What brought you into the world of GNCC Racing?

When I was younger I used to do the occasional GNCC here and there. I never really liked them because I was a little slow poke and all the faster riders hauling past intimidated me. In the fall of 2012 I got a call from Ashley Copeland. She wanted me to come out of retirement and race Unadilla with her. After getting to battle up front with Maria Forsberg for most of the race, I was hooked.

You've had some more stellar rides since then including a win at Snowshoe last year, but what has been your biggest accomplishment?

To date I think my biggest accomplishment was before my little break from racing. In 2006 I became the only girl in Virginia to win a double state championship; Super Mini Women and Women. That was pretty awesome.

That’s awesome! So how did The Mountaineer go for you?

Honestly, I was really disappointed with my finish in West Virginia. I worked my way up to second, about 28 seconds off Kacy Martinez, from way dead last off the start. I felt like I had the speed to reel her in and take the lead, so I put my head down and charged. Unfortunately my head must have been a little too far down because not even a mile into the second lap I blew the trail and wound up back in sixth. Passing everyone a second time proved to be a little more difficult and allowed Mandi and Kacy to put a gap on me. All in all I felt like I rode amazing, but that definitely was not the finish I had in mind. Oh well, there is always next week and a podium is nothing to be too upset about.

That's 2 podiums in a row, what will it take to keep making that happen?

Staying off the ground, that will definitely help (laughs) Really though, it’s all about being willing to put in the work off the track so you have the stamina to go all out for two hours. If I just keep working and putting time on the bike, there is no doubt in my mind I can get myself on top of the box.

So how has the rest of your 2014 season been?

The 2014 season started out extremely tough for me. I’ve been battling stomach issues all year which has taken a toll on my strength and endurance. In the beginning of the year this made the long, physically demanding nature of GNCCs extremely difficult for me. Thankfully I had the National Enduros, which are a lot easier for me physically due to the short sections with long breaks in between, to keep my confidence up. I think I’m finally starting to figure out how to ride well tired and push through the fatigue, so hopefully the second half you’ll see me upfront more often. 

The WXC class is stacked again this season, how tough is the competition?

Not only is the WXC class stacked but each rider has something they really excel in. On the faster tracks you have girls like Becca [Sheets] or Jessica [Patterson] who can just flat out rip. Then you get to the more technical races and Mandi [Mastin] and Kacy [Martinez] are generally out front tearing it up. It’s so awesome that our class has picked it up because no matter the venue, there’s always a battle for the podium. The competition makes racing a lot more fun and makes me want to win that much more. I love it!

What do you hope to accomplish through the rest of the 2014 season?

As far as GNCC’s are concerned I’ve kind of dug myself into a hole from a championship points perspective. I just want to rack up as many wins as I can to try and cut my points deficit. A championship is a bit of a long shot right now, but that’s always the main goal. A GNCC championship paired with an National Enduro title would sure make for a pretty awesome 2014 though!

What about beyond 2014?

For starters, I would really love to pick up a factory ride for 2015. Beyond that the goal is to rack up as many wins and titles as possible. A lot of riders who start to win become satisfied. I don’t want to be stagnant in my success, so I think it would be really sweet to get a title in every major form of off road racing. I would love to spend a year out west contending for a WORCS and a National Hare and Hound title.

What kind of advice would you give to aspiring WXC racers?

I think the best advice I can offer is to never give up. Things aren’t always going to be easy and they definitely aren’t always going to go the way you planned, but if you really want it, you’ll find a way to dig deep and get the job done. It’s all about who wants it more, and who is willing to work the hardest for what they want, both on and off the track.