11-Year-Old Erin Kromis is a MTBing Shred Girl In Real Life

At 11 years old, Erin Kromis is tackling scary technical sections of trail on her mountain bike, meeting her favorite pros, making friends on her rides, and shredding the slopes on a snowboard in her spare time. She finally took a break to answer a few questions, and she has some awesome advice!

When did you start riding?

I started riding when I was two on a Strider bike. When I was around 4, I started riding a pedal bike. And when I was 6, I started riding and racing on my mountain bike.

What made you decide mountain biking was what you wanted to do?

I decided to mountain bike because my dad rides mountain bikes. And it would make me different and strong!!

Favorite part about riding?

My favorite part about riding is being on a team so that you know you have something to care about. And riding with my dad and brother because they’re funny!

Least favorite part about riding?

When I think that I’m slow and keep people waiting because I can’t ride as fast as some people.

Have you made friends through racing? (If so, any tips for talking to new people? I’m always scared of that—so is the main character in the first Shred Girls book!)

I have made plenty of friends—one is Sophie Cosper, who is on Joe’s Bike Shop Race Team and I know her because my brother and dad introduced us. And I made friends with Evelyn from the summer series of races called Wednesdays at Wakefield. We do race against each other, but we’re also always nice to each other!

Coolest trick or accomplishment you’ve had with riding?

When I was in Idaho, we were downhilling at Grand Targhee and it was my first time doing downhill and I rode three wall rides!!

What does a week of training/riding look like for you?

If it doesn’t rain, I try to ride five days every week. But if it does rain, then I have to get on the dreadful trainer, which my brother and I both do not like.

Best tip for someone your age or younger who’d love to get started riding, but doesn’t know anyone else to ride with?

Just ask your mom or dad to ride with you at a bit of an easier pace and you’ll keep getting better and better at it. Then, people will get jealous that they aren’t riding with you and will join in!

Best tip for tackling a scary section of a MTB course?

All you have to do is take a deep breath in and let it out, and just believe that you can do it. Because if you don’t,  it will get in your head and then you will be scared and won’t try it.

Absolute favorite piece of gear?

I have two: One is my cool purple clip-in mountain bike shoes, and two is my custom bike that my dad and I made together, with my purple handlebars and purple clip-in pedals.

Favorite person to ride with and why?

My dad! Anything I don’t make, he’s OK with it and he’s never mad. He helps me with technical things and he’s just fun to talk to.

Favorite place to ride?

It depends. For technical places, I like Fountainhead trails because it has a mixture of everything. For night rides, I like Wakefield because it isn’t too long and it gives us time to get Jersey Mike’s for dinner!

I hear you’re a huge Jolanda Neff fan—why do you love her?

I love Jolanda Neff because she started around the same age that I did and because she is pretty and SO fast and she always has a good attitude! (I like Kate Courtney too!)