July 2009
Check me out in France’s stunting magazine Street Montsters
(I will update this photo with a higher quality image as soon as I get my copy.)
And for my non-French speaking readers :) here is the translated interview:
So Leah, I met you Twice once in Paris, and once in Long Beach, But it seems that you’re more a traveller girl than I can imagine. Can you introduce yourself for French readers ?
I grew up on a farm in Washington State, riding horses, driving tractors and picking cherries. I moved to New York when I was 17 to work and go to school. I lived in Italy and Los Angeles and I love to ride motorcycles. I got my first bike, a GSX-R 600 about 5 years ago and a then a 636 when I moved to California and my F4i about 1.5 years ago.
I discovered stunt riding and the same night almost looped out my pretty 636 trying a slow wheelie, so I bought a F4i the same week and have been riding 3-4 times a week since.
Do you work ? Study ?
I currently work at a Law firm in Manhattan. I am planning to begin law school next fall. So both work and study.
As you’ve been riding for a while now, you can’t ignore that girls are not so numerous. We got some in Europe, and USA also got. But, tell me, why are you all so pretty looking girls??? Jessica Maine, Isa, MaiLin, Stephanie…you ? Why ??
Nice girls have good taste in fun sports!
Do you know them?
I have had the pleasure of riding with Jessica and Alicia in California and to chat with some of the other girls online. It would be the best if we all got to ride together someday!
Do you think being a girl and riding is a good thing for men?
I think it makes them want to practice more, they don’t want girls doing tricks they can’t do themselves.
What’s the most difficult? Being a stuntrider. A pretty girl? Or living in big apple?
I willingly choose to stunt and live in NYC so these are more fun challenges then difficult obstacles. Sometimes it is difficult being a tall, blonde, female because it means I must work harder in everything I do to show people I am more than this. I want people to know me as intelligent, hard working and skilled – in addition to pretty.
Now that you’re in New York City, do you think it gonna be easier to ride and find a spot?
There is definitely not a lot of riding on the island of Manhattan, but we have a spot in Brooklyn with a beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline. We were lucky to meet riders immediately when we moved who helped teach us which spots were good and which spots would land us in jail.
Do you think a smile can help you with the cops? When you take out your helmet!!
Perhaps, they are more curious with me and less aggressive. In the future I would like to use my law experience (and perhaps my smile) to work towards legal spots and increasing riders’ rights.
What do you ride for ? Pleasure ? innovating ? competition ? joining a club ?
Pleasure first, but I really like the technical aspect of riding. Overcoming fears, learning skills, and understanding the mechanics and physics of your bike are things I really enjoy. I would love to take riding to a professional level, become a spokesperson or entrepreneur of sorts.
I know that your boyfriend (sorry guys) is also a stuntrider. Are you aiming do ride better than him?
I would love to be at his level, so we can learn together.
I know that you came in France to visit, but also to ride a bit, and you rode with Tigroo. He’s probably one of the most skilledrider we have here. He got the US Style, the AZ Style. Did he teach you something ?
Not only was Tigroo a very nice person and host (as were his parents!), he was amazing to watch ride. I have never seen anyone as fluid or natural on a motorcycle. From unicycles, to mountain bikes, to mopeds and old Fazer 600s, Tigroo kills them all. He made me very motivated to ride as much as I can in hopes of someday having even half as much control over my bike. But mostly he taught me never to blame the bike! He’s rode the most undesirable bikes ever made and his f4i was absolutely falling apart yet he still kills it with a smile and absolutely zero complaints.
What’s the trick you want to succeed next?
Currently I am working on circles.
What’s your favourite trick, the one you dream about?
Combo circles –or a spreader over the Brooklyn Bridge.
In the US, Clutch control became the 1st female competition ever, do you think we may see you competing there one day?
Female riders have had a late start in the stunting game, but there is no reason we can’t reach the same level as men someday. I feel with continued support between female stunt riders we can build a large community strong and skilled that will be on the same level as men. If I ever get there myself, I’d love to compete, but perhaps in a competition alongside men – like XDL.
Imagine I’m a genie and I give you 3 wishes, what would they be?
-Money for law school
-A big legal spot for all my friends
-A career that would allow me to promote riders rights and gets more females off the back seat and onto their own bike!
If I give you the last sentence of the interview, and I tell you that all French riders are listening to you, what would you say to them?
Support your local female stunters :)
(I will update this photo with a higher quality image as soon as I get my copy.)
And for my non-French speaking readers :) here is the translated interview:
So Leah, I met you Twice once in Paris, and once in Long Beach, But it seems that you’re more a traveller girl than I can imagine. Can you introduce yourself for French readers ?
I grew up on a farm in Washington State, riding horses, driving tractors and picking cherries. I moved to New York when I was 17 to work and go to school. I lived in Italy and Los Angeles and I love to ride motorcycles. I got my first bike, a GSX-R 600 about 5 years ago and a then a 636 when I moved to California and my F4i about 1.5 years ago.
I discovered stunt riding and the same night almost looped out my pretty 636 trying a slow wheelie, so I bought a F4i the same week and have been riding 3-4 times a week since.
Do you work ? Study ?
I currently work at a Law firm in Manhattan. I am planning to begin law school next fall. So both work and study.
As you’ve been riding for a while now, you can’t ignore that girls are not so numerous. We got some in Europe, and USA also got. But, tell me, why are you all so pretty looking girls??? Jessica Maine, Isa, MaiLin, Stephanie…you ? Why ??
Nice girls have good taste in fun sports!
Do you know them?
I have had the pleasure of riding with Jessica and Alicia in California and to chat with some of the other girls online. It would be the best if we all got to ride together someday!
Do you think being a girl and riding is a good thing for men?
I think it makes them want to practice more, they don’t want girls doing tricks they can’t do themselves.
What’s the most difficult? Being a stuntrider. A pretty girl? Or living in big apple?
I willingly choose to stunt and live in NYC so these are more fun challenges then difficult obstacles. Sometimes it is difficult being a tall, blonde, female because it means I must work harder in everything I do to show people I am more than this. I want people to know me as intelligent, hard working and skilled – in addition to pretty.
Now that you’re in New York City, do you think it gonna be easier to ride and find a spot?
There is definitely not a lot of riding on the island of Manhattan, but we have a spot in Brooklyn with a beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline. We were lucky to meet riders immediately when we moved who helped teach us which spots were good and which spots would land us in jail.
Do you think a smile can help you with the cops? When you take out your helmet!!
Perhaps, they are more curious with me and less aggressive. In the future I would like to use my law experience (and perhaps my smile) to work towards legal spots and increasing riders’ rights.
What do you ride for ? Pleasure ? innovating ? competition ? joining a club ?
Pleasure first, but I really like the technical aspect of riding. Overcoming fears, learning skills, and understanding the mechanics and physics of your bike are things I really enjoy. I would love to take riding to a professional level, become a spokesperson or entrepreneur of sorts.
I know that your boyfriend (sorry guys) is also a stuntrider. Are you aiming do ride better than him?
I would love to be at his level, so we can learn together.
I know that you came in France to visit, but also to ride a bit, and you rode with Tigroo. He’s probably one of the most skilledrider we have here. He got the US Style, the AZ Style. Did he teach you something ?
Not only was Tigroo a very nice person and host (as were his parents!), he was amazing to watch ride. I have never seen anyone as fluid or natural on a motorcycle. From unicycles, to mountain bikes, to mopeds and old Fazer 600s, Tigroo kills them all. He made me very motivated to ride as much as I can in hopes of someday having even half as much control over my bike. But mostly he taught me never to blame the bike! He’s rode the most undesirable bikes ever made and his f4i was absolutely falling apart yet he still kills it with a smile and absolutely zero complaints.
What’s the trick you want to succeed next?
Currently I am working on circles.
What’s your favourite trick, the one you dream about?
Combo circles –or a spreader over the Brooklyn Bridge.
In the US, Clutch control became the 1st female competition ever, do you think we may see you competing there one day?
Female riders have had a late start in the stunting game, but there is no reason we can’t reach the same level as men someday. I feel with continued support between female stunt riders we can build a large community strong and skilled that will be on the same level as men. If I ever get there myself, I’d love to compete, but perhaps in a competition alongside men – like XDL.
Imagine I’m a genie and I give you 3 wishes, what would they be?
-Money for law school
-A big legal spot for all my friends
-A career that would allow me to promote riders rights and gets more females off the back seat and onto their own bike!
If I give you the last sentence of the interview, and I tell you that all French riders are listening to you, what would you say to them?
Support your local female stunters :)