Girl On: Cory Coffey
Dec 13 2006 / Los Angeles, CAFearless flipper Cory Coffey isn't afraid to launch upside down on her bike or be the token chick at Woodward
Cory Coffey can do it all…mentor the youth, travel the globe, and fight fires. And, yeah, there’s that whole ‘first female BMXer to land a backflip’ thing. The 24-year-old freestyler phenom from Ojai, California, has taken her bike places most little girls don’t even dream of when they get their pink Huffys. But to hear Cory tell it, her path was accidental and surprisingly easy. “I raced from the age of 14-17,” Cory says. “I came to the conclusion that I didn’t really enjoy pedaling all that much. I went to the skatepark a couple of times and fell in love with it. I could do whatever I wanted and just enjoyed playing around on the ramps.” Those early days of playing around helped her blaze new trails in BMX freestyle, a sport that was almost void of any femininity until Cory came along.
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If that’s not enough for you, she even looks good doing it. While competing in a guys’ sport could intimidate most women into drab tomboy attire, Cory pushes the limits of fashion by balking the standard purse-and-shoe coordinates for chic—and more appropriate—helmet-and-shoe sets. “It’s hard to wear clothing that is comfortable while riding, yet still look cute,” she laments. “I always try to make sure that the helmet matches the outfit along with the shoes, too. Thankfully, I’ve got an awesome shoe sponsor and have shoes to match whatever I want.”
Cory’s on the go year-round with tours, camps, and contests, but Lat34 got her to sit down long enough to dish the dirt on guys who show off, scary crashes, and the next generation of biker girls.
Lat34: When did you realize this was more than just a hobby, that it could really take you places?
CC: I think it became apparent to me when I started traveling a lot and being in places I had no idea of why, other than to ride my bike.
Lat34: Did you find it hard to fit in with the mostly male competitors?
CC: No, most of the guys are pretty cool and are excited to see girls shreddin’. We all have one thing in common, so it’s easy to relate to the guys.
Lat34: Do you have ever guys come up to you at a park and try to show off with their tricks, not realizing who you are?
CC: Yes, guys do this often. They try to do their best trick or something in hopes to gain my attention. Or other times they feel threatened and try to out-do everything I do. That gets lame.
Lat34: You were the first female BMXer to land a backflip. Was that a goal of yours or did it just come through practice?
CC: Yes, the first woman in the world to ever do a backflip on any kind of bike. It started out as a joke one day, by that evening I was trying flips because someone thought I should learn them. I honestly never had any intentions on learning flips.
Lat 34: What was the reaction from male riders when you landed it?
CC: I learned flips with two other riders at the time. I remember all of us being super excited for each other and when I landed it in competition that summer, the crowd went wild.
Lat34: Do most men find you intimidating or are they impressed by your skills?
CC: I think when guys don’t know me, they may find me intimidating. All of my riding buddies think it’s awesome that I’m able to keep up with them.
Lat34: Have you ever dated a fan? Would you?
CC: I have never dated a fan but would consider it. I meet people sometimes that know about me riding and the guys always think its so cool.
Lat34: Have you ever had a guy break up with you because you ride better than him?
CC: No, 'cause I've never dated another rider.
Lat34: You’ve been able to do some fantastic travel with your bike, like to Panama and Africa. What’s your favorite place to visit?
CC: I think that my favorite place in the world so far that I have been to would be South Africa. The people were really amazing and the land was gorgeous.
Lat34: A typical night on the town with friends: steak house or coffee shop?
CC: Usually go out to dinner with a couple friends, go to another place for dessert, then maybe a night out on the town to mingle a little.
Lat34: Do you get pressured to eat meat or are most people cool with you being a vegetarian?
CC: My friends and family are all pretty cool with it, but I still get 50 questions about why I am vegetarian all the time. People are pretty considerate about where we go to eat too and if I’m having dinner at someone’s house, they always look out for me. It’s pretty sweet, but I don’t think it should be a big deal.
Lat34: You’ve had a few surgeries on your knee. How’s it doing?
CC: I am up to a half dozen knee surgeries these days. I love saying that number for some reason. Anyways, I have had five surgeries on my right knee and one on my left knee. My knee is always hurting me. I recently tried a new injection series where I had to go once a week for three weeks to get it injected. At some point in the near future, I’m hoping to go in for a meniscal transplant to replace what a moron of a surgeon took out a number of years ago. When I am old enough, I will go in for a total knee replacement, but until then I will keep on riding until I can't anymore.
Lat34: Ever had a crash that made you think about quitting?
CC: When I was 19 years old, I participated in the MTV Sports and Music Festival in Las Vegas. I rode vert and dirt in the event and everything was going well in practice. It was time to film the dirt portion and I crashed really hard for some reason on the first jump…my legs buckled and gave way and I hit the ground as hard as I could with my head. I was knocked unconscious and started going into convulsions. I remember when I hit the ground that everything went black and I honestly thought I was dead. All my memories flashed before me it seemed like. When I came to, I could hear the medics talking to me but couldn’t see anything. I also couldn’t feel my legs, and thought I might be paralyzed. I ended up with a major concussion, extensive soft tissue damage to my lower sacral, and more freakin’ scars to add to my collection. I wouldn’t trade all of my riding or injuries for the world if I had to go back.
Lat34: Is your family supportive of BMX?
CC: My family is super supportive of BMX. Anytime I have an event they always want to go and have always been very helpful to me in achieving my goals. It takes a steady hand to hold a full cup…support and love needs to be there too when one wants to succeed in life. I feel my friends and family have helped me accomplish everything.
Lat34: Since you just earned a degree in Fire Protection Administration Technology from Cal State, will you be retiring the bike for a fire hose?
CC: I still have a few quarters to finish up before I get my degree. I know the body will only allow so long for one to ride a bike, so I better be able to fall back on something. I plan on getting involved in the fire prevention aspect of things within a department. I enjoy learning about fire stuff and look forward to working there one day soon.
Lat34: What got you interested in that program?
CC: My family has a long background in the fire department. My grandfather, father, and sister have all worked for the fire department and I’ve just always been around it my entire life.
Lat34: I've heard one of your favorite places to hang is Woodward West. What's so cool about it? Do you get to work with the campers?
CC: I would say that one of my favorite places to ride is Woodward West. They have the greatest facilities ever and the location in itself is beautiful. In the summertime, I go up and hang out with campers and ride. It’s cool getting to know a lot of kids and just hanging out. In the off season, I go up there with buddies and ride. I am very thankful for everyone at Woodward who makes that possible.
Lat34: What’s the best part about teaching BMX to other girls?
CC: Seeing the thrill in their eyes when they accomplish something they are trying. I also think it’s an awesome privilege to give back to women in sports and helping girls stay active.
Lat34: Do you feel like you get to really connect with young girls coming up?
CC: When I am instructing the Girls Learn to Ride Clinics, I feel like I really connect with the girls. It's cool to see girls start riding at such young ages and to step out of the norm and try something new.
Lat34: What’s it like working with the Women’s Sport Foundation? You met Billie Jean King, didn’t you?
CC: Being involved with the Women's Sports Foundation is probably one of the coolest things I've been able to do. The WSF is helping get girls involved in sports and also helping women get active in their lives. Billie Jean King is an amazing woman and has made some huge accomplishments and it’s an honor to be involved with them.
Lat34: What's your advice for young girls just starting to ride?
CC: Keep trying until they get it! Head out to an Op Girls Learn to Ride Clinic and meet some other riders. I think it’s cool if girls get involved in nontraditional sports, because it makes them unique.
