Enduro Race #2 Crested Butte

These are the maps for the Big Mountain Enduro #2!! I am looking forward to this race! After taking the clinic this past weekend and planning to pre ride the courses, I feel more prepared! Leaving tomorrow for the races Saturday and Sunday!

Here we go!

The Yeti Beti Clinic

 This past weekend, I attended my first all women's mountain bike clinic in Keystone, CO.
Clinic's are a great way for a beginner mountain biker to improve very quickly and for the intermediate/ advanced rider to gain even more mad skill's! The common thread amongst the ladies attending the clinic was gaining confidence! We learned the correct body positioning on our bikes, which makes you more connected to the bike. The words "fluid", "relax", "open your body", and "look where you want to land" were used by my coaches. Once again feeling the relationship between biking and my life.
 I want to talk about a few of the coaches I got to spend time with and that helped me to start and achieve these goals. Lindsey Voreis "You can learn so much about yourself and your ability to persevere and overcome obstacles"-Lindsey V. http://www.kirtvoreis.com/lindsey-voreis.html
I imagine you can see why I could connect with her! :) She also rides horses which is super rad! Lindsey's energy is high volume and authentic and I love that! Tammy Donahugh was one of my coaches at the clinic. Tammy helped me to recognize "baby step's", Not that I couldn't hit a jump or rally some obstacle's, but to wait and learn how to do it "right" on smaller jumps. Patience comes to mind, learning how to not get too far ahead of myself and accept where I am at (right where I need to be). Tammy has a great clinic for women coming up in August in Frisco, CO. DixieTrix http://www.dixietrix.com/
Wendy Palmer of Moab, UT was also one of my coaches and her energy alone helped me to work through some of the anxiety I had from last weekends Enduro.  I had competed my first Enduro, and I feel great about that. Going to the clinic I still had some trepidation after a few of the crashes. Wendy taught me to use my shocks more "you gotta pump to jump"! "load and explode"! I learned to really use the suspension on my bike and pump into turns, before a drop or a jump.  I plan to use all these skill's at my next Enduro in Crested Butte this weekend!
The Yeti Beti clinic was a success for me and I can't wait to use the skill's I learned on my bike and in my life.  Fluid!

Big Mountain Enduro #1 Angel Fire, NM

 Well, I must say that was fun and hard!  I definitely got a dose of real MTB racing! If you are curious about what an Enduro MTB race is check out  http://www.bigmountainenduro.com/ . This kind of racing is fast and tests your technical skills, willpower, and strength of mind. "One has to be ever alert and constant in both practice and aspiration. Even if the whole world collapses around you, it does not matter. If you give up hope and effort, you can never be successful".


  Now the race begins. Lesson #1 Pre ride a course! "Blind Dates" on a races are not smart. Lesson #2 (it's an easy one) Look ahead and not just at what is coming at you, especially while at high speed. Sorry coach! Lesson #3 by far the most important….. No matter what happens, drop a chain, screw up what gear your in, fall, twist handle bars, eat dirt; take a breath and control your mind/emotions. "If you give up hope and effort, you can never be successful." Right??!! Ahhh…Zen/Enduro.


 Now after meeting all those great ladies I raced with I will be learning from them at the Yeti Beti clinic next weekend! http://www.betiallrideclinic.com/beti-allride-clinic1.html  Love life and bikes! Feel so grateful that this is my world.

Ready to Race!

The mascara is packed. Pedicure - check, hot pink with rhinestones :) The pink Stan's No Tubes Jersey and shammies are clean!
The Yeti SB95 (Donzi) for those of you who don't know, this is the name of a speed boat company and a horse I wanted when I was 13, now the name of my BA bike. Maxxis tires are good to go. Big thanks to the Durango Girls No Tubes for having a great team to help support me! Jimmy Kight- you rock! Best coach ever! Thanks 2nd ave sports for dealing with "the bike hypochondriac". Huge thanks to Patti Zink of MBS for talking with me yesterday and calming my nerves. Mountain Bike Specialist, 2nd Ave Sports, and Petal to Peaks are for sure the go to places in Durango!!
This will be my first Pro/Open Enduro race and I am so excited!! The course looks super fun! Hope there are a bunch of ladies out there to meet and race with and of course to get inspired by!

This is what I will be racing this weekend!

Course Descriptions and Maps Now this is the part you have all been waiting for! We are excited to announce the official courses of the 2013 BME #1, Angel Fire/Taos. Click on map for a full-size PDF! Day 1: South Boundary Trail Day 2: Angel Fire Bike Park

Start Riding Bikes :)

In 2010 I started riding my bikes. I was so inspired and driven to become healthy at all levels in my life. Immediately after learning how to cycle I did become healthier in my body, mind, and heart. Feeling healthier in my body came from the physical strength it takes to ride, after just starting to ride a few years ago, now I am making podium at races. I have found peace with my thoughts and with myself while I ride, learning how to focus on the breath and tell the mind “I am capable”. Too often we let the mind tell us lies like “I can’t do that!” Riding bikes has taught me to be truthful and kind with myself. All of this plays into how I feel in my heart as well, but really my heart feels inspired to help others experience these things for themselves.

Mountain bike racing has certainly helped me to become stronger not only physically but mentally. I have learned through racing to take each day and race for what it is. I have learned to try and always show up to the best of my ability. I want to stay healthy and have a smile on my face. My intention is to help others become healthier in whatever ways I can.

Getting outside on your bike with friends!