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

Your Name: Miss Cory Coffeythoughts on yourcompetitive opponents?
Age: 24Thats one thing that I dont enjoy is competitiveness...
Hometown: Ojai, Californiathats what I didnt like about racing... I just look at it as
Sponsors: DC, Specialized, ODI, and Utopia Opticsme riding my bike having a good time, traveling the
How did you get started into riding BMX?world, and meeting new people.
There were some younger boys in my neighborhoodIs it competitive among the girls, or is it more of a
that raced bmx bikes, and they encouraged me to gofriendship?
get one... so I did and started going to the race trackI think there are def. some people out there that are
with them. I raced for about 3 years and then realizedcompetitive, but that comes with any sport. I know a
that I didnt like to pedal all that much, so I started goinglot of the girls are just like me and are just excited to
to a local indoor skatepark and that was the beginningsee other girls riding.
of my ramp riding... 7 years ago, wow!Where do you see the future of women's BMX
You were the first girl to do a backflip. What madegoing?
you do it, how many times did it take, and whats theHonestly, who knows. the world is endless in
process behind doing it.opportunities, and if we keep pushing the limits, it could
Yes, I was the first woman in the world to ever do abe just like any other sport.
backflip on a bike... I was 19 years old and wasDo other female athletes from other sports inspire
spending a couple of months in Pennsylvania atyou? If so, who?
Woodward Camp.. A guy by the name of JayYes, I am always inspiried by other women athletes...
Rodriguez was joking around with me one day sayingAimee Mullins is a para olympic athlete that is more
that we were going to learn backflips that night... I saidthan amazing... her courage, strength, and her just being
yeah sure whatever.. well I guess he was morewho she is pushes me. I think that the free skier Sarah
serious than I thought.. so that night I started learningBurke is awesome.. Lisa Whittaker in skateboarding is
them into the foam pit.. I think the second try I actuallyreally awesome, along with Cara-beth Burnside in
got the rotation down, and within a week or so I wasskating and snowboarding.
pulling them on the box jump. I then unleashed it at aWhat else do you do besides riding BMX - hobbies,
contest there at Woodward called the CFB contest. Iactivites, travels?
crashed pretty bad the first two times, but theI love to hang out with friends, go to the beach, hike,
adreneline was pumping and I was determined to pulleat food. Traveling is such an awesome thing as well.. I
it... the third time I pulled it. I never really thought it waslove going to new places and meeting people,
that big of a deal... now that I think back on it, it is prettyexperiencing different cultures/food.
cool to make history. Basically its one of the easiestDo you have a favorite movie star or movie?
tricks in the book I think.. all you have to do is commit toI have a few favorite movies... Vanilla Sky, Donnie
it... make sure you have enough speed, a good enoughDarko, and the Winged Migration.
box jump, and just lean back, spot your landing andWho are your favorite bands / singers?
there ya go!BoySetsFire, The Spill Canvas, and Jose Gonzalez.
What other sports do you enjoy doing then?Where is your favorite place to travel to and why?
I really enjoy snowboarding in the winter andProbably the coolest place I've ever been was Africa...
occassionally mt. biking... I also like to play around onI really want to go back there.. so much stuff to do,
skateboards. I grew up riding a skateboard so itsbeautiful scenery, amazing people, and just one of the
always fun.greatest places on earth!!
What was it like to be one of the only female riders inWhat did you want to be when you were growing up
a male dominatedsport?(besides a pro rider)?
Well when I was younger, I never really realized I wasI've always wanted to be a housewife. I'm also
the only girl at the skatepark. As the years went on, Icurrently completing my Bachelor of Science Degree in
thought it was pretty cool. I could keep up with theFire Protection Administration Technology at Cal State
guys, and the guy to girl ratio was obviously in myLos Angeles.
favor. hahaDo you have any words for all the girls out there
Besides yourself, there are a number of other femalereading this?
rider who have reallymade some headway in pushingIf you want something in life, go and get it. Practice
the sport for the girls. What do you thinkabout thereally does make perfect. Don't ever let anyone or
women's scene as a whole?anything stand in the way of your dreams!
I think that it is def. growing which is awesome.. and IShout Outs & Thank yous?
am seeing more and more events that are includingThank you to Dwayne Taylor for always believing in
womens categories which is pretty awesome. A fewme, friends, family, Specialized for always giving me
years ago that was unheard of...my bikes, all my sponsors, and to my Lord and Savior
What women riders come to mind and what are yourJesus Christ!