When I was a kid, I didn’t want to grow up and be the best female dirt biker. I didn’t want to have the spotlight placed on my gender or even any performative accolade.
In all honesty, athletically – I wanted to play college basketball for UConn, then play in the WNBA. Or I wanted to play college soccer at UNC and then the women’s national team. In those worlds – I was competitive and fierce.
If I had any goals as a kid regarding dirt biking – it would have been to grow up and be like my dad. I constantly heard stories about him on the trail or see the group laughing and enjoying all the different worlds within riding. I’d watch them work together to fix bikes, tease each other and laugh. Even though it was only twice a year, they would get together and it was as if no time passed. The guys who dirt biked together were friends for life.
I wanted to ride with my Dad, and have friends to enjoy fun experiences with. I wanted to fix bikes, curse, and laugh with my friends while we pursue adventures and explore the unknown.
My Dad put me on a bike because he knew I could handle whatever it threw at me. And I got on that bike because I knew with my Dad there, I was going to be okay.
I didn’t learn to ride with the goal of finding independence. I learned to ride because it connected me with others. And when part of a group, I was able to explore the wild backcountry of Utah and Colorado as a young kid.
Without realizing it, my independence grew with each ride. Not because I was alone, but because I was surrounded by others who loved to ride, loved the challenge and understood the growth that can come from it all. Space was given for me to have my own experience, and safely push boundaries. Ultimately developing an independence rooted in community, family, passion, and confidence.
I started out by wanting to be like my dad, and every time I rode – I became more connected to myself. Bending my life toward the pursuit of joy, I just rode my bike. It’s a belief of mine that we find ourselves when we are off the grid, in the wilderness. The more I got out there, the more I came back day to day as my truest self.
Now, I’ve discovered the best dream to chase is simply to follow your joy and appreciate the ride. Did i play in the WNBA? Not yet. Professional women’s soccer? nope. Did I turn out just like my dad? Not quite, but I get to share the trail with him and together we explore the mountains of Colorado on our dirt bikes – and that is the greatest accomplishment in life I could ever ask for.
