2012 Sugar Showdown Announced

May 20, 2012
by Ian Hylands  
Sweetlines, the women-focused, woman-led, mountain bike coaching service today announced the Sugar Showdown, a freeride mountain bike event to be held at Duthie Hill Park in Issaquah, Washington, on July 7-8, 2012. The first of its kind in the northwestern United States, the women-only event is hosted by pro rider and certified coach Kat Sweet and will feature one day of coaching and one day of competition for both pro and amateur participants.

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Pro coaches from across North America will join Sweet for the two-day training and competition weekend, which will focus on improving technical skills in a fun, supportive and safe environment. “There are going to be some amazing women riding in this event,” said Sweet. “These women who are coming out are nothing but supportive and encouraging towards other female riders.”

Women riders of all experience levels are encouraged to attend. On Saturday, the team of coaches will offer workshops and classes concentrated on jumps, drops, wall rides and berms. On Sunday, riders can show off what they learned by competing for different prizes on the various freeride courses and features in Duthie Hill Park. Prizes will be awarded to both pros and amateurs.

Sponsors who have signed on for the event include Body Armor, MuddBunnies, Deity, Superco, Gregg’s Cycles, Trek and Lumberyard. Filmmaker Mark Brent, known for his recent project, Awesome Land: Women Of Dirt, will be filming the event. “The Sugar Showdown is sponsored by awesome people—all these sponsors are showing the mountain biking community that getting women on bikes is important,” said Sweet. “It’s time for women to show the world what we can do on a bike.”

Event Details:
Who: Sweetlines
What: Sugar Showdown
Where: Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park, Issaquah, Washington
When: July 7-8, 2012

About Sweetlines: Pro rider and certified coach Kat Sweet channels 25 years of mountain biking experience into Sweetlines, a mountain bike coaching and training service for women. For more information, visit www.sweetlines.com.

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50 Comments
  • 90 9
 a couple of my mates ride like girls are they allowed to enter ?
  • 18 1
 @sarsar06, I think many of these guys commenting can relate with always playing catch up. They are clearly struggling to keep up on a conceptual level.
  • 7 2
 It's just like every other sport, all the way up to Olympics. It's not a matter of equality its just the fact that men and women are built different, and men's categories are generally much more competitive than women's categories. How many women would actually compete if they had to race in open divisions with men? The answer is less, and that's no bueno if you want more women riding mountain bikes
  • 4 3
 There's no wonder why there arent many female mountain bikers. This thread starts with sexist jokes and then ends with someone trying to logically justify why men are better than women, ha.
  • 5 4
 Any males who think they are superior need to spend a weekend at Whistler. That rider that just passed you? Female? Yes - and she is likely a teenage kid.

Great idea for this event. My daughter will be there.
  • 2 3
 Take a look at some gravity event times dude... I never said men are better than women, but for the same categories on average they are slower than men. I'll be the first to admit that there are plenty of women who are faster and better at riding than I am, but that's why I race cat 2, not cat 1 or pro. I was addressing why fedz suggestion of coed open categories makes no sense; I was not saying men are better than women
  • 47 0
 Why so many trolls on PinkBike.... I think having events like this is a great idea! We all say we want women to become more involved with this sport, this is def a great way to do so. So man, shut up and start supporting them more!
  • 18 1
 Can we get this comment moved to the top? Be nice to see this first instead of a bunch of inconsiderate morons making bad jokes.
  • 5 0
 Especially since the comment came from a guy who has the name bukakkilegend...Seems more than appropriate!
  • 2 0
 horlicks- I'm pretty sure Kat could school your ass on a bike any day. Hop across the pond, put on a wig and compete. You might just get embarrassed.
  • 29 8
 Somewhere , tens of people are cheering wildly....
  • 4 4
 Hahahaha
  • 7 0
 I feel sad for some of the boys that can't quite understand how exciting this is for women in the sport. I am lucky to live in a part of the world where there are tons of women on the trails and all the men I have met respect and support them. For the boys that just don't get it, they probably never will. Some (not all) women improve their skills ten fold when riding with other women, they trust each others lines more, the fear factor goes away when they see a peer doing big stunts/drops. It's one thing to see my boyfriend do a big stunt and say "you can do this" and another to see a female rider do the same. I think for the most part (and of course there are exceptions) Women take a slightly different approach to how they ride. That being said I have learned a ton from riding with my boys, but when I ride with the girls in my group I have a lot more of a "I can do that too attitude!"
  • 7 1
 Kat Sweet kicks ass end of story. She gives so much back to the sport and helps womens mtb grow so much. If you don't give her mad props your just lost. Way to go Kat! Gibber
  • 5 0
 But I can say yes this is pritty much a male domanated sport but it would be Awsome for the girls to come out and ride with us after all we would be nothing with out The support of our female counterparts
  • 4 0
 This event is going to rock! Big props to all the women that are putting on events this year. Kat, Tammy, myself, this is so important for the progression of womens mountain biking. I am sad to hear that Darcy wont be having See Jane Jump this year, but you know she'll be back at it ASAP... and Ray's Women's Weekends are here to stay. We need more continuing events in all regions, from many of the amazing and strong female leaders out there. And we need more media coverage to spread the word, so more ladies know this is going on! It makes me sad to hear ladies complain of having no one to ride with or to teach them... we are all out here, we just have to find eachother!
  • 4 0
 WOMEN'S FREERIDE MOVEMENT on the front page of Pinkbike - that's what I'm talking about! Women at the top of the sport helping other women improve. Kat, Tammy, etc, thank you. And props to Ian Hylands for recognizing the importance of these events.
  • 2 0
 At Duthie hill??? Thats interesting... I've rode there tonnes, now other small cities can see what is possible to build for a local in-town bike park. Good exposure for the location. It will be packed Im sure.
  • 4 0
 Kay Sweet rocks!, so do the rest of our PNW Pixies.. This comp will be super cool
  • 1 0
 Quality event, and it does have tongues wagging, I don't think the top remarks are being taken how they are meant, yes they compare men who ride slow to women....that's just cause women generally are slower and more cautious, and comparing a man to women is degrading because it suggests he lacks his manhood, it would only be sexiest to that women can't ride, which has not been mentioned, so let's all just kick eachothers arsed out on the trails! or admire them Wink
  • 3 0
 Im way stoked for this! These are great ideas I wish we had more events like this. And hey I know some super fast ladies so the boys need to be quiet.
  • 4 0
 Great job getting this going Kat. Hope this event is a huge success!
  • 4 1
 @horlicks101 Well, if they ride as good as Anne Caroline Chausson, Tracey Hannah etc, I reckon they might be ok.
  • 5 3
 Seems a bit odd after the article about female riders the other day. Not really into the his and hers in sport, aren't we all into sexual equality these days.
  • 10 2
 This has nothing to do with sexual equity. The fact that it's such a male dominated sport makes these type of events fun for the ladies, who alot of times are the only girl on the ride with a bunch of dudes. I would be a little stoked to be the only male on a ride with a bunch of girls, but I imagine it would get old after awhile, so these events are justifiable. Also a great place for the ladies to meet new friends to ride with.
  • 2 0
 *equality
  • 1 0
 Not all girls want to be surrounded by the standard, egotistical, 'we're better than you' attitude played by the usual slow dudes at riding spots. It's got nothing to do with equality, and lots to do with allowing the girls an opportunity to ride with other girls. Remember that as guys, most of our riding buds are other guys, it's not the same for girls. Just look at events like Crankworx where there aren't any girls for a start if you want to begin a conversation about equality...
  • 1 0
 Maybe not expressed myself in the right way here. A lot of the girls I know who ride bikes/ski/skate etc, say they would prefer to compete alongside guys. I guess it's down to the individual though. I did not mean to come across as rude or sexist, it is afterall only an opinion.
  • 3 0
 Only the beginning of an incredible expansion of women's freeride Smile
  • 2 0
 oh, and its not in seattle.... its in issaquah 35 min away from seattle
  • 2 1
 I hate all that pink girly-ness stuff, but having a women's FR competition like this is awesome!
  • 2 0
 nothing wrong with more emily battys in the sport
  • 2 1
 Poster is missing something....I know, it needs more PINK! Otherwise a cool event, good luck to anyone involved.
  • 1 0
 Sweet! I wish I could make it out this year...can't wait to hear how it goes!
  • 1 0
 Thanks to all of you supporters out there!
  • 1 0
 This is an any ones sport
  • 1 0
 And any one that thinks different should wake up
  • 1 0
 the first contest i see women participating
  • 1 0
 Nice work, Kat. You're the best!
  • 1 0
 MARK BRENT -- WOMEN OF DIRT 2 pleeeeeeeeeeease!!
  • 1 0
 Mark's about to drop a Kickstarter campaign for Sugar Showdown.
  • 2 1
 pink pink!
  • 1 0
 Why is it so far away Frown
  • 4 0
 Because it's on another continent. Duh.

Smile
  • 3 4
 will the winners all pose with guys in tight revealing clothes? Big Grin
  • 3 0
 Too bad, but no. Really too bad, because equality in objectifying is something I can support. Here's why not: 1. Most men are too big - they dominate the visual field instead of just decorating the winning women. 2. Podium girls are picked to look all alike - interchangeable. Getting men to have the same hair color, cut, and facial hair is not as easy. 3. Most importantly, our society doesn't decorate with men enough so the podium boys would get too much attention. Even you, taletotell, thought the idea was hilarious.
  • 1 0
 thanks for getting what I was about though.
  • 2 0
 Get some horse jockeys, there all un-imposing in stature, and fit as a fiddle Wink
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