http://leighdonovan.com/blog World and U.S. National Mountain Bike Champion Leigh Donovan Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:55:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://leighdonovan.com/blog/?p=3#comment-5 leighd Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:55:14 +0000 http://leighdonovan.com/blog/?p=3#comment-5 Yeah I'm trying, xo Yeah I’m trying, xo

]]> http://leighdonovan.com/blog/?p=3#comment-4 leighd Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:55:03 +0000 http://leighdonovan.com/blog/?p=3#comment-4 Hello Kimmie, First off let me share with you my experience at my first downhill... it was 1992 Mammoth Kamikaze and I knew nothing about mountain biking or downhill for that matter but I remember after doing that race how excited I was to go to the next event, not because there was money in the sport or a lot of females getting into the sport, I just loved the way it made me feel and I wanted that feeling all the time. Today downhill racing in the female category has been faced with new challenges...In 2010 I saw why, there is very little support for them. Even on the World Cup level the industry support just isn't there anymore. I don't just blame the industry for this as many of the women do not inspire, excite or even sell product. We all have to remember our job as bike racers is also to sell product, be advocates and make the sport cool. In the DH world today most of the women just aren't doing this and because of that, the support has gone away. I do however feel that the right girl with the right direction could turn that around in a season, she just needs to come out and do it... maybe that's you! For me racing downhill gave me a life I only dreamed of and a husband a daughter that share my love of bikes and people. I say get a bike, ride with some good riders, hit up the local BMX track once a week and enter some races, who knows maybe you'll be the next Anne Caroline Chausson. Much luck to you! Happy trails, Leigh Donovan Hello Kimmie, First off let me share with you my experience at my first downhill… it was 1992 Mammoth Kamikaze and I knew nothing about mountain biking or downhill for that matter but I remember after doing that race how excited I was to go to the next event, not because there was money in the sport or a lot of females getting into the sport, I just loved the way it made me feel and I wanted that feeling all the time. Today downhill racing in the female category has been faced with new challenges…In 2010 I saw why, there is very little support for them. Even on the World Cup level the industry support just isn’t there anymore. I don’t just blame the industry for this as many of the women do not inspire, excite or even sell product. We all have to remember our job as bike racers is also to sell product, be advocates and make the sport cool. In the DH world today most of the women just aren’t doing this and because of that, the support has gone away. I do however feel that the right girl with the right direction could turn that around in a season, she just needs to come out and do it… maybe that’s you! For me racing downhill gave me a life I only dreamed of and a husband a daughter that share my love of bikes and people. I say get a bike, ride with some good riders, hit up the local BMX track once a week and enter some races, who knows maybe you’ll be the next Anne Caroline Chausson. Much luck to you! Happy trails, Leigh Donovan

]]> http://leighdonovan.com/blog/?p=3#comment-3 Kimmie Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:55:12 +0000 http://leighdonovan.com/blog/?p=3#comment-3 Hello, You are awesome!! Just wondering what your thoughts are on the current situation with female downhillers in the US. There seems to be so few racers in the results (not that there were ever very many). I am interested in getting into racing, but the lack of female riders is not encouraging. Is it the cost of DH bikes and lift tickets? Any tips for a female interested in racing in the west (CO, UT, NV area)? I have an xc background and DH seems so fun yet so intimidating. I guess I just have to save for a new bike (scared to buy used...) and go find some boys to ride with. I appreciate your time! Thanks. Hello, You are awesome!! Just wondering what your thoughts are on the current situation with female downhillers in the US. There seems to be so few racers in the results (not that there were ever very many). I am interested in getting into racing, but the lack of female riders is not encouraging. Is it the cost of DH bikes and lift tickets? Any tips for a female interested in racing in the west (CO, UT, NV area)? I have an xc background and DH seems so fun yet so intimidating. I guess I just have to save for a new bike (scared to buy used…) and go find some boys to ride with. I appreciate your time! Thanks.

]]> http://leighdonovan.com/blog/?p=3#comment-2 stikman Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:03:40 +0000 http://leighdonovan.com/blog/?p=3#comment-2 Wow, Can't believe you updated the blog so fast!! woohooo, Nice one. Wow,
Can’t believe you updated the blog so fast!! woohooo, Nice one.

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