To start…How does it feel to crush the expert field at the Sea Otter? Congrats!

Thanks, It was beyond anything I expected, really. It was one of the first times I had ridden on dirt all year and I was a bit nervous about how rusty my handling skills would be.

What did you do differently this winter to train for Sea Otter?

I spent more time back-country skiing and a lot more time in the weight room than years past. Once I decided to dedicate my training to mountain biking, I worked harder at my overall core and upper body strength. It’s important to be strong all over, especially in the longer, more technically challenging races. I didn’t buy a ski pass and I think earning all of my turns helped me get a solid base in addition to riding the trainer.

Did you change anything with your nutrition? What is a personal nutritional tip you would like to share with our readers?

Yes. I gave up sugar at the start of the new year and began eating by the Paleo Diet for Athletes. It’s a pretty strict diet, but I simply read the book and took from it the elements I thought would fit into my lifestyle. For me that means eating as much fresh fruits and veggies as I want, lots of lean protein and fish, nuts, seeds and dried fruit. I avoid wheat, processed carbs, dairy and refined sugar. However, I will eat some carbs at the right time, meaning right after workouts. It’s important to refuel your muscles with easily digestible carbs and protein after you go hard so you can recover well and be prepared for the next workout. Eating this way allowed me to shed some pounds but most importantly, to feel better all of the time. My energy is more stable and I just feel a lot better on the bike.

What bike are you riding? How is it set up? Are there any Women’s Specific components?

I am riding a Giant NRS, a full-suspension carbon frame bike, size 16.5. No women specific components-I’m above the average female height 5’7’’ and have found no need, yet, for womenspecific parts.

What is your schedule for the rest of the season? Which races are you most focused on?

May and June will be focused on shorter races, mostly around Idaho and Utah in the Intermountain Cup and Knobby Tire series and the Deer Valley NMBS. Then, the focus switches to long distance-I’m signed up for the Cascade Creampuff on July 8th and then the Leadville 100 on August 11, both 100-mile mountain bike races with very different courses , elevations and terrain. The Leadville 100 is my top priority of the season, so much of the summer will be focused on getting ready for that.

We know that Thule has picked you up. What is the potential for other sponsorships?

I hope there’s potential! I’ve just recently been asked to represent a new training facility starting up in Jackson, WY called The Athlete’s Place. But, I do hope that I will be able to find other sponsors to help me race at the pro level, especially a bike sponsor. I would love to ride and race on one of the new, lightweight xc bikes that’s out there right now.

What do you feel is important to keep in mind when climbing up to the pro status. What are your thoughts or tips for women trying to move up the ranks in the cycling world?

That you should first and foremost be pursuing racing for yourself. It certainly has to be a long term-comittment and you have to be confident in your dedication to improving, riding through the bad days and know that the drive to get better has to come from within you, not from a sponsor, a coach or friends. My advice to all women wanting to move up in the sport is to hire a good coach. Hiring my coach, Eric Orton, was the best thing I ever did. He allows me to focus on riding hard, and removes the stress of trying to figure it out on my own. I know that every workout, every rest day and each warm up is exactly what I should be doing that day in order to become a stronger rider.

Any training tips you would want to share? Music, layering, resting?

Go really hard on the hard days and really easy on the easy days. The most common mistake riders make is going the same speed all of the time and never challenge their muscles. Music: I usually ride with it on the road and sometimes on trails. but you have to use your judgement-don’t listen to music on busy trails and consider using just one headphone so you can hear what’s going on around you.

Born and raised in Ipswich, MA, Amanda came to Jackson Hole after graduating from The Colorado College in 2000 with a BA in Political Science. After a stint as a bread baker at the Wild Flour Bakery, she began working for the Jackson Hole Land Trust as a fund-raiser to help preserve the area’s natural beauty. She was hired as Friends of Pathways Development Director in October 2006 to help the organization keep pace with the community’s desire for more pathways, sidewalks and trails. She now happily spends her days raising money to support FOP’s programs and advocacy to promote the safe use of non-motorized transportation, something she truly believes is important to the Jackson Hole community’s quality of life.
Amanda is also an avid mountain and road biker, back-country telemark and Nordic skier and loyal dog owner. As a sponsored mountain bike racer, she travels all over the west to compete, but stresses that her favorite place to ride will always be around the Tetons. Amanda resides in Victor, ID along with her boyfriend Nate.