At PEARL iZUMi, we’re dedicated to supporting advocacy programs that lead to more riders and more places to ride. To support that mission, we award Go Grants every year to groups that foster new riders, encourage inclusivity, and improve riders’ experiences on trails, through increased access and sustainable maintenance. This year, 5% of every purchase you made between Thanksgiving Day and Giving Tuesday were donated to Go Grants. Thanks to your contributions this holiday season, we were able to hit our goal of raising $25,000! Here’s a look at one Go Grants-funded initiative from 2022. We can’t wait to see what next year brings—thank you! 

2022 Go Grants Recipient: She Digs

This summer, PEARL iZUMi Crew Member Brooke Goudy (Co-Leader of Black Girls Do Bike Denver) and Kristen Smith (Co-Founder of The Elevated Alpine) teamed up to create an invite-only trail building retreat to bring together 50+ industry-connected and community-minded women in Nederland, Colorado. 

The purpose of the retreat was to give thanks to some of the most influential women in mountain biking on the Front Range for all the work they do to amplify women in the outdoors and to give back to the trails we ride daily. Kristen and Brooke strived to create a space where participants could have a good time, make connections, and amplify their reach within the broader mountain bike community. 

This inspiring cadre spent the weekend building trails under the blazing sun, riding single track on a diverse range of bikes for all abilities, and making long lasting connections under the stars. This weekend was a chance to appreciate all of the work that goes into maintaining our trails and to take a step back to appreciate everyone's accomplishments in advancing women in mountain biking. 

Kristen and Brooke believe representation matters and aimed to create an inclusive space for female identifying mountain bike riders - no matter their body type, ability, race, or gender. And this retreat was no exception. In addition this event honored and acknowledged that it took place on the traditional territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne, Arapahoe, Ute, and Sioux Nations. To acknowledge also the painful history of genocide and forced removal from this territory and pay respect to the Tribal Nations still connected to this land, She Digs gave a percentage of sponsorship funds back to the Indigenous community.

This event would not have been possible without the support from community organizations and partner companies including: Pearl Izumi, The Elevated Alpine, Black Girls Do Bike, Boulder Mountainbike Alliance, VIDA Mtb, and City of Boulder. Special thanks to event sports including Trail Trust, REI, Sports Garage Cycling, Specialized Boulder, or Chamois Buttr. 

Photography & Videography: Kristen Smith