injury where I wasn't sure I would be able to ride again that gave me the wakeup jolt I needed to give things a go and make some changes in my life.