Pioneer of Women's BMX Freestyle & First Women to do a Backflip - Cory Coffey

Your Name: Miss Cory CoffeyThats one thing that I dont enjoy is competitiveness...
Age: 24thats what I didnt like about racing... I just look at it as
Hometown: Ojai, Californiame riding my bike having a good time, traveling the
Sponsors: DC, Specialized, ODI, and Utopia OpticsHowworld, and meeting new people.Is it competitive among
did you get started into riding BMX?the girls, or is it more of a friendship?
There were some younger boys in my neighborhoodI think there are def. some people out there that are
that raced bmx bikes, and they encouraged me to gocompetitive, but that comes with any sport. I know a
get one... so I did and started going to the race tracklot of the girls are just like me and are just excited to
with them. I raced for about 3 years and then realizedsee other girls riding.Where do you see the future of
that I didnt like to pedal all that much, so I started goingwomen's BMX going?
to a local indoor skatepark and that was the beginningHonestly, who knows. the world is endless in
of my ramp riding... 7 years ago, wow!You were theopportunities, and if we keep pushing the limits, it could
first girl to do a backflip. What made you do it, howbe just like any other sport.Do other female athletes
many times did it take, and whats the process behindfrom other sports inspire you? If so, who?
doing it.Yes, I am always inspiried by other women athletes...
Yes, I was the first woman in the world to ever do aAimee Mullins is a para olympic athlete that is more
backflip on a bike... I was 19 years old and wasthan amazing... her courage, strength, and her just being
spending a couple of months in Pennsylvania atwho she is pushes me. I think that the free skier Sarah
Woodward Camp.. A guy by the name of JayBurke is awesome.. Lisa Whittaker in skateboarding is
Rodriguez was joking around with me one day sayingreally awesome, along with Cara-beth Burnside in
that we were going to learn backflips that night... I saidskating and snowboarding.What else do you do
yeah sure whatever.. well I guess he was morebesides riding BMX - hobbies, activites, travels?
serious than I thought.. so that night I started learningI love to hang out with friends, go to the beach, hike,
them into the foam pit.. I think the second try I actuallyeat food. Traveling is such an awesome thing as well.. I
got the rotation down, and within a week or so I waslove going to new places and meeting people,
pulling them on the box jump. I then unleashed it at aexperiencing different cultures/food.Do you have a
contest there at Woodward called the CFB contest. Ifavorite movie star or movie?
crashed pretty bad the first two times, but theI have a few favorite movies... Vanilla Sky, Donnie
adreneline was pumping and I was determined to pullDarko, and the Winged Migration.Who are your
it... the third time I pulled it. I never really thought it wasfavorite bands / singers?
that big of a deal... now that I think back on it, it is prettyBoySetsFire, The Spill Canvas, and Jose
cool to make history. Basically its one of the easiestGonzalez.Where is your favorite place to travel to and
tricks in the book I think.. all you have to do is commit towhy?
it... make sure you have enough speed, a good enoughProbably the coolest place I've ever been was
box jump, and just lean back, spot your landing andAfrica... I really want to go back there.. so much stuff
there ya go!What other sports do you enjoy doingto do, beautiful scenery, amazing people, and just one
then?of the greatest places on earth!!What did you want to
I really enjoy snowboarding in the winter andbe when you were growing up (besides a pro rider)?
occassionally mt. biking... I also like to play around onI've always wanted to be a housewife. I'm also
skateboards. I grew up riding a skateboard so itscurrently completing my Bachelor of Science Degree in
always fun.What was it like to be one of the onlyFire Protection Administration Technology at Cal State
female riders in a male dominatedLos Angeles.Do you have any words for all the girls
sport?out there reading this?
Well when I was younger, I never really realized I wasIf you want something in life, go and get it. Practice
the only girl at the skatepark. As the years went on, Ireally does make perfect. Don't ever let anyone or
thought it was pretty cool. I could keep up with theanything stand in the way of your dreams!Shout Outs
guys, and the guy to girl ratio was obviously in my& Thank yous?
favor. hahaBesides yourself, there are a number ofThank you to Dwayne Taylor for always believing in
other female rider who have reallyme, friends, family, Specialized for always giving me
made some headway in pushing the sport for themy bikes, all my sponsors, and to my Lord and Savior
girls. What do you thinkJesus Christ!Mark Sperling is a successful freelance
about the women's scene as a whole?writer, publicist and marketing consultant who's works
I think that it is def. growing which is awesome.. and Ihave been seen in a number of magazines and
am seeing more and more events that are includingwebsites. He is also founder of Girls Learn To Ride -
womens categories which is pretty awesome. A fewthe largest and original series of female-only action
years ago that was unheard of...What women riderssports clinics in surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding,
come to mind and what are your thoughts on yourwakeboarding, motocross, BMX, and mountain biking.
competitive opponents?