Ladies on Arabians

I came across an interesting story today. Now I've heard of women getting awareness for something they feel strongly in by riding a walking, running, riding a bicycle/motorcycle, or flying a plane somewhere. But I can't remember of ever reading about a lady doing this on horseback.

There is a group of 7 women in the gulf who plan to spread awareness of Arabian horse traditions and raise money for charities. This trek will be about 250 miles.

As I read this story more I saw that these women actually had to be trained to ride for this trip. I'm wondering how much riding experience they had?

So these ladies will be visiting the seven Emirates on their 15 day trek (that's how long they think it will take. Here's more information about Emeriates taken from Wikapedia: The United Arab Emirates (also the UAE or the Emirates) is a Middle Eastern country situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf, comprising seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajmān, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain.

In each emirate the women will plant a palm tree as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the Arab world to war, famine and disease.

The seven equestrians come from seven Arab countries and are mounting Arabian horses which are widely regarded as among the finest breeds in the world.

The women taking part in what organisers have dub-bed the Love and Faith Trip apparently had to acquire horse riding skills in a short period of time. The women were trained at the Al Ahli Horse Riding Club in Dubai, the main organisers of the trip.

This would be a great story to follow for the next 15 days. I wonder how it'll go?

You can read the full story at: http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/01/28/10100094.html

How To Be Secure

Only in growth, reform, and change, paradoxically enough, is true security to be found.
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

"I'm in to win. And that's what I intend to do." -Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on her run for president.

Great Resource Site For Ladies of ALL Ages

Here's a great site with lots of great articles and upcoming female action sports for ladies of all ages. It's called, Girls Learn To Ride.

The following is taken from their FAQ:

What is Girls Learn To Ride?

Girls Learn To Ride (GLTR), the original series of female-only action sports clinics and camps, is designed to give females of all ages the basic skills and confidence necessary to participate in skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, motocross, bmx and mountain biking. In this program, skilled professionals provide hands-on training with an emphasis on safety and skill development. Now in its seventh year, GLTR has taught tens of thousands of girls and women a new action sport. The program will host a number of events throughout the United States and Canada in 2006.

This year, Girls Learn To Ride launch “GLTR – online source for Female Action Sports.” The website is now an online magazine where you can find out about upcoming events in your area, Interviews with top athletes, Lifestyle stories & features, product reviews and an online store featuring the top gear for each sport.

Check it out at: http://www.girlslearntoride.com

Dust to Glory

I have no idea why I've taken so long to watch this DVD. I'm overwhelmed with emotion after watching this. This race is like no other. Any man or woman that enters this race is right up there in my book.

In the Indy and Nascar races you've got cars on a nice smooth track that is the same...for the whole race. AND NO ONE is allowed on that course during the race.

The Baja 1000 is a different bird all together. You're riding 1000 miles either on a dirt bike, truck, buggy, quad, and yes...there are even VW BUGS, who race on and off road both in the day and night. Most racers ride as a team, but there are a few iron men and women who ride the whole race.

This movie covers mostly the men who race, but there's a few moments where they talk about the women too. Many of the woman race because they were tired of watching their husband, dads, brothers race. So they've decided to join in the fun too.

Some of the women mentioned in this movie were Kate Sutton, Bekki Freeman, Amy Thomas and Kelly Clement. Kelly's husband talked about how since Kelly's been racing she's happier and healthier than ever.

I ride a motorcycle, not even a dirt bike, and have to constantly be aware of anything that might cross my path, and I rarely ride at night. I can't imagine riding a dirt bike 100 + miles an hour with bystanders just inches away, dogs and cows in the road...oh yeah the roads or "track" is never shut down to just racers. When they're racing on road there are non racing vehicles all over the place. When they're off road there's pot holes, cliffs, just the natural terrain that is anything but flat and completely unforgiving. Oh, don't forget the cactus's. There was scenes of a guy pulling those out of his arms.

Then there's the dust or silt that bikes and vehicles get lost in, it's so deep. I would think if you lost your bike in that you'd have a hard time finding it again. That's rough in the day time, but to do that at night....with bikes and vehicles in front, behind and to the side of you.

You've got people with broken vehicles, motorcycles, body parts...who continue to race. Yes, it's about winning, but it's also about finishing the race. Finishing that race is a HUGE accomplishment.

As I mentioned the racers ride during the night. You think bystanders would go home for the night but it seemed like more people came out to watch. It would be 4:30 in the morning and there were people out there cheering them on.

Oh and the chase cars...they're helicopters.

After you watch the movie be sure to watch the Behind the Scenes clip. Really awesome on how this movie was shot and just like the race itself it took some major determination to create this DVD.

After watching this I went back and read Anna Cody's/Iron man account of her race.

As some of you may or may not know I crossed the finish line of the Baja 1000 on 11/17/06 somewhere around 4:20pm. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, I rode for 33 hours and 35 minutes, the longest break I took was 1 hour, and that was around 2:30am after my bike nearly got ran over by a trophy truck, I had to sit down and get myself together. I was just outside of Loreto when a silt pocket swallowed my XR650 I came up out of it only to dump it over on its side in a two track road with the rear wheel hanging in the tracks, the lights flickered off and I tried to pull the bike out of the way when I suddenly heard the roar of the trophy truck, suddenly I could see everything I worked so hard for go down the drain, in an instant I threw myself in front of the bike waiving my arms up and down, the co driver saw me and motioned to the driver, who than pitched the truck sideways into the bushes, the truck went sideways and missed my bike by about one inch, I had such an adrenaline rush I grabbed that bike and pulled it 25 feet off the course and picked it up, I peed my pants and than started the bike and went on to pit 14 for a well deserved break...

You can read the rest of her story at: http://www.blinkinteract.com/2006/12/anna_cody_first_woman_to_solo_1.html

I also know that Anna Cody is putting together a DVD of her race. Hopefully it will be out soon!!

Amy Racina on Montel Williams

Here's some pictures from yesterday when Amy was on Montel Williams. This was a great segment. Even had her reanacting her fall.


Everytime I see Amy I'm always impressed by this quiet peace about her. This is a woman who knows what it's like to be so close to death, yet has the determination to survive no matter what.

On the show Amy talked about how she felt everyone holds inside of them this determination to live no matter what. Montel didn't agree with her though. I think he sees something special about her too, something you just don't see in people all the time.


It was interesting how Montel started out the show too. He said, "There's all these bad guys out there and you go hiking by yourself?! What are you thinking?" Amy's simple reply was that the farther out in the wilderness you go, the less chance there are of bad guys."

I wonder how many thoughts of "bad guys out there" keep women from doing things they only dream of?

Mother Teresa...another rebel!

The other night I rented the DVD Mother Teresa. If you're like me and don't know a lot about how Mother Teresa got started or much about her story. I highly recommend this movie. I was very surprised at what this woman had to go through to help the poor in Calcutta.

There's a line in the movie where Mother Teresa is torn between wanting to be a Nun no matter what, but also feeling called to help these extremely poor people. Imagine a church not wanting their people to help the poor, because it just didn't look good?! Anyway, there's a line where Mother Teresa is praying and says, "Lord Help Me! Why can't I be like other nuns?"

While I've never prayed to be a Nun, I know I've prayed a similar prayer like that more than once in myself. Being who we are sometimes go against the grain of what others think we should be. For Mother Teresa, thank goodness she kept true to herself, and went after her dream of helping these people. She changed lives! Even the church finally saw it her way, although it wasn't easy.

Hillary Swank Gets Her Star

I've always been a big fan of Hillary Swank. When she received her Oscar for Boys Don't Cry I was amazed at her acceptance speech she talked about coming to Hollywood with her mom with only $75 to their name. They lived out of their car while Hillary tried to find work as an actress.

Two Oscars later, and a new movie coming out called Freedom Writers, which I'm looking forward to seeing, this woman had a dream and went for it. Congratulations on your Star Hillary!!


Photo: AP/ Nick Ut

Watch Montel Williams today Jan. 9th, 2007

Received the following from Amy Racina...


Amy Racina "Angels in the Wilderness" on The Montel Show

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

On Tuesday, January 9, The Montel Show will be featuring a story about
me, my wilderness survival tale, and my book "Angels in the
Wilderness."

The Montel Williams Show is a national daytime talk show with 11
million viewers. My episode includes photos, some  re-enactment
sequences (I didn't actually have to fall off of any more cliffs) , an
interview, and discussions with two survival "experts."

www.montelshow.com

Check for local air-times in your TV guide, or at www.MontelShow.com

Thanks for your support!
-Amy

******
Amy Racina
Author: Angels in the Wilderness
ISBN: 0971088896
www.Angelsinthewilderness.com

A 60-foot fall onto granite. Both legs shattered. Off-trail. Utterly
alone in deep wilderness. Backpacker Amy Racina’s compelling new memoir
“Angels in the Wilderness” chronicles her terrifying true-life ordeal.

See Amy on "The Montel Williams Show" www.Montelshow.com January 9,
2007!

Nancy Pelosi - From Stay-at-Home Mom to Speaker of the House!

I can't help but look at this picture taken by Stephen Crowley of The New York Times and smile. Nancy surrounded by her grandkids, other peoples grandkids and children...it makes you proud to be a woman/mom/grandmother/stay-at-home mom/executive...whoever and whatever you might be. Pelosi is an incredible example of what a woman can achieve.

Nancy was a stay-at-home mom, mother of five, and didn't even enter the political arena until her last child went to college. That made Pelosi 47 years old when she started her career and now at the age of 66 is the FIRST LADY Speaker of the house.

It feels good having a woman in such a influential role in government who KNOWS what it's like to be a stay-at-home mom, who KNOWS what it's like to be a woman living in this country with all it's biases, glass ceilings...and yet Pelosi has shown us by her own example that we can do and become ANYTHING we set our mind to. The only thing that stands in our way as women, is many times our own thoughts that we are limited in our opportunties.

The last Sunday I was able to attend Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco and much of the sermon preached by Pastor Douglass Fitch, was centered around the fact that we CELEBRATE Nancy Pelosi. How good it feels that she right where she's supposed to be right now and change...it's a coming! Personally...I can hardly wait!

Nancy Pelosi is sworn in as the first woman speaker of the house!

Nancy Pelosi, 2nd in line to the President, after VP Cheney

Becoming the first woman speaker will send a message to young girls and women
across the country that anything is possible for them.
- Nancy Palosi Wed. Jan 4th, 2007

Kite Snow Boarding/Skiing

I like to fly a kite now and then, and I've seen people on boards in large bodies of water who use a kite to pull them around. So I shouldn't be all that surprised that kite snowboarding/skiing is starting to become popular.

I do remember reading in the book by Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen called No Horizon Is So Far that they used kites to pull them along at times. Sometimes it worked and other times...it wasn't pretty. Above is a picture when it was working.

But with good conditions (no crevasses or strong gusts of wind to knock you around) this might be actually kinda fun. What do you think?

Women in the Wilderness Winter Expedition Weekend in Waterford, Michigan

Ladies if you live in or around Waterford Michigan check this out! AND it's only $65 for the weekend.

Jan. 20 & 21
Women in the Wilderness Winter Expedition at Independence Oaks. Join us for a weekend of fun in the snow and learn about winter outdoor recreation opportunities. Recreation clinics and overnight camping. Clinics include: Gearing up for the Winter, Winter Outdoor Survival, Winter Hiking, Snowshoeing, Cross-country Skiing, Winter Mountain Biking, Ice Fishing, Winter Camping, quinzee hut building and geocaching. Co-sponsored by SOLAR, REI and Women's Weekends, Inc. $65/person. Click here to regisiter.

http://www.oakgov.com/parksrec

Zorbing anyone?

So there's a new sport that has started in New Zealand. I first learned about it on a show called, "Bay Area Backroads" and was a little bummed when I found out I'd have to travel to New Zealand to Zorb. Well in doing a little research I found out that Zorbing is coming to the US. It will be opening early 2007 in the Rocky mountains.

This looks like so MUCH FUN!!

You basically are in this huge bouncy ball (I believe there's some water in there so it's really slickery inside) and then you role down a hill. It looks like a total blast if you ask me. I think at this point I have a better chance of making it to the Rocky Mountains than I do New Zealand, but hey...you never know.

If I get to Zorb...I'll tell you all about it!!

Anna Cody, Ironwoman of Baja 1000

So until a few months ago, I had never heard of the Baja 1000 and to be totally honest with you, I still don't completely understand it. What I do know though is that I wish I could be at the next one in 2007 to see it, and write about it. Because the stories I keep hearing about it are just incredible.

I first became aware of the Baja 1000 when I came across Kathy Jarvis's site. I followed her this year via the Net. She wasn't able to finish the race in 2006, but I have a feeling she'll be at it again in 2007.

Then today I received an email from a gentleman named Dan who told me about another woman, Anna Cody, who was in this race. And she raced on motorcycle. If you read anything about Anna Cody, read this post about her personal account of the race. It's just incredible.

Also, check out Anna's website at: http://www.codygirlracing.com

And thanks so much Dan for bringing this to my attention!!

Hi,

I recently read your blog post about Kathy Jarvis attempting to
become the first woman to solo the Baja 1000 in a truck.

As inspiring as that is, the real story should be about Anna Cody.

"[In 2006] Anna Cody became the first female to ever solo and finish
the Baja 1000 [on a motorcycle even!]. She is Ironwoman [the term for
solo finishers]. She etches her name once again in the Baja history
books. Cody and Lillie Sweetland were the first all-female team to
finish the Baja 1000 back in 1990. After Sweetland succumbed to
cancer in 2001, Cody didn't have it in her heart to ride with another
teammate again and that was the impetus behind her solo run. I
suspect she probably helped Cody pull this one off too."

from: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4116&Page=5

Anna not only finished, she finished solo, on a motorcycle!

Here is her blog post about it: http://www.blinkinteract.com/2006/12/anna_cody_first_woman_to_solo_1.html

keep up the good work,
- dan