From a successful downhill racing career, to earning the highest honours on the Crankworx circuit, Vaea has been pushing her limits and exploring the boundaries of our sport for years. As we enter a full decade of working together, we’re proud to be by her side as she helps redefine possibilities for women in freeride.
Using Vancouver Island as a training ground and traveling the world to top tier freeride events, Vaea couldn't be more ready to take on this year’s first-ever Rampage women’s category.
Vaea has been watching Rampage for as long as she can remember. Her first introduction to the idea of 'women in Rampage' came in 2018 during a conversation with a few folks at Red Bull on the event grounds. While it wasn't on her radar back then, she could see the impact it could have on women in the sport. Once she started focusing on freeriding, and participated in all three editions of Formation, it started to shape. Competing in Rampage crystalized into a very real personal vision.
“Formation definitely stoked the fire. I couldn’t imagine Rampage being something I’d feel comfortable doing if it wasn’t for having replicated a similar approach through the Formation platform.”
A huge component to Rampage is creativity. Each rider teams up with a dig team to use the landscape as a canvas to build a line to compete on.
“It will all depend on the terrain we’re given and how we can work it. It’s equally stressful and exciting to have no real idea what that landscape looks like currently! I’ll be working together with my dig team and our common vision to create and build something that showcases, ‘Vaea’s line’.”
As the women’s category is introduced, a new door opens for young freeriders eager to break onto the world stage.
“My advice to young riders is to definitely lean into your passion for biking and let that fuel your progression. You get exposed to quite a bit of fear and nerve-wracking moments, but I’ve learned to love pushing through that feeling and pushing myself. It’s not an easy task, but if you can feel at ease doing that and normalize it, while remaining solid and consistent, then the sky is the limit.”
For Vaea, the best outcome in the inaugural year of the women’s category is for everyone to tackle a few fun yet challenging lines. This event will not only inspire up-and-coming riders but also fire the stoke for big mountain freeride, helping the sport grow for years to come.
“I think the world is catching up and while we love seeing all kinds of people working on their craft and sharing their stoke on bikes, there is now more support coming from different MTB avenues and it allows for the freedom to explore. This has helped create deeper pools of talented riders in all sorts of disciplines to finally shine and establish themselves in the sport.”
Now, the stage is set for history. Regardless of the outcome, Vaea has already carved her name into the legacy of this sport. Her dedication and hard work have paved the way, not just for herself, but for the future of women in freeride.
