Pinkbike Academy Winner Florencia Espiñeira Joins Orbea

 I think a lot of sponsor scouts spend most of their time in North America, Europe, and Australia/NZ, but there are great riders all over the world. It's really unfortunate that amazing riders like Flo have to wait for a mediocre reality tv show to get onto a team, just because they don't live in areas where mountain biking is really prevalent.

 @danielfloyd: I mean, anyone posting top 10 finishes at EWS races should not be a privateer for a single season, nonetheless multiple seasons.

 @HB208: I guess it shows you how hard it is for racers out there.

 @danielfloyd: I disagree. Mountain Biking as a sport is more prevalent in Chile than most countries or regions you mention. I live in the US but was born in Chile and travel yearly with my bike to visit family and ride. I have also traveled to ride to many pleases in the East and West coast and in no town I have visited in the US, including Sedona, is the MTB scene more prevalent than in Chile. After work hours you find pick up trucks with enduro and DH bikes heading to trails everywhere. There are trails in the middle of the city, and everywhere in the surrounding Andes. I struggle to find a city the size of Santiago that has more mountain bikers, bike shops or trails per capita. Keep in mind that Chile hosts some of the most important Enduro races in the world like Andes Pacifico and the Enduro World Series has traditionally raced here every other year. Also, Valparaiso Cerro Abajo is probably the most iconic urban DH race in the world. The fact Flo has not has gotten a major sponsor contract is a failure of the major manufacturers more than anything. Chilean riders Pedro Burns and Nico Prudencio have had factory rides in the past and Flo is at their level or not higher. I really hope this opportunity results in Flo finally receiving the recognition and success she has earned and deserves.

 Porque?

 @veryfastbiker69: ahí dicen que irá a algunas carreras seleccionadas, y además creación de videos. Y por lo que estuve mirando, no forma parte del orbea enduro team

 Jesus. And it begins.

 Good point. It's a surprising oversight in a marketing post. I didn't hear them address their pronouns on PBA, so maybe it's something they're just making public? Hopefully Orbea and PB get on top of this.

 @HunterTrow: Whatever it is I hope it is respected, the industry is a couple of years behind on this stuff

 I said the same thing just over a day ago, and it got down voted into oblivion. I cant quite understand why a comment like this gets so many negative votes? Its all made in good faith, just pointing out an oversight that could easily be amended.

 @Bangbrosbike: the respect for people's identities? Here's hoping!

 @shoreboy1866: it would be really easy for them to fix and go a long way toward inclusion in the sport. Sorry to hear that your comment was downvoted - I personally appreciate you speaking up about it!

 @HunterTrow: I hope so too. I would think their marketing team would be all over it.