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July 17, 2008

Kay Ryan , an award-winning poet and self-described “modern hermit,” was named the next U.S. poet laureate today. The Library of Congress announced that the lifelong Californian, whose compressed, metaphysical poetry has been compared to Emily Dickinson’s , will become the 16th U.S. poet laureate, starting in the autumn.

How she became a poet, however, is closely tied to her love of cycling. In her twenties, she and a friend left California on a 4,000-mile cross-country bicycle trip, which would give her time to think about whether to devote herself to poetry as a vocation.

As the friends pedaled through Colorado, the repetitive, rhythmic exercise gave Ryan a sense of oneness with her surroundings. In that moment of heightened awareness, Ryan, realized  she liked writing better than anything else.

Since then, Ryan has fashioned a life conducive to poetry, one in which the essential elements of that bike trip - repetition, expansiveness, and large intellectual leaps - shape both her daily routine and her voice as a writer.

And since that ephiphany on the seat of her bike, Ryan has been the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as numerous prestigious literary awards. Not bad for a woman who was once considered too independent to be accepted by her college’s poetry club.  Ride on Kay….

June 5, 2008

I finally found the energy to sit at my computer and write a race report of my experience this past weekend at the 2008 US Open at Diablo Freeride Park. I went into this summer like a little child with a big, outlandish dream that I wholeheartedly believed would happen. If it wasn’t for my recent encounter with the unexpected it would’ve happened. My initial plan was to live with some friends in Vernon, New Jersey where we would train at Diablo and then travel together to the races. Living in Houston most of my life I have never had the opportunity nor the resources to train consistently and focus on bike racing. This was my chance and I had the full confidence that I would be racing at pro speed by the end of summer.

At the beginning of the year I broke my wrist riding bikes and was out the entire season. Towards the end of my injury I made some [minor] adjustments to my bike and rode with my cast on. This was the same year that I discovered gravity racing and my focus shifted from cross country to downhill riding which I instantly fell in love with. The US open would be my first downhill and dual slalom race without a broken wrist. After I recovered I began riding the slalom course at my school and rode Diablo the week before and felt great. Perhaps I was too confident and should have taken my first race easy and with more patience.

Someone once told me that until something drastic happens to you, you will never change. This past week has been the toughest, most painful, and drastic event that I have experienced. I have learned a lot in just a few days about myself and my outlook on life. I believe everything happens for a reason and sometimes the best things in life happen when they aren’t planned. My perfectly planned and much anticipated summer has completely changed. However, I have a new summer awaiting me that I know will teach me something unexpected.

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Favorite Athletes: Dominique Moceanu, Jackie Chan, Michael Schumacher
Favorite Pro Team: Fox Racing
Favorite Sports Drink: Monster Energy
Favorite Workout Music: Rock & Roll
Favorite Place to Shop: I like to shop at bike shops and art supply stores.
Hobbies and Interests: I love to paint, go trail running, rock climbing, jumping on my trampoline, exploring (anything outdoors), photoshop, animals.

Superstition: Life is full of magic.
Dream Job: Being a photographer for national geographic.
Favorite Books/TV Shows: My favorite book is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I don’t watch a lot of tv but when I do I watch animal planet, the history channel, or HGTV, I also like the tv series Heroes.
Pet Peeves: People who pretend to be someone they are not.

Accomplishments: 2007 USAC 60 Mile MTB Marathon 1st Jr. Expert, 2007 MTB Nationals 7th, 2007 Collegiate MTB Nationals 12th, 2007 USAC Fat Tire Festival 1st Short Track and 2nd Cross Country.

Other Sports/Accomplishments: Ran cross country and track in high school for three years. Varsity district champion for pole vaulting and currently pole vaulting and running track in college. A gymnast for 9 years
and a black belt in martial arts.

Why I’m Pretty Tough: I grew up in a family with four brothers and three sisters!  Also growing up in gymnastics taught me a lot things about being ‘tough’ that made me who I am today.

Comments: I want to help spread the image and message of ‘girl power’ especially in the world of sports. My dad and brothers have always encouraged me to be bold and not to limit myself because of my gender. I also have two little sisters who I have passed down my passion and inspiration.

Home: La Puente, California

Highlights: Racing since 2000, Michelle has been a Pro Downhill Racer for 7 years, and is the #1 Pro Woman’s D.H. Rider in California. Riding with the Steven K Sports race team, she is kicking butt racing Pro Super D.

Pretty Tough Tips

As part of its nomination process, USA Cycling named a Long Team of eligible athletes in the disciplines of men’s and women’s mountain bike and women’s road cycling. The so-called “long teams” are pools of those eligible to compete in at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Additionally, its Talent Pool of track athletes will serve as a list of riders from which this summer’s Olympic Team will named.

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On Saturday September 1st 2007, Tara Llanes, 2006 USA Cycling Downhill National Champion and two-time national four-cross champion, was badly injured in the Jeep King of the Mountain contest in Beaver Creek, Colorado. (more…)