05/17/2008

Words by Stuart Kernaghan

Let's step back in time for a moment. The year is 2001 and nsmb's Rich 'Couch' Vigurs spots three girls finishing a ride on Seymour. Naturally, they catch his attention because girls were a bit of a rarity on the Shore in those days, especially girls that rode down Boogeyman. Somehow he managed to convince them he was legit and got them to sit down for an interview, which we posted on the site almost four years ago.

Lisa Lefroy and Katrina Strand, two-thirds of the trio, had been friends since they were teenagers and had been riding all over the Shore, Squamish, and Whistler together for a couple of years, just cruising the trails and doing their own thing. But it wasn't long before people started to take notice, and they began to earn themselves a bit of a reputation on the dirt. Or because of the dirt, as it were. The Dirty Girls, as Lisa, Katrina, and their friend Faye came to be known, got their name from Richie Schley after a day of riding in the mud up at Whistler, way back in 1999.

It's stuck with them ever since, and has played a big part in creating an identity on the freeride scene. After Couch's article appeared on the site, the girls hooked up sponsorships with Deep Cove Bike Shop, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, and Marzocchi Suspension. Katrina and Lisa also rode on the nsmb freeride team for a while, adding some class to the otherwise motley crew. That girls' Marzocchi affiliation took on a whole new dimension this past year when the Big M decided it needed a couple of new faces for its 'Bomber Girl' marketing campaign. Oh, how things have changed since that fateful ride down Boogeyman. The other change - this time, I'm the one asking the questions.

The 'before' picture... - (l to r) Katrina, Lisa, and the third Dirty Girl, Faye || Photo: Noel Hendrickson

nsmb.com: Bring us up to speed on what's been happening since your grand unveiling on nsmb. You rode on the nsmb freeride team, but what else?
Lisa Lefroy: I was taken under the wing of some of the world's best freeriders and encouraged to push myself and learn new skills. Those same teachers helped get both myself and Katrina a few sponsors. Companies ate up the Dirty Girls thing.

I think we came along at a time when freeride was on the rise, and we have some great people to use as references. We worked over the years at building a portfolio, both with photos and video. An episode with “Hard Core Candy” [TV show] and being a finalist for the Race Face UFC really helped to promote us. I have competed in some classic DH races, but have spent the last few years racing in the Avalanche Cup series out of Europe. They're mass start, long-distance DH races. They kick ass!

Katrina Strand: I loved riding from the start, but only spent a couple months a year riding 'cause I was living in Whistler and the snow called for snowboard and skis. So I rode here and there, and then eventually I bought my first ‘big’ bike. Soon after, I bought a freeride/DJ hardtail as well. It went from there - random races, random photo and video shoots. I entered some video contests (UFC), and shot some footage and photos for local cinematographers and photographers.

As well, I got into coaching and eventually started my own club, CorridorClub.com. Last year, I decided to commit to a series and race so I could learn, have fun, travel and bring back all my new knowledge to the athletes I coach. I made a stupid mistake at one race mid-summer and shattered my thumb, but luckily I made it to the World Champs anyway.

nsmb: Hang on a sec. Weren't there three Dirty Girls? What happened to Faye?
LL: Faye, whose last name is now Torcom (it used to be Revest), has been gong to school in Oregon to become a nurse. She moved down there after meeting an American,
Randy, and getting married. I really miss her. She is a first-class person and a lot of fun.

Poetry in motion - Lisa and Katrina hitting a drop in Whistler || Photo: Blake Jorgenson

nsmb: Things are progressing at a nice, steady pace for you two until last summer, when Marzocchi canned their classic, cookie-cutter Bomber Girls - girls like Bender's friend from the Marzocchi Sessions event in Whistler last summer - in favour of two girls from B.C. The big question on everyone's mind is, how did that happen?
LL: This is something that Bryson [Martin, the vice president of Marzocchi USA] has wanted to do for years. I was riding up the chair with him that summer and he was bitching about have to tend to the Bomber girls who were hired. He told me he was tired of having girls that he had to drag around to all these bike events who had no idea about biking. After talking about it for the rest of the lift, it was decided that they would change the angle of the campaign and put us into the spotlight as the Bomber Girls. Dirty Bomber Girls, I guess?? What a great title!

KS: Marzocchi was our first sponsor. When we started riding, we marketed ourselves together as the Dirty Girls and they loved it. The fit was perfect when Bryson decided to switch it up and use girls that actually ride bikes. We ride the product, know the product and can talk about the product to potential consumers. I don’t think the old Bomber Girls did much of that!

nsmb: What’s the best part of that job? And the worst?
KS: The best, travelling to new places and meeting new people and getting to do it all with one of my best friends. The worst, waking up early in Vegas.

LL: Doing the photo shoot [for the print ads] was amazing. I've never been involved with something like that. Being flown around the world and signing autographs is pretty funny, too. The best part ... the hot pink 888 fork that we were given. AMAZING! I did not put them down for three hours when they gave them to me. Also, being on a team with some of my good friends. The Marzo days are going to be amazing this year … look out, Austria.

... and the after shot. Last year's Bomber Girl poster. What a difference three years can make! || Photo © Marzocchi

nsmb: The whole Bomber girl image must be a little tough to deal with at times, because the girls in the past haven't been much more than eye candy. Do you care if people take you seriously? Do you feel like you have to prove yourselves? LL: I don’t really care what anyone thinks of me, except myself. Funny you ask, I was on the computer one day and came across a forum on MBUK where these guys were dissing us and saying we were “mingers.” I got on there and told them that we are not models, nor are we trying to be. We are mountain bikers who have been hired to do a job, and we are stoked. Sometimes people are overly critical about others, when they should actually take a look in the mirror. Unless it's Brad Pitt staring back at you, then shut the é§!”è§&§ç! up! Everyone is beautiful in some way.

nsmb: Do you offer something to sponsors that the pro guys don’t?
KS: I could go on about this one but I don’t want to get too controversial, so all I’m going to say is we are girls and there are girls who ride bikes. Girls will identify with another girl in sport far quicker/easier than any guy. Yes, we [girls and guys] are both marketing tools but we target different markets in very different ways.

LL: I think we are very approachable and easy going. People seem to be very comfortable coming to talk to us. I also think that we help to create a more diverse image of a company. If all you ever see a company supporting is men, then you are alienating a whole sex from your marketing campaign. Women are very active in sports these days, and they want to see other women being supported and receiving coverage. It helps sponsors to connect with further customers or potential customers.

nsmb: Do you feel like you have to prove yourself when you’re out riding with those guys?
LL: I never feel any pressure - we are just out there having a good time and trying to keep up. I think there have been many times over the years where we are shredding and the guys turn around and are shocked to find you right on their ass. There are usually some pretty good reactions.

KS: Not at all. The only proving I do is to myself. The pro guys that I ride with don’t send me any pressure, they send me confidence when I need it.

nsmb: Should people be making a fuss over two women who can style it out on the bike and in front of the camera?
LL: Making a fuss? Sure. It is different, and as I said before, it is an advantage for companies to be creative in the marketing campaigns in order to appeal to the most extensive customer base. Women do sports and companies should acknowledge that by gearing some of the advertising towards them. Kind of seems like a no-brainer.

nsmb: Ever been seriously hurt? KS: I’ve had broken bones, etc. but the worst was a concussion I got after miscalculating a landing, missing the tranny and landing in the hole after it. I had my little helmet on (learned my lesson there!) and smacked my head pretty hard – I was all good shortly after, but it was just really scary when the world closed in around me. I was in the middle of the North Shore jungle and luckily I had people like Barb Haley and Johnny Smoke to haul my ass out of there. LL: I hurt myself in Fruita, Colorado one year. I rode down a dried-up water fall, which had a repelling rope down the side. The ride went well but the transition was non-existent. Anyway, I crashed. I hit my head, could not remember anything for 30 minutes, broke my headset into three pieces (ball bearings everywhere) and slit my leg open (18 stitches - seven inside and 11 outside). When I took my bike to the local shop, the guys were shocked. I guess this was a line they had been looking at for years, and no one had done it yet.

Katrina going large in K-town || Photo: Warwick Patterson

They fixed my bike for free, and then I went to the hospital. The only good thing is when I hit my head. I forgot that I had spent the night in the State Penitentiary the night before (that’s another story).

nsmb: Sorry, Lisa, but you're not getting off that easily. Spill on how you ended up in the pokey.
LL: I was arrested for drinking two Coors Lights. I got pulled over and my blood alcohol level was .07. They did the whole bullshit ... walk the line, touch your nose shit. And to be honest, I thought it was casual. Until they put the cuffs on me.

Lisa airing it out large on her Commencal || Photo: Blake Jorgenson

They had to drive me about 45 minutes out a town and on the way I was chatting with the cop. By the time we got there, I had charmed him into letting me go if my alcohol level had come down. They re-tested me and had to throw me in jail anyway ... the rules. My alcohol level was .04. They took all my clothes, put me in a green jail suit, and also made me give them my bra ... I might hang myself, you know. Then I spent the entire evening in the holding cells, with all the guys in there waving their tongues at me and trying to offer me money to do god knows what. It was really a horrible experience. The next morning I was awaken by the buzzer, and I freaked. They were telling me, "Calm down, please." And my response was, "NO, I WILL NOT CALM DOWN! I DON'T BELONG HERE! I'M CANADIAN!" Which, by the way, does not work. Anyway, I got out, had to go to court, had to pay $500 U.S. and needless to say I do not drink and drive. Trust me, that is definitely a place you never want to end up. And accidents happen.

nsmb: Everybody figures pro riders have bikes galore. How many bikes in your stable, and what's your favourite?
KS: Big bike, hardtail, BMX, and a few frames. It all depends on what type of riding I'm doing. I don't play favourites.

LL: I have one hardtail in Europe, one freeride with me, and in May I will be picking up my five new bikes and a road bike.... add it up 7.5 ( road
bike is the .5) All Commencals.

nsmb: What's your favourite piece of gear / equipment other than the bike itself?
KS: My armour has been great to me. Of course, I never plan on falling, but it is always there for me when I make mistakes.

LL: Easy. My hot pink 888 that Marzo made for Kat and me. THANK YOU, MARZO. WE LOVE YOU!

Katrina railing the corners on No Joke - and proving that pink accessories aren't just for boys || Photo: Blake Jorgenson

nsmb: Do you do your own wrenching?
LL: Sometimes, but I usually have someone help me. I try to learn as often as possible. I did change my MRP one time. I was very proud of that, too.

KS: Thanks Naz, and everyone else at Deep Cove Bike Shop!

nsmb: What accomplishment on the bike are you most proud of?
LL: I am proud whenever I overcome something that I think I cannot do. Now that I think about it ... I rode a 63km XC race on a dirt jumper with flat pedals. This was a fun ride to start the season in France. Let me just tell you, 63km is a long way.

KS: Whenever I do something I didn’t think was possible, I am proud/stoked. I think the best feeling I ever had was when I crossed the finish line at the World Champs. I learnt more in those four days training and racing then all other races combined. It was such a wicked experience. I can’t wait to do it again!

Want more Dirty Girls goodness?
Of course you do! - Part 2