Friday, March 13, 2009

Help Send Rachel Bauer to the Pan American Mtn. Bike Championships!


So there's this chick, Rachel. I met her at Highlands in Aspen last year, and she was just KILLING it on her skis. Turns out, we have a lot in common. She hasn't been skiing that long, but went for her Level 3 anyway, and got it, isn't afraid to huck off stuff, likes to charge hard and play outdoors.

Turns out, she's a hard core insane mountain biker, beautiful woman, hot chick, good friend, and all around awesome person. And she is doing the unthinkable, in two years on a bike, she's qualified for the Pan American Championships. READ ON, and then lets all HELP GET RACHEL TO CHILE!

Follow your dream, girl!

From the Fresno Bee:

Bauer has knack for adapting
Running and skiing background helps smooth local standout's transition to mountain biking.
Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2009
The Fresno Bee


Even though she's only been racing mountain bikes for two years, Rachel Bauer didn't need long to become national caliber.

A former track and cross country standout at Buchanan High and Fresno State, Bauer will represent the United States at this month's Pan American Mountain Bike Championships in Santiago, Chile. The event runs March 20-23.

Bauer, who lives in Aspen, Colo., and works as a ski instructor at Aspen Highlands, will compete in the downhill and four-cross events.

The Pan Am Championships are the biggest race in the Western Hemisphere, one step below a World Championship or World Cup event. A total of 20 athletes will compete for the U.S.

Bauer was selected to the team after winning the overall downhill title in last year's Mountain States Cup, the nation's biggest regional mountain biking circuit, and filling out an on-line petition.

"It's all moving pretty fast," Bauer told the Aspen Daily News. "I had no expectation of actually going [to the Pan Am Championships]. I just thought it might be fun [to apply]."

Bauer said her experience as a ski racer helped her master downhill mountain biking quickly. Both sports require balance and the ability to look ahead on the course rather than the nearest obstacle or gate.

"If you look ahead, it kind of slows down the course," she said. "You don't see as much terrain and rocks and trees and your body is just adjusting to it."

Bauer is believed to be the first Fresno-area native to represent the U.S. cycling team in an international competition.

DONATE TO Rachel's fund to help get her to Chile to represent the US! GO RACHEL, GO!

1 comment:

Dave Getman said...

Hey Kate,
Awesome that you're supporting Rachel! She's a stellar person! Everyone I've come across that knows her says the same thing: "she's a tremendous athlete and a great person." Did you know that Rachel's on Todi Team too? She was nominated for Todi Team by 15 people, that's the most nominations we've had for any one person. Wicked cool.
www.todiusa.com/profile/rachel-bauer
-Dave