by Lindsay Beth Currier – read full article here
If you haven’t heard by now, Dixie Trix was the first event of 2012 of what many are referring to as the Women’s Freeride Movement. Hosted by Tammy Donahugh, the SuperCo Bikes sponsored event took place over the same weekend as the Ranchstyle Mountain Bike Festival in Grand Junction, Colorado. Over the course of two days, riders participated in skills clinics and had an opportunity to compete and spectate a women’s only slopestyle contest on a course built specifically for the ladies.
photo credit: Jaci Riley
Custom built by James Flatten and crew, the Dixie Trix slopestyle course included two dirt tables, a number of wooden lips to dirt landings, a wall ride, and two ladder bridges. The course finished with a double, which can be visually intimidating to many, but was easily conquered by most of the participants with informative encouragement from their amazing coaches.
Rider shreds the wall ride
Terry Seeberg heads to the step-down
On Friday May 4th, participants began rolling in from all over North America. Greeted by the smiling faces of coaches, volunteers, and generous offerings of Kate’s Real Food bars, Bodyarmour sport drink, and Somersault snacks, students signed waiver forms and assembled into groups of similar riding ability level. Tammy was joined by guest coaches; Lindsey Voreis, Gale Dahlager, Kat Sweet, Lisa Tharp, and volunteers Samantha White, Wendy Palmer and Lindsay Beth Currier. Over the course of the morning students learned fundamental mountain bike skills and lessons tailored to shredding the features on the slopestyle course.
Lindsey Voreis keeps it organized with her mega outside voice
Hungry lady shredders were fed with delicious pizzas from the kitchen of the local Hot Tomato restaurant. Of the 26 clinic participants, 11 competed in the proceeding (word?)amateur contest which was won by Whitney Thompson of Park City, Utah. Competitors received generous prizes from Sram, Deity, Teva, Schwalbe, Native and IMBA. The top three received one of a kind necklaces from Crave Jewelry Design.
Stylish Whitney Thomspon makes hitting doubles look easy as pie
One of a kind necklace medals from Crave Jewelry
On Saturday Dixie Trix guests had the special opportunity to watch 9 pro female riders compete for a cash purse totaling $400. Event host Tammy walked away with first followed by Lisa and Gale.
Tammy X-ing it up during the Pro Slopestyle Contest
Projekt Roam, whom is currently working on an all women mountain bike film, was on site and spent much time covering the women’s course. Bonnie Miller, of Miller Event Studio, was the hired professional film maker for the event and is producing a series of short films showcasing Dixie Trix and highlighting other upcoming womens freeride events. Three videos are available below for your viewing pleasure.
Coaches Kat and Tammy spreading positivity and freeride love
Special thanks to all that helped make this event a reality. Muddbunnies, a womens gravity mountain bike group in Canada, supported the event in a big way; financially. A lot goes into making an event like this possible, and without the help of volunteers, friends, and spouses Dixie Trix could not have turned out so memorable. Big ups to both Jimmy Donahugh and Tharp for being out there to care for the slopestyle course and keep bikes running smooth.
Overall, Dixie Trix was an incredible kick-off to a season full of women-tailored freeride events. Up next is Sugar Showdown hosted by Kat Sweet July 7th and 8th in Seattle, WA followed by the second annual Queen of the MTN hosted by Lindsay Beth Currier August 11th and 12th at Mammoth Mountain, CA. For more information on other happenings in the Womens Freeride Movement please visit Shine Riders Co. and be sure to join the facebook group.
