Continuing on from last week's International Women's Day post, we asked Easton-connected Athletes, Creators and Friends ⁠to share their thoughts on how they'd speak with their younger selves about this year's #ChooseToChallenge theme with the same three questions:

1. What do you wish that you’d challenged more when you were younger?

2. What did you find scary to challenge when you were younger that you now do on the regular?

3. What is one thing that you would tell your younger self to challenge more?

Ariel Wickham

Ariel's worked on some incredible projects with Easton Cycling and Race Face, and continues to be a positive force in her community of Marin and through the Full Circle Cycling Project.

⁠
"Growing up as a young girl, there was always this notion that your value was tied to your beauty and appearance. Part of that was due to the fact that I was often, if not always, the odd one out. There were so many times where I chose to not do things because I, frankly, often felt ugly, and that I would be judged for how I looked in doing those things. ⁠
⁠
One thing I loved doing was swimming. I was pretty good at it and was on a swim team but I quit because one of the girls told me I was fat, and because it was impossible to hide the dark coarse hairs that covered my body. I quit doing a lot of other athletic activities because of how I had been made to feel about my appearance.⁠
⁠
When those ideas get put into your head they start to become truths, and it's extremely hard to unlearn them. I let them eat me from the inside. Literally. I stopped eating and could barely walk up stairs. I avoided the sun so my skin wouldn't get darker.⁠ To think that I let something as silly as the way I felt I looked control my ability to enjoy day to day activities is absurd. ⁠

To this day, I still struggle with it. But I'm in the process of healing, and doing this has helped me gain confidence to not care what others think and enjoy what my body can do for me.⁠
⁠
I wish I could go back and teach my younger self to understand that it's more important to feel the enjoyment of things that makes us feel good, than it is to 'look' a way that's pleasing to others. This is what I now tell myself when I start getting ready for any activity where my body is exposed. I challenge myself to choose to thank my body for what it can DO, not what it looks like.⁠ This is a challenge that many womxn face. And we need to stop letting it dictate our worth and ability to enjoy our lives, try new things, and reach our goals."⁠

Alexa Everson

She continues to inspire us as a Cyclist, Creator, Outdoor Voice and Athlete with The Black Foxes and as a fellow on the 2021 Camlebak - MBC Writing Fellowship with Melanin Base Camp ⁠too!⁠⁠

⁠⁠
"I wish I had challenged myself as a child to participate in more of the physical activities I didn't feel I had the ability or 'entitlement' to do.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Without being fully aware of the underlying reasons as a child, I allowed myself to be intimidated by activities that were mostly done by cis, white males (e.g. skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding). I've grown to realize that I can challenge that cultural stereotype and inspire other young Black women to participate by creating my own space to do these things without the intimidation of being an unlikely participant in a space full of toxic masculinity.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Challenge these toxic norms by making space for yourself, chasing your curiosity, and taking control of your own narrative."⁠⁠

Anna Kay

As a U23 riding in the Elite women's field in Europe with the Starcasino Team, Anna has embraced the role of elite athlete early in life. When we spoke with her about #ChooseToChallenge, it was clear she's developed the grit and determination to rise through the role, while being true to the moment - cycling brings her joy. 

⁠⁠
"To be myself, and not care too much what others think. When you're younger or in school, you try to ‘fit in’ and do ‘normal’ girly things like going shopping or parties with your friends. But all I really wanted to do was ride my bike in the mud with my dad and stop for a hot chocolate and flapjack!⁠⁠
⁠⁠
When I was younger I used to be terrified to stand on the start line of a race; I would get so nervous. But now I can challenge my nerves and stand proud on a start line - I’ve had to learn to embrace the nerves!⁠⁠
⁠⁠
I guess I’m still pretty young at 21, and so I’m still learning how to challenge myself more and more each day. I think the most important thing for me to keep challenging is my self-belief and confidence. I’ve found over the last year my confidence has been up and down, but when I challenge any negative thoughts into positive thoughts, racing and riding my bike becomes so much easier and fun!!!"⁠⁠
⁠

⁠⁠Caitlin Curran Bernstein

“I wish that I’d challenged the idea that my body type ‘wasn’t right’ for the sports I was competing in. Looking back, I feel like the messaging focused more on size and body type than functional strength and performance.⁠⁠
⁠
I turned the feeling that I always had to prove that I belonged into a positive motivation, a challenge to ride my strongest on any given day and be satisfied with that. As an athlete with a competitive mindset, it’s not always easy to be satisfied with giving your best and I think as women, we are often hard on ourselves.⁠⁠
⁠
We’ve made some progress as an industry since I was a young girl, looking around at mountain bike races and seeing no other girls my age. We have programs like Little Bellas & High School Mountain Bike leagues that have done amazing things to make cycling a more inviting space to girls, but I think there’s still room to grow.”⁠⁠

⁠⁠Caroline Dezendorf

“I wish that I had challenged the idea of what it means to be a girl - that it’s not defined by clothing, make-up, or ‘traditional’ activities and words like ‘tomboy’ shouldn’t be used to describe someone whose hobbies don’t fit the gender norms.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
I think one of the scariest things for me to learn was how to be comfortable doing things alone, or doing different things than my friends. I think it’s often really intimidating for girls to try new things or do things on their own, but once you do it, there’s a sense of freedom and liberation that feels incredible. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Don’t be afraid to get outside your comfort zone and push boundaries. I remember watching the Tour de France as a kid and being fascinated by it. But I didn’t know any women who rode bikes and didn’t even know how to begin becoming a ‘cyclist.’⁠⁠

I wish I knew when I was younger that chasing dreams (like my 8 year old dream of becoming a professional athlete) was possible and everyone is capable of so much more than they realize.”⁠⁠

Sammi Runnels

One of the most outgoing and vibrant US Cyclocross, Road and Track racers we know, Sammi was recently a guest on Christopher Stricklen's We Got to Hang Out podcast and shared a look into her own history, and the unique experiences she's had growing up. When we spoke with Sammi, she shared that looking back can be an emotional experience for many, and that it brings to light not only personal reflection, but reflections on place, how an environment can shape your experiences, and that growth is not just for individuals. 

⁠
"For IWD, I #choosetochallenge the systems of power. To call out inequalities and gender bias, I choose intersectionality. I commit to pushing for a more inclusive world.⁠
⁠
Growing up in Mississippi, as a child I knew the system of power was wrong. I wish I had pushed up against racial and gender inequalities more. I admit these powerful systems are scary to push up against. But if I could tell my younger self anything it would be that the adults aren’t always right. I would tell myself to 'listen to the feelings in your gut,' to stand up and speak out for others and for myself when things feel unfair or wrong. ⁠
⁠
I choose to challenge the systems of power in the US. It’s time to stand up and actively work towards intersectionality. If our feminism isn’t ain’t-racist, anti-imperialist, trans-inclusive, gender-non-conforming-inclusive, body-inclusive, and challenging ageism and ableism, then our feminism does not stand for all women."⁠

Continuing on from last week's International Women's Day post, we asked Easton-connected Athletes, Creators and Friends ⁠to share their thoughts on how they'd speak with their younger selves about this year's #ChooseToChallenge theme with the same three questions:

1. What do you wish that you’d challenged more when you were younger?

2. What did you find scary to challenge when you were younger that you now do on the regular?

3. What is one thing that you would tell your younger self to challenge more?

Ariel Wickham

Ariel's worked on some incredible projects with Easton Cycling and Race Face, and continues to be a positive force in her community of Marin and through the Full Circle Cycling Project.

⁠
"Growing up as a young girl, there was always this notion that your value was tied to your beauty and appearance. Part of that was due to the fact that I was often, if not always, the odd one out. There were so many times where I chose to not do things because I, frankly, often felt ugly, and that I would be judged for how I looked in doing those things. ⁠
⁠
One thing I loved doing was swimming. I was pretty good at it and was on a swim team but I quit because one of the girls told me I was fat, and because it was impossible to hide the dark coarse hairs that covered my body. I quit doing a lot of other athletic activities because of how I had been made to feel about my appearance.⁠
⁠
When those ideas get put into your head they start to become truths, and it's extremely hard to unlearn them. I let them eat me from the inside. Literally. I stopped eating and could barely walk up stairs. I avoided the sun so my skin wouldn't get darker.⁠ To think that I let something as silly as the way I felt I looked control my ability to enjoy day to day activities is absurd. ⁠

To this day, I still struggle with it. But I'm in the process of healing, and doing this has helped me gain confidence to not care what others think and enjoy what my body can do for me.⁠
⁠
I wish I could go back and teach my younger self to understand that it's more important to feel the enjoyment of things that makes us feel good, than it is to 'look' a way that's pleasing to others. This is what I now tell myself when I start getting ready for any activity where my body is exposed. I challenge myself to choose to thank my body for what it can DO, not what it looks like.⁠ This is a challenge that many womxn face. And we need to stop letting it dictate our worth and ability to enjoy our lives, try new things, and reach our goals."⁠

Alexa Everson

She continues to inspire us as a Cyclist, Creator, Outdoor Voice and Athlete with The Black Foxes and as a fellow on the 2021 Camlebak - MBC Writing Fellowship with Melanin Base Camp ⁠too!⁠⁠

⁠⁠
"I wish I had challenged myself as a child to participate in more of the physical activities I didn't feel I had the ability or 'entitlement' to do.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Without being fully aware of the underlying reasons as a child, I allowed myself to be intimidated by activities that were mostly done by cis, white males (e.g. skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding). I've grown to realize that I can challenge that cultural stereotype and inspire other young Black women to participate by creating my own space to do these things without the intimidation of being an unlikely participant in a space full of toxic masculinity.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Challenge these toxic norms by making space for yourself, chasing your curiosity, and taking control of your own narrative."⁠⁠

Anna Kay

As a U23 riding in the Elite women's field in Europe with the Starcasino Team, Anna has embraced the role of elite athlete early in life. When we spoke with her about #ChooseToChallenge, it was clear she's developed the grit and determination to rise through the role, while being true to the moment - cycling brings her joy. 

⁠⁠
"To be myself, and not care too much what others think. When you're younger or in school, you try to ‘fit in’ and do ‘normal’ girly things like going shopping or parties with your friends. But all I really wanted to do was ride my bike in the mud with my dad and stop for a hot chocolate and flapjack!⁠⁠
⁠⁠
When I was younger I used to be terrified to stand on the start line of a race; I would get so nervous. But now I can challenge my nerves and stand proud on a start line - I’ve had to learn to embrace the nerves!⁠⁠
⁠⁠
I guess I’m still pretty young at 21, and so I’m still learning how to challenge myself more and more each day. I think the most important thing for me to keep challenging is my self-belief and confidence. I’ve found over the last year my confidence has been up and down, but when I challenge any negative thoughts into positive thoughts, racing and riding my bike becomes so much easier and fun!!!"⁠⁠
⁠

⁠⁠Caitlin Curran Bernstein

“I wish that I’d challenged the idea that my body type ‘wasn’t right’ for the sports I was competing in. Looking back, I feel like the messaging focused more on size and body type than functional strength and performance.⁠⁠
⁠
I turned the feeling that I always had to prove that I belonged into a positive motivation, a challenge to ride my strongest on any given day and be satisfied with that. As an athlete with a competitive mindset, it’s not always easy to be satisfied with giving your best and I think as women, we are often hard on ourselves.⁠⁠
⁠
We’ve made some progress as an industry since I was a young girl, looking around at mountain bike races and seeing no other girls my age. We have programs like Little Bellas & High School Mountain Bike leagues that have done amazing things to make cycling a more inviting space to girls, but I think there’s still room to grow.”⁠⁠

⁠⁠Caroline Dezendorf

“I wish that I had challenged the idea of what it means to be a girl - that it’s not defined by clothing, make-up, or ‘traditional’ activities and words like ‘tomboy’ shouldn’t be used to describe someone whose hobbies don’t fit the gender norms.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
I think one of the scariest things for me to learn was how to be comfortable doing things alone, or doing different things than my friends. I think it’s often really intimidating for girls to try new things or do things on their own, but once you do it, there’s a sense of freedom and liberation that feels incredible. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Don’t be afraid to get outside your comfort zone and push boundaries. I remember watching the Tour de France as a kid and being fascinated by it. But I didn’t know any women who rode bikes and didn’t even know how to begin becoming a ‘cyclist.’⁠⁠

I wish I knew when I was younger that chasing dreams (like my 8 year old dream of becoming a professional athlete) was possible and everyone is capable of so much more than they realize.”⁠⁠

Sammi Runnels

One of the most outgoing and vibrant US Cyclocross, Road and Track racers we know, Sammi was recently a guest on Christopher Stricklen's We Got to Hang Out podcast and shared a look into her own history, and the unique experiences she's had growing up. When we spoke with Sammi, she shared that looking back can be an emotional experience for many, and that it brings to light not only personal reflection, but reflections on place, how an environment can shape your experiences, and that growth is not just for individuals. 

⁠
"For IWD, I #choosetochallenge the systems of power. To call out inequalities and gender bias, I choose intersectionality. I commit to pushing for a more inclusive world.⁠
⁠
Growing up in Mississippi, as a child I knew the system of power was wrong. I wish I had pushed up against racial and gender inequalities more. I admit these powerful systems are scary to push up against. But if I could tell my younger self anything it would be that the adults aren’t always right. I would tell myself to 'listen to the feelings in your gut,' to stand up and speak out for others and for myself when things feel unfair or wrong. ⁠
⁠
I choose to challenge the systems of power in the US. It’s time to stand up and actively work towards intersectionality. If our feminism isn’t ain’t-racist, anti-imperialist, trans-inclusive, gender-non-conforming-inclusive, body-inclusive, and challenging ageism and ableism, then our feminism does not stand for all women."⁠