Pin it Girls Gravity Team - 2014 Season Review by rachelridesmtb

We are a group of women in the Rocky Mountains who ride and race gravity mountain bike events including Enduro, Downhill and Dual Slalom. Our team is the first of it's kind in our area, and we are excited to promote this sport we love. In 2014, Pin it Girls had four podiums at Gravity Nationals, multiple wins at Central States Cup races, and a sixth place overall in the Big Mountain Enduro series. We want to thank our 2014 sponsors; Angel Fire Bike Park, Smith Optics, MTB Racing Solutions, Sombrio, Sirius Cycles, and Rbrad Designs.

Ready to roll at Angel Fire Bike Park, Angel Fire, NM.

We are a team of gravity riders, but we come from diverse backgrounds. Some of us started racing XC, and a couple of team members come from a Moto background, like Makayla Weist from Salt Lake City, UT.

There is nothing better than women riding together and encouraging our growth as racers and mountain bikers. The synergy of pushing each other in competition and gaining confidence together is magical. It’s no different coaching our mini pinners…they benefit just the same! One of the big team events this season was USA Cycling Gravity Nationals at Angel Fire, NM. Team members Jennifer Risley and Jill Blecke swept the podium with a one-two in the Cat 2, 30-39 Women DH Event.

Rachel Weaver with a podium in Cat 1 Women at USA Cycling Gravity Nationals, Angel Fire, NM.

Team member Kristen Naber went for the overall in the Big Mountain Enduro Series. She raced five multiple-day events over the summer and rocked it with a sixth place overall finish in Amateur Women. Kristen coming in hot to the finish line at the Crested Butte Ultra Enduro.

Kristen flashing her killer smile while heading out to catch the lift in Angel Fire, NM.

Enduro racing tests a racers skill over multiple days of racing with stages ranging in difficulty from proper DH runs to pedally XC trails. Kristen at the Winter Park BME showing us a flowy, bike-park style race track.

Enduro racing takes riders to beautiful locations, while testing their skills and endurance. The girls of Enduro are a tight-knit group.

Our mission is to inspire and encourage women in Downhill racing and gravity sports. More often than not, women are a minority at lift access parks and gravity events. We want to embrace the “if she can do it, I can do it” phenomenon, and show women how awesome and exciting gravity mountain biking can be. Still, female racers often end up on podiums alone, illustrating the need for more women in this sport!

Pin it Girls hosted four Women's Ride Days at Angel Fire Bike Park throughout the season. Women of all-levels were invited to ride the park with the team while learning basic skills and getting comfortable with lift-access biking. We had so much fun!