A few weeks ago Nina Buitrago helped organize the third annual “Ray’s Angels” women weekend at Ray’s MTB in Cleveland, Ohio. I took a trip out there to ride the amazing park and see what kind of stuff the girls in BMX are throwing down these days. I was really impressed with their riding, and had an absolute blast hanging out, riding, and filming with them for the weekend. I ended up with plenty enough footage for Ride’s first-ever all-female video and caught up with Nina to shed some light on Ray’s Angels and to see what it’s like for girl riders in BMX today.
Video by Fat.
An Interview With Nina Buitrago
For those who don’t know, give us a good overview of what the event is and what goes on during the weekend…
History was made again this year at Ray’s as the 3rd annual Women’s Weekend went down, and was yet again, the largest non-competitive women’s biking event of the year!
Photo by Fat. Click to enlarge.
How did the idea of a girls’ weekend come about and what has been your involvement with it for the past three years?
I made it a stipulation when I got hired at Ray’s that I had to be allowed to throw at least one girl’s BMX jam a year as I have elsewhere in years past. Ray agreed as long as I just made it a women’s weekend open to all disciplines of biking.
How has the event changed and grown since the first year?
Over the last three years we’ve doubled our attendance each year, and this year was the largest turnout at about 200 women over the entire weekend! So awesome! Friday was the main event, ladies only until 4pm, free clinics by the top female pros in not only BMX, but all disciplines of MTB, downhill XC, and free-ride. It was amazing! The girls could roam from station to station throughout the park and work on some new moves at each section. And this year we had DK donate a bike to raffle off, Etnies threw down some tees and hoodies, Bern through down some helmets, and we had a sweet afterparty sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon.
“What’s so crazy and awesome about this event is by the end of the weekend, confidence is boosted, tons of new friends are made, and new skills were owned.”
How much of the event is BMX versus mountain bikes, and how do the two groups interact on and off their bikes?
Well, I’d say about 20 percent of the girls that attended were there to ride BMX, but it was pretty cool because a lot of the fundamentals of riding crossover to mountain bikes, with the exception that we don’t have suspension. At Ray’s, you’re having so much fun it’s easy to not even realize you’re riding with people that are in way bigger bikes, haha. It was just insane to see so many girls in the same building all clearing jumps, teaching each other tricks, making each other go for it.
Since there aren’t any other events like this for women, it must be pretty special for you girls… What does this event mean to the female riders?
What’s so crazy and awesome about this event is by the end of the weekend, confidence is boosted, tons of new friends are made, and new skills were owned. It’s like the ultimate girls on bikes jam in a non-competitive setting. All of the progression is pretty contagious, which makes it even more rewarding and worthwhile.
Describe how you view the women’s BMX scene in 2010.
Well, it’s 2010, and there are so many more girls riding BMX now than ever-not just here in the U.S, but worldwide. There used to be a time when a small handful of us were able to all meet up from all corners of the country once a year at a Women of Freestyle Jam, or we’d get together and do a road trip somewhere, but there are so many girls riding now from all different ages and styles of riding, and with everyone so spread out all over the place geographically it’s almost impossible to coordinate everyone in the same spot, which if I may add is freakin’ awesome! I dig that it’s going strong and that there are so many younger girls out there going for it.
Nina getting stylish with a toboggan at the 2009 Toronto BMX Jam. Photo by Fat.
You have arguably been the best female rider in the U.S. for several years now, so naturally a lot of girl riders look up to you. What’s that like, and tell us about some of the up and comers.
Wow, thanks man, I kind of forget that I’ve been around so long sometimes. It’s kind of cool; I’m still pretty pumped every time I meet some new girls that ride. There are a lot of younguns to look out for lately, from this past weekend, especially Angie Marino, Lauren Valluci, Zandille from Germany… These girls and then some are on a mission. I’ve really gotten a kick out of showing them older bike videos. I can’t believe how none of them have ever seen or heard of Seek N Destroy, Nowhere Fast, Dirty Deeds, and Don’t Quit Your Day Job, haha. It kind of makes me feel like way older than I am, haha.
How do contests like the Toronto BMX Jam and this year’s Jomopro that have a girls’ class play a role in (for lack of better words) the women’s movement in BMX?
I think its great motivation! We need more contests like Toronto and Jomopro to consistently offer a girl’s class. If we know ahead of time there is going to be a girl’s class, we can all plan ahead, get together, and step up our riding from the year before.
