This is not at all bike related but I think that it is pretty cool nonetheless….
My dad is writing a book right now about Charles W. Woodworth who is my great, great Grandfather. He founded the Entomology department at University of California at Berkley and did some other cool stuff which you can read about here if you like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_W._Woodworth . Anyway my dad has made a few trips over there to visit his old house and do some research at the library. The current owners recently put the house on the market and sent my dad information about the open house so that he could go spend some more time at the house…which he did. When he arrived the real estate agent told him that a member of the Berkley Historical Society had just been by with a photo album that he had picked up at a flea market 15 years ago that had belonged to Elizabeth Woodworth, Charles Woodworth’s daughter. Basically, this guy who was a member of the Berkley Historical Society had bought it at the flea market because he thought it was cool and 15 years later he got an email (via the Berkley Historical Society) that one of the historical houses was up for sale and he recognized the name from the photo album that he had bought 15 years earlier.
So now we have this new gem! These are pictures that he had never seen before- pictures of the whole Woodworth family out doing family things. There were some members of the family whom my dad had never seen a photo of…and now he has their actual family album.
As an up and coming racer, Tara Llannes, was someone that I always looked up to. She was fast, she was fit, she had skills…and she was an all around great ambassador for the sport of mountain biking. She would be right up there for the win in every race and she was also really smart on the business side of things. She was the perfect athlete.
Then one day it all changed…
Tara was competing at a Jeep King of the Mountain race out in Colorado when she crashed landing on her head leaving her paralyzed. That was one of the most humbling moments of my life as a young athlete. I guess up until that point I felt invincible to a certain extent- but no one is invincible. I had always seen Tara as this invincible female athlete who I could only aspire to be as good as one day- and in instant later her life was changed.
Tara has been to hell and back on her road to recovery…the accident happened back in 2007 but every day she works her bum off to be the best person she can be in every way possible. Tara’s life is very different now but by the way that she carries herself every single day…you would never know this horrible thing happened to her. She does not feel sorry for herself and she does not wait around waiting for something to change, she makes change- she is the exact same person with the exact same fire and the exact same drive. The time has come where she is getting herself back on a bike…it’s got 4 wheels this time but a bike is a bike…and I would love nothing more to see her ripping around again.
The bike is expensive and every donation counts. Please donate here: http://reg.ccnbikes.com/index.php/event/getting-tara-llanes-back-where-she-belongs-on-dirt
You can find more information about Tara here: http://www.google.com/search?gcx=w&ix=c1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=TARA+LLANES
I must also add that it is because of Tara I ride/race with a Leatt Brace! My mom bought be one almost immediately after her accident and I have ridden with one ever since…in my personal opinion there is no reason to ride downhill without one. Just a thought there for you… :)
I am really excited to announce that I will be coaching a NICA team for Scotts Valley & San Lorenzo Valley this winter/spring…under the name Santa Cruz Mountains Cycling Team! For those of you not familiar with NICA, it is a high school league for grades 9-12. Riders practice 3x per week and compete in 6 races as a team throughout the season. The leagure caters to all ability levels…beginners to all the way on up to kids who will make the USA Team. The more the merrier. Everyone is just out there to have fun on bikes. The races are all no more than three hours away so for a lot of the races we will just drive over there the morning of the race…others we will all camp out there. At the end of the races we will all hang out and have a BBQ. Over the course of the season we also have some cool fundraisers and social events planned which is always fun. Plus we are gonna have the raddest kits around. :)
Lucky for me it doesn’t really overlap with my season as the majority of the season takes place in the winter months so i’ve got some time to devote to this! I started riding bikes in high school and fell in love with it- it has opened the doors to so many amazing experiences, opportunities and friends so it’s awesome to pass it on. Whether the kids stick with it or not after High School, it’s not up to me…I do think that riding bikes and sports in general are so positive for kids. Sports teach kids how to develop life skills, interact with other people, use their bodies productively….they learn how to take care of themselves by being active, eating well and setting goals. It is just a really positive thing. Bikes, soccer, baseball, basketball, swimming, gymnastics…doesn’t matter….
As of now, we’ve got two main coaches…Andrew Cavaletto, my lovely boyfriend and owner of Scotts Valley Cycle Sport (don’t think he will like being called lovely. ha) and myself. Managing the team is Steve Simonovich of Santa Cruz Pasta Factory.We have got some great sponsors on board to help cover some of the costs because we all know riding bikes can be expensive…Scotts Valley Cycle Sport, Santa Cruz Pasta Factory, State Farm Insurance, Scotts Valley Market, Specialized, Bell/Easton/Blackburn and Smith.
If you know a kid (or are a kid reading this!) who lives in Scotts Valley or Felton that is in grades 9-12 that might be interested in this, shoot me an email at katie@katieholden.com and we will chat more!
This was defiently the most mellow trip I have ever had in Vegas. I usually go there pretty tired as it is the end of the season and things are wrapping up BUT I power through it because I don’t want to miss anything…this year was no different except this time I had a room to myself so I got some serious rest in. I can actually say I left there way more rested than when I arrived…how is that possible in Vegas?
Well she is officially off the market boys- Lisa Myklak is married! She and Jimi got married in a beautiful ceremony at a winery in Soquel. It was pretty much a bike reunion as friends from all over the place came for Lisa’s special day which was so fun…racers, freeriders, all around rippers. Although Lisa does not race anymore I am pretty sure she would be right up there in any race she would enter…she has got skills on a bike. The day Lisa took it to the next level for me was back in Deer Valley like 5 years ago…there was this gnarly gap in a rock garden which very few of the guys were hitting and no other girls- she sent it clean and smooth and put a lot of guys to shame. :) I think back on that moment often when it’s time to step it up. Yeaaaa Lisa. Congrats. You and Jimi are going to have a great life together!
I went down to Salinas a couple of weeks ago for Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day with MORCA (Monterrey Off Road Cycling Association) and had a total blast. It was held out at Toro Park and I had never ridden there before so it is always cool to check out a new place. The turnout was great, I think that there was something like 35-40 kids. We did some skills stuff, went out on 2 trail rides, had a raffle and got to hear a chat about state parks in California from the Park Ranger. It was pretty cool to see Gary Courtright, the organizer of the event, interact with all of the kids as he has such a passion for bikes, kids and the trails. He was really good about informing the kids on trail rules and etiquette while keeping it light and fun. Smiles all around. Thanks for a great day!!
