What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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8 What's up! september 11-17, 2022 Feature Jumps Are High, Goals Even Higher mountain bike also a tool to dismantle systemic racism APRIL WALLACE NWA Democrat-Gazette L ater this week, the Sunset Summit will draw international and prominent national mountain biking ambassadors to the Momentary Green in Bentonville to give women tools to become better mountain bikers while forming deep bonds and community. The events are hosted by the Women of OZ, a local nonprofit organization that has produced the highest number of certified female mountain biking coaches in the country. Sunset Summit will include a panel event, coaching clinics and a concert by alt pop band Japanese Breakfast, named Best New Artist at this year's Grammy Awards. More than 75 top mountain-biking industry leaders and coaches will lead OZ trail rides and workshops, according to a news release. Scheduled keynote speakers for the summit are Brooke Goudy, co-leader of Black Girls Do Bike; Lindsey Richter, the founder of Ladies AllRide, whom you might remember as a contestant on "Survivor"; and the first professional mountain biker of east Indian heritage, Anita Naidu. "Anita (Naidu) is a talented trailblazer in the women's mountain bike space," says Allyson de la Houssaye of Women of OZ. "She's the first Black/Brown pro female rider, DEAI advocate and conservationist. We are beyond excited to have her as a part of this incredible event." Naidu is an award-winning humanitarian, engineer and aspiring astronaut from Whistler, British Columbia. She will be speaking at the panel event on Sept. 16 and coaching mountain biking clinics on Sept. 17. She chatted with What's Up! prior to her visit. You hold titles as many "firsts." First mountain biking pro of Eastern Indian descent and being among the first women to compete at Crankworx Speed and Style at Innsbruck, Austria, are just a couple. How does that feel to earn those distinctions? Is it ever bittersweet knowing that surely women before you must have wanted the same opportunities? Anita Naidu's coaching style incorporates ways to fight systemic racism. she says the good news is, as long as you are committed to stamping out racism wherever it appears, especially in oneself, you can always bring positive change. (Courtesy photo/ s. allen)