Women Who Love Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding & Freeride Mountain Biking
Overdue Dish: 5 Questions for Featured Diva Jackie Baker
Last month, I featured member Jackie Baker, with the intention of sharing a few more details about her crazy life, which got a little delayed by the craziness of the holidays. No matter, because now is the perfect time to dish the dirt on this downhilling biker chick, and share a bit about the online store she runs, Freeride Foundation, which is filled with mtb clothing and accessories made just for women. (Hint, go check it out, because there are some MAJOR sales going on right now!)
Every DH Diva has a cool story, so that's one of the reasons I like to turn the spotlight on a member of this community from time to time. Most of the members here are passionate about all of their activities, and just have an attitude that screams "GO FOR IT", now matter what / how scary IT is. In addition to being a pro downhill mountain bike racer, Jackie is a killer skier and a self-employed woman, with some other special talents, like massage therapy.
Q. Why did you want to startup your own small business?
Jackie: I came up with the idea for Freeride Foundation about a year ago. I've worked in online retail and the action sports industry for a long time, and when I discovered how annoying it was to shop for cool downhill riding gear online and at brick-and-mortar shops, things fell into place.
It's difficult for most shops to stock a wide variety of women's products because their cash is tied up in bikes and hard goods and men's stuff. However, I know that there are enough women riders and athletes out there to support their own website.
My friend Allie and I put the site together last winter and it launched March 1, 2008. We're trying to create a community that gives women riders more exposure and a greater voice in the industry. We have an active Blog, Forum, and Race Calendar. Our goal is to make Freeride Foundation the place for girls to get their clothing and gear, plus their gravity news and information.
Q.What's been the biggest challenge at FF?
Jackie: The hardest part of running the business has been staying positive and patient. The economy hasn't been super, and since it's our first year, I'm having a hard time telling if slow times are due to the off season or due to less consumer spending. I want the site to succeed so badly that I forget that it takes time to build a customer base and get the word out.
Q.There's got to be an upside- what is it?
Jackie: The cool thing is that when Allie or I come up with an idea, we can implement it right away. We're constantly thinking of ways to improve the site or new services to offer, and we don't have to ask anyone's permission to try them out. So, since the site is constantly evolving and improving, we're open to outside input and can make adjustments pretty easily.
The other cool thing is that I'm able to connect with our customers to make sure we're carrying what they want, and able to take care of their needs. We welcome exchanges and returns because we want everyone who buys from us to be completely stoked on their products.
Note: one of my favorite features on FF is "What Would JayBay Wear?" - a sizing guide based on her own real measurements - a brave thing to put out there. (maybe I like it so much because we're super close in size though).
Q.What would surprise people most about you who only know you as a rippin' biker/skier? you know, off trail stuff.
Jackie: I'm a geek. I guess that's no surprise, though. I listen to NPR like 5 hours a day, I don't own a car, and I usually work two other jobs in addition to the website. Maybe this is why I'm single?
Q.Do you not own a car a because you're trying to be green, or are you just cheap?
Jackie: Well, yes to all of the above? I sold my car when I was living in Northern California this summer. Gas prices were way above 4.00, I couldn't afford to drive anywhere anyway, and I was listening to NPR 5 hours a day. Also, I'm a very expensive driver. Coming home from Angel Fire earlier this year, I got a $300 speeding ticket. I had 2 others on my insurance, and my insurance was already ridiculous.
So, combining all of that with the fact that I would soon need new tires and a 90,000 mile tune-up, I got pretty freaked out (and I was still paying the car off). At first I didn't think I could do it. Now, I know I couldn't have made it through the fall without a major struggle. Also, it helped me choose to move to Park City instead of Salt Lake. I can ride the free bus all over town, up to Deer Valley to ride my DH bike, to any of the PC ski resorts, and even to Bed, Bath, and Beyond!
##
If you want to meet Jackie in person (if you haven't already) and come out in support of the Freeride Foundation, as well as Defiant Sports Management, another recently launched business by DH Diva Liana Gregory (more to come on her soon...) - you can attend the event they're hosting @ the Sidecar Bar, 333 Main Street in Park City, Utah on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 8:00pm.
You can race your friends with the help of www.saltcitysprints.com - just $5 to enter the races.
Raffle prizes and mayhem to follow.
Every DH Diva has a cool story, so that's one of the reasons I like to turn the spotlight on a member of this community from time to time. Most of the members here are passionate about all of their activities, and just have an attitude that screams "GO FOR IT", now matter what / how scary IT is. In addition to being a pro downhill mountain bike racer, Jackie is a killer skier and a self-employed woman, with some other special talents, like massage therapy.
Q. Why did you want to startup your own small business?
Jackie: I came up with the idea for Freeride Foundation about a year ago. I've worked in online retail and the action sports industry for a long time, and when I discovered how annoying it was to shop for cool downhill riding gear online and at brick-and-mortar shops, things fell into place.
It's difficult for most shops to stock a wide variety of women's products because their cash is tied up in bikes and hard goods and men's stuff. However, I know that there are enough women riders and athletes out there to support their own website.
My friend Allie and I put the site together last winter and it launched March 1, 2008. We're trying to create a community that gives women riders more exposure and a greater voice in the industry. We have an active Blog, Forum, and Race Calendar. Our goal is to make Freeride Foundation the place for girls to get their clothing and gear, plus their gravity news and information.
Q.What's been the biggest challenge at FF?
Jackie: The hardest part of running the business has been staying positive and patient. The economy hasn't been super, and since it's our first year, I'm having a hard time telling if slow times are due to the off season or due to less consumer spending. I want the site to succeed so badly that I forget that it takes time to build a customer base and get the word out.
Q.There's got to be an upside- what is it?
Jackie: The cool thing is that when Allie or I come up with an idea, we can implement it right away. We're constantly thinking of ways to improve the site or new services to offer, and we don't have to ask anyone's permission to try them out. So, since the site is constantly evolving and improving, we're open to outside input and can make adjustments pretty easily.
The other cool thing is that I'm able to connect with our customers to make sure we're carrying what they want, and able to take care of their needs. We welcome exchanges and returns because we want everyone who buys from us to be completely stoked on their products.
Note: one of my favorite features on FF is "What Would JayBay Wear?" - a sizing guide based on her own real measurements - a brave thing to put out there. (maybe I like it so much because we're super close in size though).
Q.What would surprise people most about you who only know you as a rippin' biker/skier? you know, off trail stuff.
Jackie: I'm a geek. I guess that's no surprise, though. I listen to NPR like 5 hours a day, I don't own a car, and I usually work two other jobs in addition to the website. Maybe this is why I'm single?
Q.Do you not own a car a because you're trying to be green, or are you just cheap?
Jackie: Well, yes to all of the above? I sold my car when I was living in Northern California this summer. Gas prices were way above 4.00, I couldn't afford to drive anywhere anyway, and I was listening to NPR 5 hours a day. Also, I'm a very expensive driver. Coming home from Angel Fire earlier this year, I got a $300 speeding ticket. I had 2 others on my insurance, and my insurance was already ridiculous.
So, combining all of that with the fact that I would soon need new tires and a 90,000 mile tune-up, I got pretty freaked out (and I was still paying the car off). At first I didn't think I could do it. Now, I know I couldn't have made it through the fall without a major struggle. Also, it helped me choose to move to Park City instead of Salt Lake. I can ride the free bus all over town, up to Deer Valley to ride my DH bike, to any of the PC ski resorts, and even to Bed, Bath, and Beyond!
##
If you want to meet Jackie in person (if you haven't already) and come out in support of the Freeride Foundation, as well as Defiant Sports Management, another recently launched business by DH Diva Liana Gregory (more to come on her soon...) - you can attend the event they're hosting @ the Sidecar Bar, 333 Main Street in Park City, Utah on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 8:00pm.
You can race your friends with the help of www.saltcitysprints.com - just $5 to enter the races.
Raffle prizes and mayhem to follow.
Comment
About
© 2010 Created by Elisabeth Os on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
©2008 -2009Downhill Divas
You need to be a member of www.Downhill-Divas.org to add comments!
Join this Ning Network