| Team | Liv Factory Racing |
|---|---|
| Birth date | June 4, 2002 |
| Location | Boulder, CO, USA |
| Birthplace | Boulder, CO, USA |
| What are some of your favorite places to ride locally? | I love to ride anywhere up in the mountains, especially climbing up to Peak to Peak highway. Or hit the Lefthand OHV trails on my mountain bike. |
| What is your specialty on the team/ what is the main cycling discipline you ride/race? | I race mountain bikes, specifically cross-country Olympic discipline. |
| What are some of your notable cycling career results and/or achievements? |
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| What's your favorite Liv bike? | The all new Pique! |
| What is your favorite Liv gear? | My favorite Liv gear is our awesome team kit. |
| Why do you ride? | Riding brings me a freedom and joy that fills my soul. There is nothing better than being out on two wheels in nature. My passion for racing pushes me to new limits everyday and allows me to chase big goals and dreams. Not to mention the cycling community is something really special and the people I have gotten to meet over the years have helped shape who I am today. |
| When did you first realize you loved cycling? | I first realized I loved cycling around 8th grade amidst some summer riding programs I was a part of. |
| What does the future of cycling look like to you? | I see a big and bright future ahead for myself and young girls alike. I see how much the sport of mountain biking is growing and the increase in opportunities for young cyclists. I hope to reach my goals of going to the Olympics and winning World Cups in the future! |
| What do you wish you knew when you were starting out as a cyclist? | When I was a younger rider beginning to dream of Olympics and World titles, I put a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect on and off the bike and this led me to some negative habits and struggles to be happy with what I was doing. I wish I had known more about balance and the power of not being a "robot" in training and racing. |
| Who inspires you? | I have a few really powerful mentors and guidance, but my Dad has always been one of my biggest role models and inspiration. The way he carries himself in his life, his work, and in front of his family and peers shows me what a successful and selfless person looks like. My Dad never fails to be there for others and show up with gratitude to everything he does. |
| Is there a woman in your life who has played an important role in you cycling journey? | There is no single woman, rather the amazing group of US woman who have come before me and helped pave the way for whats possible for us young mountain bikers. From Georgia Gould winning Olympic bronze, to Kate Courtney winning the first World Champions jersey, and last year Haley Batten winning another medal in the Paris Olympics. There are many more, but I am fortunate to have these amazing role models ahead of me showing whats possible and how a true champion represents themselves on and off the bike. |
| How do you hope to have an impact on the next generation of cyclists? | I work with NICA and GRiT to help get more kids and especially girls on bikes and its my goal to actively work to bring more girls to the sport every year. Through these programs and my presence in the community I also hope to inspire and encourage young riders to set goals and go after what they want in the sport and in life. I want to leave the mountain biking community with a positive impact and hopefully share the joy of riding bikes with others. |
| What have been the biggest barriers for you so far in your cycling journey, and how have you navigated/ overcome them? | One of the biggest barriers I faced through my cycling career was more of a challenge rather than a barrier, but I would say navigating earning a college degree and trying to race at the professional level. Traveling across Europe and South America to race world cups while also studying biology at Colorado Mesa University presented a variety of challenges and obstacles to overcome. I learned a lot about advocating for myself and finding effective ways to communicate with professors and peers. In addition to a lot of prioritizing and time management skills. I was lucky to have such a strong village of support through this period. Our collegiate cycling coaches were really helpful and my parents were always there to provide sounding board or just a shoulder to lean on when things felt overwhelming. To any young riders trying to get a degree and race, I would recommend developing a strong support network and never be afraid to ask for help and advocate for what you need to be successful. Don't be afraid to chase your dreams and remember that your process might look completely different from someone else, comparison is the thief of joy! |
