Interview: Katie Holden Explains How Formation Is More Than "Women's Rampage"
Katie Holden has been leading the charge on women's freeride for years. And now she's spearheading a project that's brought some of the world's top female riders to Utah to test themselves against the rugged terrain of the 2015 Rampage site. We sat down with Katie to learn a bit more about Formation.
What is Formation?
Formation is a women’s freeride progression session, and an opportunity to give the girls the tools to learn, grow, and push women’s freeride forward. We’re at the 2015 Rampage site, with 6 women creating lines and riding them. It’s not a competition, it’s about learning the process.
The format is 2 days of digging, then 1 day of rest, and then 2 full days of riding. There’s also a curriculum layer with some workshops for some dialogue around women in action sports. Developing those skills, talking about what that looks like and how we can be a part of it.
We have Micayla Gatto, Tahnee Seagrave, Vaea Verbeeck, Veronique Sandler, Hannah Bergemann, and Vinny Armstrong out here, and each of them brought two diggers along. Some of the diggers are girls we think potentially will take part in the camp in future years. There are also Casey Brown, Tara Geiger, Michelle Parker, Rebecca Rusch, and Jill Kintner out here to help support and make this happen. Tyler McCaul and Carson Storch are also involved and we appreciate their support.
How did the event come to be?
At the beginning, I personally had a dream to compete at Rampage one day. And the path to that dream was to go out to Rampage and digging every year, riding with the guys, and putting myself in a position where I could grow. At the end of the day I didn’t have what it takes on my own, but I learned all the tools in the process.
I’ve been dreaming about a women’s camp in my sketchbook for years. I’ve made all these little business plans, but never really outwardly expressed…
Then last year at Rampage we had a bunch of girls together and a few people at Red Bull and had this great round table discussion. That led to this summer, when I was in touch with Red Bull and asked if this is something they would like to do, and they were 100% behind it.
What do you hope to achieve?
First off, the goal is not just a “Women’s Rampage.” We’re doing this so we can grow as a group, and find the right path for us. We don’t know what that path is just yet, but this is an important part of it.
On a top level, we have three “Pillars of Formation” that are goals for each of the athletes here. The goal is for each of them to progress and develop as a freeride athlete, develop the future of women’s freeride, and refine one’s personal brand and leadership skills.
But mostly, there’s just a real power in seeing 6 girls out here charging.
How has it gone so far?
The builds are done and the girls are riding this weekend.
It was really cool to see that “exposure therapy” at work. When we first arrived I saw real fear in the girls’ eyes, but within an hour there was a total transformation, with everyone seeing lines and getting excited. After a few days the comfort level has just skyrocketed.
I am so excited to see the girls feed off each other this weekend. They’re super supportive. I’m also really excited to see Hannah Bergermann ride. She’s a dark horse for sure, not many people have seen her ride, and it’s very obvious how good she is out here.
I think there are some nerves now as well, but there’s a lot of confidence too. They know what they’re capable of and have good judgement. There’s no competitive pressure here, we just want them to progress in whatever way feels natural and right for them.
I think there are some nerves now as well, but there’s a lot of confidence too. They know what they’re capable of and have good judgement. There’s no competitive pressure here, we just want them to progress in whatever way feels natural and right for them.
Awesome. We're looking forward to seeing what goes down this weekend!
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I've had to make a similar decision while backcountry skiing. I could wait for hours for a helicopter, or try to ski out and get driven to emerg - turned out to be a lot faster.
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KATHY PRUITT is one tough girl. ON a DH Freeride expedition I witnessed a rock fall off a mountain side and hit her so hard that her helmet broke biting her tongue while her seat broke from the post by the impact and threw and her bike over the edge clinging to some foliage 4 feet down. This was in Jamaica half way down an 11 mile descent. NO chopper rescue available. McCaul and Ebbett saved her life as I was just the 3rd arm of the chain lifting her to safety. Kyle and Cam then rescued her bike that was 12 feet down the side of Blue Mountain stuck on a tree growing from the mountain side. She spit out a mouthful of blood and told me to pack her post her pack as she turned around. Then tossed the seat to the mountain groms and said..LETS BOOGIE and then straitened her bars and ripped another 4.5 miles constantly dropping me. One tough cookie I will admire my whole life. Not just an ambassador of dirt but an actually wonderful human.
Surprising @chelseasendsit didn't get a invite though, tons of experience riding that area and hucks flips!
I love the progression. I love that there's workshops on how to better promote & build the culture.
I also hope that it's well represented from the media in the future.
Some of y’all guys have no shame.
It’s not televised, competitive or judged, so no. It’s much more like a Fest event at the rampage site.
Divas of Dirt?
The ladies of rampage can handle snark but apparently PB mods cant
Also there’s literally hundreds of supportive comments, then down at the very bottom there’s you. Do you really think the problem is with them and the event or your incel whiny asses?
It’s an event set up by women for women so they can ride their bikes and get better at certain aspects of being a pro mtb athlete. That’s all.
I'll never understand the need to pretend women 'measure up' to men in extreme sports, that shouldn't even really be the point.
It's a casual fun event because thats how the riders wanted it and from what I have read not really supported by rampage and redbull (could be wrong but my perception)
And honestly keeping it fun, not judged really brings free ride back to its roots, ya know cuz bikes are fun.
There are so many Cheetos-Fingers comments on this article