Blog
When the universe knocks you down.
When the universe knocks you down.

While I've learned plenty from Rose Grant about overcoming setbacks with grace and sense of purpose, I'm now doing my best to take a page from Erin Huck's latest comeback book on just accepting whatever the universe has in store. (It worked well for her since she just defended her Short Track national championship title)! 

Well I'm at home and not in Ste Anne for the World Cup this weekend. I hurt my back shortly after MTB Nationals and have been hard at work recovering from the injury. But I'm excited to cheer on my teammates @sofithevilla and @keegels99! I just published a blog post on my website with some more info. The link is in my profile ☝️. This doesn't feel so much like a setback, but an opportunity. I needed a little extra motivation and time at home before the races to come. #stanspivot 📷: @polphe
I'm headed back home, out west, to big mountains and bigger views. While I always love my time spent in Europe and on the road, I'm excited to keep flying westward today. Now I just hope for some smooth(er) travel. I arrived at IAD almost 24 hours ago, and have had two cancelled flights, many more delays, four itineraries and two different final destinations. But I'm good. #justrollwithit #homewardbound 📷: @the4color
Well I gave it all in short track, but fell off the lead group with three laps to go and settled into a lonely 4th place. Up ahead, @eehuck rode a brilliant race to defend her jersey. I had a silly mechanical on the final lap and finished in 5th. The race was a good one, so I was a little bummed to miss it in the final laps 😉. . . . I very much appreciate the support I've had this year from all of you, the team behind the #stanspivot team, and our sponsors. It's a privilege to reach the start line for each and every race and I do my best to not lose sight of that. So I did my best, and that's gonna have to be good enough (a lesson I'm learning from @rosekgrant ♥️). . #notdoneyet #Mtbnats #stanspivot
I had a feeling yesterday's race would be a tough one, and it was. I finished in 6th and had a lonely last couple of laps out there. My bike and body worked, but I just didn't have much fight or will to suffer out there. Meanwhile, the women fighting for the podium had some inspiring rides: @eehuck back from injury, @ellenlikesbikes showing us all she can race her mountain bike, @kaysodip having a breakthrough ride, and @leaeatsalot always fighting hard. Then of course, congrats to @kateplusfate on another year in the stars and stripes. #strongwomen #noexcuses #Mtbnats
The MVP's of these race weekends are usually behind the scenes, so getting to share this moment with Jenn was pretty special. Also of note, I think the @redbulltv camera was in my face at this moment and I had just put down a couple of @guenergylabs chews and was worried I had some left in my teeth. #firstrowproblems #ucimtbwc #andorra #amateurhour #GUforit #TeamUSA 📷: @mdelormephoto
I made a few mistakes, suffered early, but then found a little something left for the finish. All in all, another solid day with a 12th place finish. Huge thanks to @usacycling for the support and to the @pivot_cyclesusa crew for all the cheers out there today. 📷: @polphe
All smiles cause I'm starting on the front row tomorrow! 😁 😎 #stanspivot #shareyourkask #kooworld #onlystans 📷: @mdelormephoto
So. Steep. I hung on until, well, I couldn't. But I still earned a first row call-up on Sunday with my 7th place finish. Miserable and still fun. Thank you all for the support! 📷: @polphe #stanspivot #shorttrack #ucimtbwc #vallnord
Practicing elbows out for tonight's short track 😂! The women race at 5:30 pm local time, which is 8:30 am back in Arizona. Link ☝️ . . 📷: @mdelormephoto
Looking forward to a lot more of this kind of terrain here in Vallnord. It's rocky, rooty and slick, with some brutally steep ski slope climbs. . . I haven't had good races here but I've always thought this could be a great course for me. So I'm excited to give it another go this weekend and fight for a Top-16 call up in tomorrow's short track. #stanspivot #rideshimano #ridefox #vallnord #ucimtbwc
Another top-15 finish at World Cup. That's all I could do, and I'm happy with that. It hurt a bit to see another top-10 slip away but I'm just not quite there yet. . . But having four elite women from the U.S.A finish in the top-16 was pretty spectacular. 🇺🇸🙌 #ucimtbwc #valdisole . . 📷: @mdelormephoto
Yesterday hurt. A lot. We raced up the finish of the downhill course, lap after short lap. I missed the front group from the start, and didn't put in my hardest efforts when they would have counted the most. Live and learn. So I settled for 12th place, completely spent. That effort was a bit of a shock, but I feel more prepared for the big show tomorrow. My bike and @usacycling support are dialed. I've done my homework and have a whole lot of gratitude for the opportunity to race for the US National Team 🇺🇸 #teamusa #ucimtbwc #valdisole 📷: @mdelormephoto