Dream Tricks & Dream Locations
Words/Video by Lisa Mason
Photos by Ronia Nash
Women’s Freeride has been on the rise for a while now and we want to see where it is headed.
We asked 25+ women/girls of the Freeride & Freestyle world what their dream trick, dream event, location, or iconic feature, that they want to check off. The answers were varied and exciting to hear. Limits be damned, these ladies don’t care.
Harriet Burdbidge-Smith aka Haz has worked hard to get where she is now and is a regular at all the big events like Red Bull Formation and Crankworx.
There has been an explosion of support for women attending tradition male dominated competitions. Events like Audi Nines, DarkFest, Flat Out Days, and Proving Grounds have all had more than one token girl at their events. The crews are towing ladies in and providing encouragement when needed. This is how we level up, we share knowledge/experience, we ride, and we high five!
Natasha Miller is just 16 years old and already has a bag of tricks the top female pros would be jealous of. We got a real stereotype smasher here.
For the dream trick portion of the question, we wanted to know the trick that would blow their minds if they learned it. Not the trick they are already working on, or learning next. But their dream, holey moley, that just happened trick!!
Caroline Buchannan is on her way to Red Bull District Ride right now! Way to get after it, girl!!
For location, iconic feature, or event we want to see what world class bikes events or dream locations these ladies are eyeing up as their next steps of progression.
Congratulatory hugs are the best, whether they be at a bike event or an evening jump session with your friends. We should all strive for more of these!!
It's really only been in the last five years where women have openly and honestly supported/encouraged each other. Before that it was more of an elbows out type of scenario.
As someone who has been a cheerleader of the sport for a long time, I am ecstatic that we can all ride together and help each other grow. No more solo training sessions, which equals slow progression, instead let’s keep this party going!
Julia Lofqvist Traum has been throwing tuck no handers at 13yrs!! Here she is at 16yrs throwing a sui in her Crankworx Aline run!!
Robin Goomes was the first lady to do a backflip combo in a competition, and has more than one combination on lock down. We can’t wait to see what variation she comes up with next.
Brooke Andersen one of the youngest ladies to ride the course at Proving Grounds last year, just 15yrs. This year she racked up a silver medal at the Crankworx Whistler whip off championship!!
Alma Wiggberg and Haz battle it out in Speed and Style, with both of them killing it in the style department. Alma landing the first 360s for women in competition, and Haz nailing backflips for her first time in competitions. Well done ladies!!
Vaea Verbeeck creating a name for herself as the Queen of Crankworx, competing in all disciplines inspiring girls to be competive in the freestyle world and make a career of it.
Seeing is believing, and I spy a future athlete getting Caroline Buchanan’s autograph.
I think we will have to revisit this Freeride File in a couple of years and see how far they have progressed and what they are eyeing up next. Event organizers take note, and reach out if you want to connect with any of these ladies.
Casey Brown coaching at our Camp Loops event last June.
Casey Brown’s has been inspiring everyone for last ten years. She now runs her own event Dark Horse, which she developed to help grow the women’s freeride/freestyle scene. Her event is coming up soon in Kicking Horse Sept 21-24, and I highly recommend attending and showing your support for the ladies!
Freeride events coming up that you should take note of:
District Ride ***
Proving Grounds ***
Dark Horse ***
Hardline ***
*** indicates they have women riding and/or competing at this event.
The cheat sheet.