Since 2008, I have been racing for the SoBe/Cannondale Mountain Bike Team. Although SoBe has dropped out as the title sponsor for 2009, the team will be much the same for this coming season in every aspect except for the team name. Before Cannondale, I was a member of the Yeti Grassroots XC Team (I think I was the only one), and competed for the local youth program known as Summit Jr. Cycling, where I now coach during the summer. I still support my local Cannondale dealer, Wilderness Sports, in all of the local races. 
I started mountain biking at the age of 10, when my family moved to Summit County from Denver. Although it took several seasons, I was soon a prominent rider in the youth competition in the Summit Mountain Challenge, the local series up here. In 2004, I started racing in the Mountain States Cup Series in Colorado, and other neighboring states. Since then, I have moved into the Junior Expert Category, and next season will be my first year racing professionally in NORBA events. In the Summit Mountain Challenge, I have been racing Pro/Elite for several seasons.
In addition to cycling, I enjoy photography. In the summer of 2008, I was invited as a student guest artists to the prestigious Mountain Art Gathering in Keystone, CO, where I sold over $3000 worth of my landscape photography work. I continue to persue my photography career on the side of school and cycling.
I am 17 days away from my high school graduation, and looking forward to getting out into the real-world. I decided to graduate early when the opportunity presented itself for me to travel to Switzerland to live and train. I will be staying with the Family Stirnemann, Beat, the father and a coach of the Swiss National Team, Regula, the mother, Matthias, 17, who got 9th in this years World Championships, and Kathrin, 19, who won last years European Championships. The family is excited for my extended stay, although I must say not as excited as I am to stay with them. I will be leaving mid-February, and returning in May. During this time, I will be attending several training camps (in Barcelona, ESP, Geneva, CH, and others), and racing in the Swiss Power Cup series as well as several World Cup races (USA cycling accredidation pending). 
I am excited for my future prospects as a professional mountain bike racer, and will continue to love the sport of Mountain biking, and life in general.
1 comment:
I don't know what pleases me more--the good 'ol blog that you are using--the picture of your reading what I am positive is The Fountainhead, your photography--or the picture of you at the end where you look all grown up! With your brains, and your talents, the world is an open door--Keep in mind we always have a place for you in Perth!
Mama O
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