Shine Gravity Race Team - It's Official!
ORIGINS:
There is no I in TEAM, unless it is in Sh-I-ne or Grav-I-ty. We have two more I's actually; Illuminate and Inspire. When the Shine website was first launched in 2010, our original collective of Shine riders included Mary Moncorge and Beth Roberts. These women contributed stories from their race travels and I personally followed their results, trying to write a post for every race I could. We all had different sponsors and different tastes of gravity riding, but we were all on the same team: FEMALE. My mission with Shine when I first founded it in 2008 was to create more awareness of the great riders in my area and hopefully inspire other women to follow their lead. The original collective is still out there doing just that, and I bless them, they really are true heroines in the gravity cycling realm.
But of course things always change... By 2012, Mary had moved back to France and Beth was a bit far away in Moab, but we had begun to gather more stories and inspirado from more fellow Northern Californian riders. More women in our region had begun to take gravity racing seriously, and female competitor numbers began to climb. Where I once had to scour around for race stories, I became flooded with lady riders to keep track of. Over time, I had also had built solid relationships with my personal and event sponsors, and I felt it was time to spread more love to other dedicated riders that weren't getting the support they needed. I gave away all that I could last year, but to me it was not enough. By 2013, it became obvious that it was time for Shine to have an official team.
The Shine Gravity Race Team is based primarily out of Tahoe and we are proudly supported by: Loeka, Loaded Precision Components, Kali Protectives, Smith Optics, Guayaki, Five.Ten, Happy Turtle Apparel and YeloVelo. Our overall goals for the season are to compete in as many Pro GRTs as possible, along with regional races, and inspire other women to step into racing and/or step it up to the next level. A major binding factor of our team contract is that we promise to remain positive and supportive, no matter the situation. We love our competitors, as most of us can remember how boring and un-purposeful it can feel to sit in a startbox or stand on a podium nearly alone. We are in this together and we can all succeed. No whining and no excuses necessary!
MEET THE TEAM:
ROBYN EMBREY Our pro Robyn is a mountain biker for life. Born in 1985, Robyn has been racing mountain bikes since 1999. She is inspiring to watch as she fearlessly flies down, anything really. She is confident and approachable, and we love her for that. She easily took first at the Queen of the MTN freeride contest in 2011, going biggest and with the most flow. For DH this year, Robyn is already tied up with Jackie Swider and Jacqueline Harmony for 1st in the Pro GRT rankings after placing 7th at Bootleg and 1st in Fontana. We are trying to do everything possible to get this girl back to my homeland, the east coast, so that she can have the opportunity to compete at Pro GRT #4 & 5 and acquire the necessary points over the season to go on to world championships (read below how you can help). In addition to racing bikes, Robyn spends her time telemark skiing and climbing, making her super strong both physically and mentally.
ANDREA NAPOLI The first time I really saw our other pro rider Andrea racing, she was hauling butt down the 4x track at Northstar for her collegiate team. When we began riding together in 2010, she was one of the leading ladies that helped me overcome my past injury produced fear (false evidence appearing real, people!) for rocks and drops, and for that Andrea will always be my little angel that pushes me to try harder, for the good of all women worldwide. Having since developed into an amazingly well-rounded rider, for 2013 Andrea plans to compete in select DH & DS events and focus the rest of her time and energy on the Oregon Enduro Series and a couple stops of the Califonia series. We are really pumped to have such a strong pedaller and descender on the crew. This woman is unstoppable, and has filled the void Mary's (aka the Hammer) return to France had left me with when you crave for your galpal to put the suffer and hurt on you for training purposes.
SAMANTHA KINGSHILL I had the privilege of meeting Sam on the trail while Bender and I were riding in Auburn. She must have been about 11 then. We were cruising up this rocky hill, when out of nowhere this little blur of fastness goes flying off the trail. Usually when I see a kid crash (boy or girl, or anyone really) the inner mother instinct in me goes off and I want to run to the rescue. But no. Up pops Sam, out of the dust with a big smile on her face, ready to charge on. What really blew me (us all really) away was when Sam competed in the 2012 Queen of the MTN contest and was boosting the jumps as high as she could and busting out tricks along side long-time gravity heroine Lisa Tharp, and the amazingly talented Whitney Thompson. She then went on to destroy the Bootleg downhill courses this January, her first time out there! Did I say she's only 13? Oh ya, and that photo up there is from 2011.
ALLISON OLIVER Allison is one of those women that hasn't been racing for too long and is already kicking a$$. I'm sorry but there really is no other way to put it. I'm going to credit her skiing background, and her overall ability to just charge to her quick success. She has taken it upon herself to attend clinics and travel to some of our nations most epic gravity descents, in Virgin, Utah. Allison has been out there killing it and taking names at Bootleg Canyon all spring long, has already advanced to Cat 1 and after placing second at Pro GRT #1 is well on her way to achieving her goal of turning pro by next season.
LINDSAY BETH CURRIER And then there's me. I race to be a role model and inspire others to follow my lead. My goal for the season is to focus harder in my race runs, help create more opportunities for our ladies and others, and hopefully take that final step and graduate to pro by next season, so I can acquire a bit more racing knowledge and experience before I retire and become the best womens gravity race coach and manager that I can be. To me, just being on my bike and making it to the races, I have already won. For each new face I see out there, that's another little victory. I'm a freerider at heart, as many of us are, but I very firmly feel that goal setting, quality role models and healthy competition are important for EVERYONE, especially the girls!
FUNDRAISING IS MANDATORY:
Being a woman is the first challenge in this endeavor, but then there is the money. Racing is so expensive. Everything about it. Even just mountain biking in general. You should see our collection of bikes. We work with what we've got and its pretty cool actually. No one's DH rig is anything close to a current model and everyone has worked their butts off for their bikes to be as lovely as they can be. I grew up riding a bike from the dump so I know its more the rider than the equipment anyways. Be grateful for what you've got! However, even once you have the equipment, you still have to pay. Race entries span from $50 - $100+ and cycling licenses for the year run from $60 - $160 per rider, depending on category. On top of all that, the races that needed to be attended to succeed in our goals are often far away, driving the cost up with gas expenses and cheap motels or campsites. This year I began fundraising efforts to pay our racing expenses. We all work together for our efforts and the community and our fans have really embraced and supported us in a big way. This picture above is from our very first team fundraiser, hosted by Auburn Bike Company.
HELP YELOVELO SEND SHINE PRO DOWNHILLER ROBYN EMBREY TO WORLDS:
YeloVelo, who has supported Shine's efforts from the very beginning, has been kind enough to offer us the proceeds of the products they sell at Sea Otter to our race fund. Since the next Pro GRT races are coming up shortly in May, our goal will be to raise enough funds to send Robyn east to compete in New Jersey and New York. I've personally been using YeloVelo lubricants for nearly three years, from the dry desert to the wet greasy red mud of Auburn, and I am more a believer than ever. YeloVelo products truly work, in such a way that I will use nothing else. YeloVelo supports teams and riders worldwide in all diciplines of cylcing (yes, even the Tour de France) and is growing to be known as one of the longest lasting and most environmentally friendly lubes on the market. So there you go, you can help Robyn achieve her goals, while saving your money, the planet, and your drivetrain all at once! Remember, you must purchase the product at Sea Otter for Robyn to get the funds.
MEET THE TEAM! COME EAT LUNCH ON LOADED!:
Loaded Precision Components will be hosting us for lunch at the 2013 Sea Otter Classic. Join us on Saturday April 20th from 1 to 3pm in their booth. We don't care what you ride, how you ride, or who you ride for. We want to meet you, so please stop in and say hello. If you've got the time, sit down for a bite to eat, relax and get ready to go cheer on the Pro DS Finals at 4pm (Robyn, Andrea, and plenty other lovely pro women will be competing). Bring your friends, your family and your cowbells!
Can't make it to Sea Otter? Follow us on Shine and like us on Facebook.
Thanks for reading all!
<3 LBC
But of course things always change... By 2012, Mary had moved back to France and Beth was a bit far away in Moab, but we had begun to gather more stories and inspirado from more fellow Northern Californian riders. More women in our region had begun to take gravity racing seriously, and female competitor numbers began to climb. Where I once had to scour around for race stories, I became flooded with lady riders to keep track of. Over time, I had also had built solid relationships with my personal and event sponsors, and I felt it was time to spread more love to other dedicated riders that weren't getting the support they needed. I gave away all that I could last year, but to me it was not enough. By 2013, it became obvious that it was time for Shine to have an official team.
The Shine Gravity Race Team is based primarily out of Tahoe and we are proudly supported by: Loeka, Loaded Precision Components, Kali Protectives, Smith Optics, Guayaki, Five.Ten, Happy Turtle Apparel and YeloVelo. Our overall goals for the season are to compete in as many Pro GRTs as possible, along with regional races, and inspire other women to step into racing and/or step it up to the next level. A major binding factor of our team contract is that we promise to remain positive and supportive, no matter the situation. We love our competitors, as most of us can remember how boring and un-purposeful it can feel to sit in a startbox or stand on a podium nearly alone. We are in this together and we can all succeed. No whining and no excuses necessary!
MEET THE TEAM:
Being a woman is the first challenge in this endeavor, but then there is the money. Racing is so expensive. Everything about it. Even just mountain biking in general. You should see our collection of bikes. We work with what we've got and its pretty cool actually. No one's DH rig is anything close to a current model and everyone has worked their butts off for their bikes to be as lovely as they can be. I grew up riding a bike from the dump so I know its more the rider than the equipment anyways. Be grateful for what you've got! However, even once you have the equipment, you still have to pay. Race entries span from $50 - $100+ and cycling licenses for the year run from $60 - $160 per rider, depending on category. On top of all that, the races that needed to be attended to succeed in our goals are often far away, driving the cost up with gas expenses and cheap motels or campsites. This year I began fundraising efforts to pay our racing expenses. We all work together for our efforts and the community and our fans have really embraced and supported us in a big way. This picture above is from our very first team fundraiser, hosted by Auburn Bike Company.
YeloVelo, who has supported Shine's efforts from the very beginning, has been kind enough to offer us the proceeds of the products they sell at Sea Otter to our race fund. Since the next Pro GRT races are coming up shortly in May, our goal will be to raise enough funds to send Robyn east to compete in New Jersey and New York. I've personally been using YeloVelo lubricants for nearly three years, from the dry desert to the wet greasy red mud of Auburn, and I am more a believer than ever. YeloVelo products truly work, in such a way that I will use nothing else. YeloVelo supports teams and riders worldwide in all diciplines of cylcing (yes, even the Tour de France) and is growing to be known as one of the longest lasting and most environmentally friendly lubes on the market. So there you go, you can help Robyn achieve her goals, while saving your money, the planet, and your drivetrain all at once! Remember, you must purchase the product at Sea Otter for Robyn to get the funds.
MEET THE TEAM! COME EAT LUNCH ON LOADED!:
Loaded Precision Components will be hosting us for lunch at the 2013 Sea Otter Classic. Join us on Saturday April 20th from 1 to 3pm in their booth. We don't care what you ride, how you ride, or who you ride for. We want to meet you, so please stop in and say hello. If you've got the time, sit down for a bite to eat, relax and get ready to go cheer on the Pro DS Finals at 4pm (Robyn, Andrea, and plenty other lovely pro women will be competing). Bring your friends, your family and your cowbells!
Can't make it to Sea Otter? Follow us on Shine and like us on Facebook.
Thanks for reading all!
<3 LBC