Freeride for the Women with Jacqui Ball (Episode 159)

Our guests find their way into cycling from many different avenues, snowmobiling however is one way we don’t typically hear. This week’s guest, Jacqui Ball, hopped on a snowmobile during a backcountry ski trip, and her skills on the sled impressed her trip mates and they encouraged her to try downhill mountain biking. After just a few bike rides Jacqui was hooked, and she began racing downhill and enduro. In her quest to become a better gravity racer, Jacqui got into freeride mountain biking to help her progress her skills. In the world of women’s mountain bike freeride, the marquee event was called Formation and was hosted in southern Utah. That was until 2023, when the title sponsor Red Bull canceled the event. Red Bull also hosts a freeride event for men called Rampage, which is the biggest week in the world of mountain bike freeride. With the cancellation of Formation earlier this year, the women of freeride were hoping to finally get the invitation to join the men at Rampage this fall - but that didn’t happen. Jacqui talks about the impact of the cancellation of Formation for women trying to make a name for themselves in freeride, and where she sees the sport going from here. Follow Jacqui on Instagram @jacqui.m.ball  Register for Feisty Fest at https://feisty.co/events/Follow us on Instagram:@feistycycling@feisty_mediaGirls Gone Gravel Website:https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/Support our Partners:SILCA: Use the code FeistyUnbound2026 for 15% off at https://silca.cc/en-ca Wahoo: Learn about the ELEMNT ROAM 3 at https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/6kn0EbMomentous: Use code GIRLSGONEGRAVEL for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.comTifosi: Use the code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at tifosioptics.comRegister for Feisty Fest at https://feisty.co/events/