“Growing up, I was always a tomboy… Climbing trees, riding bikes, skateboarding… anything that involved being outside. I started snowboarding at 15 and have been doing it non-stop since, even competitively. But competitions came to a halt when I tore my ACL at the age of 24 and needed major ACL reconstruction, which I needed again about five years later. In college, I bought a Cannondale hardtail and started mountain biking, but not much. I kind of stopped for a couple years while I dealt with the aggressive rehabilitation of my left knee. I started mountain biking again non-stop and eventually started competing in beginner class. I moved up the following year to Sport. After a couple of years, I moved up to Expert or Cat-1 and today I race in the Pro/Open category. Mountain biking has been a great adventure with many ups and many downs, but I wouldn’t change it for a second.”
Height: 5’4″
December Weight: 116-119 lbs.
Race Weight: 113-118 lbs.
Birth date: March 18, 1976
Childhood Heroes: “My parents and brothers.”
Hobbies and Interests: “Mountain biking, snowboarding, and surfing.”
Favorite Movies: “Kill Bill 1 and Kill Bill 2.”
Musical Tastes: “Punk mostly.”
Favorite TV Shows: “The Office, How I Met Your Mother, Top Chef, and Gray’s Anatomy.”
Favorite Meal: “Crab cakes, shrimp, salmon.”
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Cheerios.”
Favorite Pre-Race Meal: “Wouldn’t say it’s a favorite, but oatmeal with bananas.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Mint Chocolate Chip and Oreo.”
Childhood Dream: “To be a pro snowboarder.”
First Car: “1982 Firebird.”
First Job: “Babysitting, and then at Action Park & Hidden Valley rentals.”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “Would have to be snowboarding out West – Utah, Colorado, Cali.”
Pre-Race Feeling: “Anxious and nervous.”
Early Racing Memory: “Racing the first year shortly after my 2nd ACL surgery and doing really well. Enjoying racing with that big brace on. I even raced 24 Hours of Adrenaline with it.”
Funny Racing Memory: “The only thing that comes to mind at the moment is screaming when I saw a snake in the trail.”
Greatest Racing Moment: “So many great moments like racing Nationals and placing, winning the Women’s Pro Open for the Campmor H2H Series in 2010. I think I am most proud that I was able to race through so many painful injuries. And I really love how many friends I have made through racing… So many great people.”
Most Painful Moment In Life: “I’m going to stick to physically painful moments — racing with a broken ankle for two years was the most painful. I was in tears at some races.”
Worst Injury from Racing: “Most of my injuries are from snowboarding. But, within the last two years, besides the ankle, I’ve torn the UCL in my left thumb pre-riding the Singlespeed-a-Palooza race and messed up my knee more recently trying to climb a rock face, which resulted in an exposed tibia plateau that I’m still dealing with since last Summer.”
Closest Racing Friends: “Jocelyn, Gerilynn, Jess, Laura, Ellen, Ken…and my team, as well as other close friends.”
Funniest Racer: “Laura, Ken, and myself.”
Favorite Race: “Bearscat 50. 50 miles of Wawayanda, NJ. I did well here in 2011.”
Embarrassing Racing Memory: “Not racing well with my ankle injury and becoming emotional that I couldn’t push through the pain. Also, trying to race Lewis Morris this past summer after coming down with Lyme. I was so sick and had to DNF.”
Toughest Competitors: “Melissa and Jane in the H2H Series.”
Favorite Athletes to Watch: “Snowboarders…”
Qualities You Most Admire in People: “I admire athletes who have drive and push beyond what seems normal to everyday people, never giving up and training to be the best they can, no matter what they may be trying to overcome.”
What You Love Most About Riding Your Bicycle: “I love just getting out and riding to relieve stress and getting in a great, hard workout at the same time. I feel like with each injury, I push harder to overcome the pain. I will never let them take me down.”
