Girls Who Ride - Cierra Smith
15 year old Cierra Smith has been riding bikes for 8 years and racing for 5. With five National titles already under her belt she is well on her way to becoming one of the top women DH racers in the US, and possibly the World. Besides the National titles she also placed first in her age group in pretty much every race she entered this past year, including the US Open and the Crankworx Air DH. This year she'll be racing as a 16 year old, so it will be interesting to watch how she does...
You race mountain bikes, how did it start? My grandpa used to race road bikes, then he and my dad got into mountain biking. My dad raced downhill and started taking me riding DH, and ever since my dad showed it to me I've been in love with the whole aspect of riding.
Why do you race? I race because it's fun and I love the competitive adrenaline rush I get from going fast and riding dangerous terrain.
1st place US Open
What made you choose DH instead of XC? I was just introduced to DH first, but even now that I'm older I still enjoy DH more because XC is to boring for me. The only reason I ride XC now is because it's good training.
Crankworx Air DH
Scariest moment on a bike? Oh gosh, my scariest moment would have to be at Crankworx this year in my race run for the Air DH. I was going down the long straight downhill section and was pedaling and one of my pedals caught a rock, which sent me flying forward. My stomach was resting on my handlebars and I rode like that for what seemed like forever, but luckily I was able to ride it out and keep going. All I could think in my head was, “Oh gosh, all your hard work being thrown away." It was bad.
Happy after her win in the Air DH at Crankworx
Favorite place to ride? It’s a toss up between Northstar at Tahoe and Whistler.
What influences you in racing, who do you look up to? The young girls that I meet and that look up to me really influence me because I'm showing them that a girl can do anything, such as be good and do well at a mostly male dominated sport. I personally really look up to Rachel Atherton and Kathy Pruitt, because they both started racing young and became successful just as one day I hope I become.
Are you inspired by any pro women DH racers, which ones? Melissa Buhl, Rachel Atherton, Kathy Pruitt, Leigh Donovan and Katie Holden.
You're a girl, how does it feel in a sport that's predominantly male? It's kind of intimidating sometimes, but I love it because I stick out like a sore thumb because I'm a girl who can ride and I like to challenge the boys.
Do you participate in any other sports? Cross training? I play Volleyball, but mostly just all types of biking, Dirt Jumping, XC, FR etc...I’m going to start riding moto as soon as possible, I have done it before and love it.
Some More Personal Stuff… Girly or Tomboy? Girly, but my tomboy side makes appearances often.
Dresses or Jeans? Definitely jeans.
Favorite riding clothes? Riding pants and a sweatshirt.
Tea or Coffee? Gross, neither. Hot Chocolate!
Makeup? Yes, I love wearing it.
Pink or Black? Pink.
In 5 years…? Hopefully traveling the world doing what I love most…riding my bike.
Cierra Smith is proudly sponsored by:
Specialized bikes
Allride Academy
Deity
SRAM – Truvativ, Rockshox, Avid
MRP
Arestic
Smith Optics
OG’s Bicycle
Black Rock Bicycles
Team Hacksaw
Fox Racing
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I like what you're trying to do hear but you need to keep it more Pinkbike and less Tiger Beat.
The reason they don't ask men and women the same questions in interviews is because men and women are different. The fact that they ride or whatever doesn't change the fact that they're women.
I, for one, enjoy the difference between men and women. It's cool to me that you can meet a chick that rides and still ask her on a date and still recognize that femininity.
Pink or Black, who cares? Makeup, who cares? Actually a lot of people including men and women care, and that's what matters. I appreciate your opinion, but that's not why I created the questions.
I'm just being a critical consumer of media. So again, I appreciate your response.
correction by pokede: with LONG hair
Oh BTW NORTHSTAR FTW (unless you don't like dust)
Because I would like to say I ride trails not XC but some may say the trails are XC
Jeans or dress, Girly or Tomboy, Make up, Pink or Black ?
Or is that just me =)
archi,
Men and women are different on in that we have different reproductive organs. Almost everything else is a product of socialization. For instance, a woman who has a lot of sexual partners is called a 'slut' while a dude is most likely referred to as a 'playa'. While they have similar libidos, the woman is defamed for the same behavior the man is respected and maybe envied for.
Further, I'm not saying that a woman (or a man for that matter) can't express her femininity freely but that it should be left up to her and not to journalists asking leading questions, especially in a medium which is meant to report on a sport and the lifestyle of it's athletes. If Cierra Smith were well known for attending fashion shows then sure, ask a question about whether or not she likes jeans vs. dresses. However, articles like these only highlight the fact that these athletes are women. Not that these women are athletes. For evidence of this count how many dudes are talking about how "hot" this YOUNG woman is and whether or not she is gay.
I have a three year old son and don't want him growing up treating his female peers as if they are some how collectively different. I want him to know that each of us are individuals and deserve to be treated as such.
Do you really want your son treating women like men? Walking up to his girlfriend, slugging her in the arm, wrestling her to the ground, and making her tap? Or would you rather he opens doors for her, buys her flowers, and actually treats her like she's special?
Oh and the "playa" vs "slut" comparison stems from the male's instinct to chase and a female's instinct to sift through her suitors, and pick her favorite. This is actual scientific fact as the same thing is shown in the animal kingdom. I'm not saying it's "right", I'm just saying that it's not entirely the product of human society.
I don't understand why some women perceive the fact that men and women are different as a bad thing and try to negate it. Especially when those same women would most certainly be offended beyond belief if they were to truly witness a woman being treated like a man.
I agree, that evolutionarily and biologically speaking, men's primary objective is to spread their genes and ensure they live on. Conversely, womens' objective, because they are biologically saddled with the responsibility of bringing up the offspring, is to be as selective as possible and choose the best mate. However, this has absolutely nothing to do with a woman being viewed as a slut if she has a lot of sexual partners. It's a social construct. It's why it's considered an accomplishment for a young man to have sex with a virgin. So, when you take breeding out of the equation, what's the difference?
As far as how you and your friends treat each other, that sounds like a personal problem.
Anyway, I think this conversation has gotten far beyond the pages of Pinkbike. My only point was that while I think it's great to spotlight women riders the emphasis should be put on their skills, ability and background. Not on whether or not they wear makeup.
however, well done to have all that at 15, its almost definate that she will be in the wc in later years.
Interviewer: Tea or Coffee?
Me: Neither. Cierra Smith
anyway
both are beautiful the rider and the bike...hehe
go for it, and good luck for next season!!!!