Sugar Showdown, presented by SAS
TRAIL KNOWLEDGE. SISTERHOOD. CONFIDENCE. STEEZE AND EXPERTISE.
For three days I got shreddy with RAD women and little ladies at Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park!
Friday evening we kicked it off with a crash course (where I successfully conquered baby wheelie’s!!!) followed by trivia hosted by Clif bars where the tasty Clif Bars were plentiful! Meg, the Liv Cycling Ambassador MC’d the event!
Saturday some of the best coaches from around the world hosted individualized clinics that sharpened my skills while learning new ones, like jumping and dropping (like its HOT)!
I was #STOKED to demo a new carbon Liv Intrique Advanced 1 all weekend and I am in LOVE with this beautiful bike! I felt confident as soon as I sat on her and she did not disappoint climbing, descending, or catching a little air.
The skills I learned help me stay safe, smart, and aware of the dirt…according to Sugar Showdown they call this “Adrenaline Zen” (I learned a few new terms as well)!
My group started out on Saturday jumping with Courtney. She is a Pro from Truckee, CA who didn’t start riding until 41. She is pretty RAD and made everything just click! She explained it, showed us, had us practice it, and then we were nailing it (well not perfectly ((YET)). Load, Explode, Claw (jumping)! Load, Explode, Lift (mini manuals)!
Next up, Drop it like its Hot with kitty Kat Sweet (meow), again hear it, see it, and do it! My first run on voodoos three little pigs, I think I left my stomach on the ramp (HA)! Flick the sand off the blanket! Load, Low, Flick (heels down)!
Last up we had the UBER FUN Angi Weston (a.k.a Sunday’s MC for the competition – she totally rocks the mic). She dialed in our skills on cornering! Low, Look, Lean! Wipe your butt on the berm (or crop dust your friends ((SAY WHAT)) and load your feet!
After a full day of skills clinics on Saturday (which included a delicious lunch), we showed up early Sunday and participated in a fun, low-pressure competition (WHAT THE WHAT!), yep thats right…I competed! Judging was based on form and style and the best part is that I am now an official “Mastertte” (46+), which was one of the largest groups competing (YAY ladies), I tied for 5th and that is such a privilege as there were so many #BADASS women out there shredding!
So much POSITIVITY, So much ENCOURAGEMENT, So much AWESOMENESS
I almost didn’t compete on Sunday, not sure why maybe nerves, maybe lack of confidence. I told my gal pal Tracy that I wasn’t going to compete and she immediately said, “you will be disappointed that you didn’t, so go sign in and get your race plate!”, I smiled and went and got my race plate. BEST DECISION EVER!
I will be signing up again next year, you need to be riding for a minimum of a year and have some basic skills and feel comfortable on the trails so if thats you…definitely consider coming out for this event next year (start saving your pennies – or in my case my cuss jar change hehe)!
Here’s a few more fun pics from the weekend! Oh and I got to shred with the founder of Sister in Action Sports SAS, go check them out, super fun and empowering group of women who want to share their passion of the outdoors with YOU!
Ride Bikes, Be Happy
Mich 😀
