In this lively discussion, Erica Tingey, a Mountain Performance Coach and founder of "Women in the Mountains," shares her journey from pro mountain biker to empowering women in endurance sports. She recounts thrilling adventures like climbing Mt. Rainier and overcoming the fears associated with mountain biking, emphasizing the importance of mindset and skills coaching. Erica highlights the growth of her coaching company and discusses her aspirations to ski year-round, inspiring listeners with her passion for the mountains and the transformative power of representation in sports.
Erica Tingey highlights her journey from amateur outdoor sports enthusiast to a professional competitive mountain biker, exemplifying the transformative power of rekindling past passions.
Through her initiative 'Women in the Mountains', Erica emphasizes the crucial role of mindset and skills training in empowering women to overcome fears in mountain biking.
Erica continually seeks personal challenges in the mountains, illustrating that goal-setting and exploration contribute significantly to fulfillment and happiness in outdoor activities.
Deep dives
Early Adventures in the Mountains
Erica shares her profound connection to the Wasatch mountains, which she considers her true home, having been born and raised in Salt Lake City. Her journey into outdoor sports began with hiking, which she describes as her 'gateway drug' to the mountains, escalating to rock climbing by age 14. Erica fondly recalls early experiences exploring the rugged terrain, often alone, and the thrill of navigating trails before she even learned to drive. Such formative experiences shaped her love for maps and the outdoors, ultimately guiding her to pursue a degree in geography.
Path to Becoming a Mountain Biker
Although Erica began mountain biking at a young age, she didn't fully commit until her 30s after having her son. Initially a competitive road cyclist, she discovered that her fitness translated well into mountain biking, leading her to enter local races. She quickly rose through the ranks, winning events and eventually attaining her pro license after impressively dominating a national race. Her journey showcases a blend of determination, fitness, and the pivotal moment of re-engaging with her past love for mountain biking.
Shifting Focus: From Racing to Coaching
After a successful competitive career, Erica decided to shift her focus from racing to empowering women through mountain biking skills coaching. She founded 'Women in the Mountains', which started as a small event and grew into a significant initiative for women looking to enhance their biking skills. Throughout this journey, she understood the importance of mindset in overcoming fears associated with mountain biking, drawing from her own experiences of being overcome by nerves on difficult descents. Erica highlights how developing the right techniques and mindset can make a transformative difference in one's biking confidence.
Embracing Personal Projects
Erica continually seeks personal challenges, which she describes as essential for her engagement with the mountains. Recent endeavors include skiing every month of the year and a commitment to ride every trail in Park City, which fostered a deep appreciation for the diverse trails often overlooked. These projects offer her a path to explore her limits, revealing that meaningful fulfillment can lie in setting and achieving personal goals. She reflects on the joy and peace she finds in the mountains, emphasizing that these experiences contribute significantly to her overall happiness and sense of self.
The Importance of Skills and Mindset
Reflecting on her evolution as a mountain athlete, Erica emphasizes the significance of developing both physical skills and a positive mindset. She advocates for women to push their limits while ensuring they have the right knowledge and training to do so safely. Erica believes that overcoming fears in outdoor sports can lead to profound personal growth, offering a unifying experience among female athletes. Her message is clear: with the right skills and determination, anyone can unlock their potential and thrive in the mountains.
Erica Tingey is a Mountain Performance Coach and Founder of "Women in the Mountains". In this episode of the Eighth Lane Endurance Podcast Erica chats about climbing The Grand at 14, guiding Mt. Rainier, Pro Cycling, Women in Endurance sports and much more. Erika is a gem and this is such a fun, happy listen !
https://www.instagram.com/ericatingey/
https://www.womeninthemountains.com
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