I feel like our sport has actually been evolving quite a lot these past few years. I’ve been racing DH for almost 15 years now, and I think female racers finally get a spot on bigger teams and the recognition they deserve. Crankworx events started it with equal prize money, I think now more and more young female riders are dreaming of racing World Cups. Evenly exciting is the rise of the female freeride scene, with events like formation and now a competitive field of speed and style athletes at crankworx.
As a racer, my perspective has always been that having role models for young female riders, racers or not racers at all, is a good way to draw more girls into the sports. To me, we need to give female more opportunity to get into racing and have a chance of making a career. Because being in a pro team doesn’t necessarily mean you are making money! Most of us on the World Cup circuit have ‘real’ jobs aside racing.
I would like to see more female role models, it doesn't matter if they're racers, freeriders or just really sick riders, girls that just shred and are valued as such, not only in words but also in numbers!
I’m not sure how long I still will be racing for, but my dream would be to have the chance to give back to the scene in creating opportunities for young female athletes, in any form possible. It takes time and effort but, as shown with Red Bull, Katie Holden and her team creating formation, with the right mindset and passion behind it, I think a lot of great things are possible!
– Emilie Siegenthaler