WOMEN WHO RIDE
HOLLY
FENIAK
Holly Feniak - So hot right now!Holly Feniak is on fire. Not literally of course, but the 16 year old downhill racer from the Sunshine Coast of BC has moved into the pro ranks and is starting to make herself known. I want to say that she's an up and coming racer because so few people have probably actually heard of her, but I think that would be misleading as she's already one of the fastest women racers in North America. As a junior last year she won most of the races that she entered, but what really made me notice her was the fact that last year her winning time at the Sunshine Coaster race was the fastest women's time overall, and then at the Western Open she had the fastest women's time overall by 37 seconds.
So far in her first season as a pro she's placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the Northwest Cup races, and she finished 5th in the Sea Otter DH. She also managed to win the Sunshine Coaster again this year, beating out well known Canadian downhiller Micayla Gatto by almost 5 seconds. Her time at that race was less than 14 seconds off the Elite Men's win, and would have placed her 4th in the 17-18 male category. Not bad at all for a 16 year old girl. I've spent a bit of time shooting and hanging out with Holly in the past few months, read on to find out a little bit more about her.
The BasicsHow long have you been riding? Since I was 3 years old.
How long have you been racing? 3 full seasons, this being my fourth.
Best result? They have all been good!
Career highlight? Right here, right now, all summer long!
The Details So you race mountain bikes, how did it start?
Boys. Really cute boys...then somewhere along the line I started riding for me (falling in love with DH didn't take me long). I also love the outdoors, I love to travel and meet new people, and my family have always been bad ass mountain bikers; which inevitably, rubbed off on me. Kidding, but actually, I love people, and the fact that I could be surrounded by people who all share a mutual love for such a unique, new and exciting sport was absolutely irresistible to me.
There is no other sport that at this point in my life that I want to do more, and I have a fiery desire to make it as a professional athlete. After I earn a rainbow jersey, I plan on taking that party straight to the Olympics.
XC is punishment, DH is play. Kidding, once again. XC is actually a wonderful thing, and I enjoy XC races very much. But I have never felt an adrenaline rush even close to the ones I experience the ENTIRE ride, while shredding DH. Maybe there isn't a ton of money to be earned in racing the DH discipline right now, but it's what makes me truly happy, and I know that soon downhill will shock the world and receive the audience it deserves! XC will always be on my agenda, and maybe in the near future I will hit up a few big XC races...see where I stand.
There are so many incredible riding adventures to be had for me, but so far, nothing has topped the perfect combination of loam, rocks, steeps, roots, and hero dirt of home.
Yes! Definitely. Honestly, they ALL inspire me. But so far, one that has really stood out to me is Mellisa Buhl. I have only met her once, and really don't know too much about her, other than she wears pretty make up, is really sweet and is dangerously fast. I had a quick conversation with her after Sea Otter and she told me that throughout her amazingly successful racing career she had been going to med school. WHAT!? I was blown away and filled with inspiration when she shared with me that she is a soon going to be a doctor, all while having a whole other career as a pro athlete MTB'er. This confirms that my many dreams can be achieved, and I don't have to just choose one, anything is possible. Girl Power.
Awesome! I never have to worry about girls all over my boy! But I can't wait until the numbers balance out a little more. Downhill mountain biking is extremely powerful in the way of inspiring women. I've seen it, and I've felt it. Once exposed a little more, mountain biking will ignite the ambition in many women to get up, push their limits, and go beyond their comfort zones to realize their strength and potential as an athlete, and most importantly as a person.
I have been dancing since I was 7, and dance still holds a very special place in my heart. After the race season, I get right back into it for most of the winter. Ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, hip hop; you name it, I'll dance it! I also love yoga, and practice it most days. I live right on the water so kayaking is right up my ally! Behind my house in the lush green forest there is a never ending series of hiking trails, that I love to run on. I used to be a little soccer superstar, and still love to kick the ball around when ever I get the chance. I think if it wasn't mountain bike racing, it would have been soccer. I love to snowboard, skiing is fun too, I am just a green run kind of gal when it comes to the skis though, haha. At some point, I want to get right into surfing. Heck, I love it all and I'm going to do it all-and GoPro it all too!
More Personal Stuff Girly or Tomboy?
GIRLY!!
Dresses or Jeans?
BOTH!
Favorite riding clothes?
TLD
Tea or Coffee?
Tea.
Makeup?
Absafreakingloutley. But only the natural and organic kind where they don't exploit animals.
Pink or Black?
Oooooooooooo. They both look really hot.
In 5 years…?
Legal in the US...
Holly has just kicked off a fundraising campaign to raise the money she needs to make it to this year's World Championships in Leogang-Saalfelden, Austria.
Holly and her team are giving away some great perks including postcards, posters, t-shirts, and complete Kranked DVD box sets. For a contribution as low as $5 you could win a chance to spend a full day mountain biking with Holly herself at Crankworx in August! To learn more and become a contributor, go to:
indiegogo.com/hollysquest
Having said that I was happy to see lots of riding pics. I neglected to watch the video. After reading the comments, I don't think I can bear it. I have a daughter, and loathe the idea of her ever being sexually exploited.
Photographer: Lets see,.....I know, WET T-SHIRT ftw!!
She´s probably a great biker but you shot that to pieces with the first pic, and saying she chose it means nothing. You took it.
Lame, old, and truly sad. Lost any/all respect for you and Pinkbike.
i'm 41 and i'm old enough to be her father. but i find her really beautyfull. is that a terrible sin?
must of us (20+) would have killed to have a girl like Holly (shredder and gorgeous)
if you see SEX instead of a nice girl then the problem is your own
at least that's my reaction... unsee - unsubscribe, get it the fk out of my dashboard, I wish I've never opened that article, I wish I've never commented...
Legal in the US...
what a girl! haha. nice write up, hopfully see her ripping it up in the WC soon
just watched the video aswell, her riding style is alot like a guys she looks really in control of the bike, not like shes being taken for a ride by it. you go girl haha
your absolutley right!!
You gonna tell me you would take a photo of any male rider in the same 'atmosphere' as that shot of this young girl in the water. Bullshit.
I looked at this article ONLY to see if you had done it again, and of course, you have. Any PB member old enough to be this girl's father (like me) is either feeling the same way as me or is an old creep.
Note: It would be pretty funny for a bunch of ugly downhill dudes to do a "sexy" photoshoot and then act all upset that they are treated like sexual objects.
/sarcasm
Boys. Really cute boys"
Sounds like objectifing herself is her modus operandi, anyway. Ian is just doing what he does best: bringing out the person.
In a sport dominated by guys, it doesnt hurt to be a good looking girl, in fact its quite an advantage. Might as well take advantage of it.
Good article, good riding. For all you haters out there, lighten up.
I hardly doubt Ian would willingly risk his whole reputation as a photographer by posting this so please move on and stop being so hypocritical, www.pinkbike.com/photo/6819038 I do believe this is in your favorites.
(not like you haven't seen a women i 300 years)
and this is crazy
but heres my number - 0254 6546 616
call me maybe?
"Holly, I really think we should only have shots of you riding. You'll be successful in this business only if people know how good of a rider you are."
That's like telling the attractive young girl that she shouldn't go into modeling, and once she's a model that she shouldn't pursue acting, and once she's acting she shouldn't start her own production company.
Danica Patrick learned a long time ago that if she was going to make her mark on racing that she'd have to use both her brains, her skills, and her sex appeal. She's still out there to win, but at the end of the day people recognize her much more than Greg Biffle. Do you even know what Greg Biffle look like?
You ask anyone who Michèle Mouton is and they'll give you a blank stare. Not because she wasn't good, she was very good, but she just didn't have that intense coverage.
I'm not trying to justify myself, just explain where I'm coming from.
And yes, that many men equate a woman in water (especially an attractive one like Holly) with sex--whether Holly intended that or not with her choice, it's the sad truth. Pretty much every other image of a woman in water is sexual, so despite her having a full DH kit on, that's where guys' minds are gonna go. And yeah, it's true that these comments aren't made about men for similar photos, because men aren't generally objectified. Women still are. That's the reality I'm talking about that I'd love to see change: similar photos of either pro men or women eliciting the same comments and reactions, which should generally be about their riding. But sadly, we're not there yet.
I appreciate that your photos evoke a response. That first shot is beautiful and, obviously, evocative--that would still be the case if it were included with the other lifestyle shots. I just wish the truly amazing riding shots were getting as much attention, because few women represent like that on a bike. Nice work to you both.
"On fire this race season" were the words I was hoping people would associate with the photo. courtneywylie, thanks, the photo was supposed to be beautiful, not sexually suggesting, to me it is very symbolic.
**There were numerous comments on how I don't know what I'm doing, and how I just want attention...blah blah..Just gotta say...I feel like this might be a little to much info, but I have a boyfriend, whom I love deeply, and trust me I have ZERO desire for anymore male attention. ** ...(cont)
As for everyone else, I am proud of everything in this article, I stand by it all, no regrets. Lol, I gotta admit, the G-Spot video is pretty funny, and I blush a little every time I watch it. I can see where the people who disagree are all coming from, but if I could speak with each of you face to face, I'm sure I could assure you that I am confident with what I am doing, and am not going in the wrong direction. I may be only (17 in a month..) 16, but I come from a place where things start very early, and believe me when I say, I am fully aware of the power of being an attractive female in a male dominant sport has. I say that with a lot of experience (please don't take that the wrong way!), and I take serious pride in being a role model, staying classy always, and staying true to myself. This is only the beginning to a very positive, and successful career for me. Outside of racing, I am a very artistic person, with an open mind and a love for photography. My intentions with the first photo have art, style and sass written all over it!
Thanks everyone for the positive comments, I appreciate all the support. And for the others, I also appreciate your concerns, but you can relax because I already have a wonderful team of people looking out for me, who I trust..and everything is under control!!
I look at it from a marketing perspective - she makes the Troy lee clothes look hot and still girly, yet she rides better than most guys! I would like to see more sport clothing actually modeled by real athletes!
I like the article and the photos - shows girls that u can have it all! Feel beautiful and like a woman and shred on a bike! I love the women who ride segment - I get inspired by these girls and excited to see such talent coming forward!
Good luck Holly - cant wait to cheer u on as u win those rainbow stripes one day soon!
Maybe you did get that it would conjure that kind of response and it didn't bother you--either way, my point is that getting other people's perspectives when you are working on promotional images are never a bad thing. It sounds like you and Ian really debated it, which is all an athlete can ask for! Even Ian didn't get why a picture of a young woman in water was such a big deal, so I sent him that Google images link too. It does sound like you have a good team, and I've never doubted that you've got a good head on your dirt-shredding shoulders. Maybe it's me, but I just wish you'd lead with your awesome riding photos. Regardless, I'll contribute to your campaign because I'd love to see you killing it on the WC circuit.
But that being said, my new desktop ended up being the 7th one down due to the awesome lighting and intense look from the rider.
Holly, I've read your comments. You seem like a strong, confident and intelligent girl, with a bright future. You may see this all differently in 20 years. I am glad you are aware of the power of being an attractive female. Do you have any empathy for a less attractive talented rider, who will receive little attention based on their looks? Do you like that women are evaluated with different criteria than men in this sport/industry?
All I was saying is that attractive women have used their looks to gain them more media coverage, more sponsorships, and more name recognition. There is nothing wrong with an attractive and successful young women taking advantage of her looks to gain prominence. Actors and actresses do it all the time. Do we say "Brad Pitt shouldn't be so damn sexy!"
Should Holly NOT take advantage of her good looks? Should she not take advantage of her humor and wit? Should she not take full advantage of her strength and stamina and skill?
I for one think that she should take advantage of whatever God gave her, including the advice of those women riders who have been there and done that.
Isn't the headline "Women Who Ride Holly Feniak"? Hahaha. I think people on here are taking it all way too seriously. I read the article, watched the video and looked at the photos and thought everyone had done a great job. Well done Holly, I wish I had half your skills (and balls, as it were) at your age.
Chill out. Not even a big deal. Get over it. She's a cute girl and conducts herself in a mature/respectable manner. Not once in the article did I think she was setting a bad example for female riders nor did I feel offended.
Get the frak over yourselves already... After watching the interview vid I found it very obvious that not only is she quite intelligent, advanced beyond her years, but she has a very strong constitution. I am quite sure that Holly had more to say about what pics were used than you give her credit for. Furthermore Holly's own words set the course and tone of the interview, again I am sure that she was very aware of what she was saying and the ramifications therein.
Now take into consideration the fact that she is still considered as a juvenile. therefore, her parents have the legal right to veto anything that they feel is inappropriate also comes into play.
Holly is a beautiful young lady in every way... but more importantly a beautiful human being... and is well on her way to a superstar status, be that in the uber cool world of MTB... or in her chosen unrelated, and yet to be determined, career path... or both.
There are no limits to what we (you) can achieve, aside from the limits we (you) set for ourselves (yourself).
Then I went back and read that she's 16. Felt a little old and creepy but that's not her problem. She still rips and is pretty regardless of what I say. So, keep killing it, Holly. You'll be too fast for people to care about your age, gender or looks.
"Her time at that race was less than 14 seconds off the Elite Men's win, and would have placed her 4th in the 17-18 male category." Just goes to show how true that is.
Keep destroying those course times Holly!!!
Saw the title and I went straight for the comments.
Another classic list of comments, pedobike.com in full swing again.
I guess I'll say hi to her when she rips past me on a hill!
*Giggle* Ah... Pinkbike
I enjoyed the honesty and that she spoke her mind
thanks!
www.pinkbike.com/video/259116
Had to, sorry!
'In 5 years..' WC podium?
ALSO I FRIGGIN WANNA WIN A DAY OF RIDING WITH THAT CHICK I HAVE LOVED HER FOR SOOOOOOOOOO LONG AND WOULD LOVE TO LEARN FROM HER!!!! PICK ME NOT SOME RANDO LOVESICK DUDE!!!!