March 24th, 2011 8:35am
To ride downhill moutain bikes seriously takes guts, but to follow your dream to be a world cup champion and be self supporting takes much much more. It takes determination and focus and yes money. This past weekend the downhill community of the greater Phoenix area and the surrounding areas turned out big time to support one of their own in her quest to race the world cup series.
Pro-Downhill Racer Jackie Harmony held a fundraiser at South Mountain Park in Phoenix to raise the money for her World Cup Downhill Campaign in 2011. Riders and fans alike came out to South Mountain Park to enjoy shuttles to the top of the trails, delicious food cooked by the Harmony's, gear give-aways, games, and some good old family fun. With World Cup Races ranging from Canada to Europe to South Africa, it can cost a rider a lot to fly themselves and their gear to all the races.
Local shuttle and tour operator Bob Ehlert from Gnar Gnar Tours (www.gnargnartours.com) offered to help the Harmony’s organize a grass roots fundraiser where supporters could chip in to send their local DH hero to compete on the world stage.
It all started on a beautiful sunny Phoenix morning with a mountain of pancakes and South Mountain ready for shredders. The vans were gassed up, the griddle was hot, the rippers were arriving and stoke was in the air, all to help Jackie Harmony (All Mountain Cyclery/Vixen Racing) on her quest to dominate the World Cups this year. Everyone who showed up to ride made a donation to get a limited edition “Jackie Harmony for World Domination” T-shirt and Pint Glass printed and donated by local screen printers Info Screen Printing.
Jackie and Bonnie Miller (Lear Millers (Team Geronimo) Mom) were working the pancake grill and Dante Harmony and all the Gnar Gnar Tours guys were driving the shuttles. Two 15-passenger vans and 3 trucks were hauling riders to the top for various runs transporting 50 riders a run.
Around the second run Aaron Gwin (Trek) and Melissa Buhl (KHS) showed up to support the event and to sample some of SOMO's Gnar! It was great having those two pros riding with the crew stoking everyone out and showing what world cup speed looks like.
In between runs, riders were grabbing hotcakes and drinks fueling their rides. Jackie had her Canfield Jedi frame that was fresh off the boat on display for everyone to hold and feel. It's gonna be sweet watching her race on the Internet and saying, “I touched that frame!”
All day long, riders were grabbing food, shredding and buying raffle tickets for the slew of donated goodies by Smith, MRP, Atom Lab, Canfield Bros, All Mountain Cyclery, Cactus Bikes, Pivot Bicycles, Soul Cycles, Gnar Gnar Tours, Cove Bikes, and many more!!! After a few more runs, the BBQ was fired up to grill a few cases of bratwurst that were graciously donated by Johnsonville Brats!!! After another run, we cranked up the auction and kicked up the action.
Bob Ehlert co-owner of Gnar Gnar Tours and a professional Auctioneer took over the auction duties for the day. Items were donated from our sponsors Cartridge World, Downhill Mike (Whiteface), SunRingle, Kali Helmets, a 2-Day BetterRide Bike Skills Camp taught by Jackie and her husband Dante (www.BetterRide.net), the helmet and jersey that Jackie wore during the world champs last year and her Cove Bike that she rode all last season at numerous World Cups, Red Bull Burners and the bike she won the Nevada State DownHill Championships this last February.
There was some intense bidding action and a bunch of local riders taking home some pieces of AZ Downhill history and one lucky and smart buyer that got a one in a lifetime chance to own a true World Cup Race bike!!! Since Jackie auctioned off her Cove Shocker and did not have her new Canfield bike built up yet, Melissa Buhl so kindly lent Jackie her Lucky 7 for a couple of runs. Jackie had a blast riding with everyone and even signed her Cove Shocker, for the lucky winner, on the trail.
After the auction we had a slow race/bike derby for a set of Gold Atom Lab PimpLite Rims. One lucky and resilient rider got to take them home!
At the end of the day over 100 riders got plenty of shred and gnar, almost everyone took home some raffle items, a handful of bidders got some great items and they all helped Jackie to raise thousands of dollars to help her in her travels to Dominate the World!!! Some donations are still coming in, but so far the grass roots effort has raised over $7,500 towards traveling expenses for the season. Jackie will now turn her eye towards engaging additional corporate and industry sponsors who want to help get an American racing legend atop the World Cup podium.
Visibly emotional, Jackie comments, “This day has been the most amazing day ever with everyone who showed up to support this wonderful dream that I have. I don’t think I can thank everyone enough for all the help and support that has been given and is still coming in.”
We want to thank the event sponsors:
Gnar Gnar Tours
Info Screen Printing
Johnsonville Brats
Soul Cycles
Pivot Bicycles
MRP
AtomLab
Canfield Bros
All Mountain Cyclerly
Cartridge World
Downhill Mike
Kali Protrectives
SunRingle
Cove Bikes
Smith Optics
Jackie would like to thank her sponsors and everyone for being so generous and ripping that mountain up and eating all of her pancakes!!!
Jackie Harmony rides for:
Vixen Racing
All Mountain Cyclery
Canfield Bros. Bikes
Kali Protectives
SDG USA
5.10 Shoes
Atom Lab
Hayes
Smith
Camelbak
Marzocchi
MRP
Troy Lee Designs
ODI
Schwalbe
TXTR-LITE
Eco-Sphere.com
We also want to thank the Phoenix Parks Department for letting a bunch of dirty downhillers take over the mountain for a day of shuttles, BBQ and fundraising!!! Also want to thank all the riders for an epic event and making an Arizona Local rider dreams come true!!!
If you want to help Jackie fulfill her dream that few even reach for, you can contact them directly at:
Email: [email protected]
Location: News >> Downhill Mountain Bike Community Supports Local Hero's Quest for World Title
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