Meet MTBing Shred Girl + College Freshman Kira Zazzi

I met Kira Zazzi when pro cyclocrosser Ellen Noble and I were running her girl’s camp, the ENCX Quest, in Tucson, Arizona, last year. Kira stood out to me with how relentlessly dedicated she was to cycling, and how hungry she was for any and all knowledge that we could share with her. (We actually started chatting again recently because she was reading my latest book, The Athlete’s Guide to Sponsorship!) I’m really excited for everyone to get to know her now!

Why did you start riding bikes?

I started riding bikes when I was six years old. My dad had been riding bikes for years, and he wanted to see if I would enjoy it. I ended up falling in love with it, and competed in my first race when I was eleven years old! To this day, my dad is still my best riding buddy and one of my biggest supporters.

What was your favorite part?

My favorite part of cycling when I first started (and still is now!) was watching myself progress both physically and technically.

What was the hardest part?

The hardest aspect of cycling for me has always been staying mentally strong. I’ve struggled a bit with anxiety since I was young, and making myself realize that I’m capable of doing anything that I put my mind to has something that I constantly have to put a lot of effort towards. I put just as much effort towards making sure I’m mentally healthy as I do towards on-bike training. One isn’t possible without the other!

Have you picked which type of riding you’re going to focus on primarily? How did you choose?

Yes! My primarily focus is cross-country mountain bike racing. I started off racing cross-country, and while I’ve dabbled in other disciplines, this has always been my favorite! This year throughout my collegiate mountain bike season, I was stronger than I’d ever been and I truly believed in my abilities- this lead me to realize that I definitely want to put my primary focus towards cross-country!

What was the best tip or trick you’ve ever been told?

The best advice I’ve ever received is to always believe in your abilities, and to trust the process. As hard as things may get, everything happens for a reason and you are always exactly where you need to be.

Proudest accomplishment?

My proudest accomplishment this far is definitely being on a scholarship at Belmont Abbey College for cycling! Being able to have my choice between several different strong collegiate programs really proved to me that all of my hard work was beginning to pay off.

Goals in cycling?

My goals in cycling are to go professional, and to be an inspiration for young girls and women within the sport. Being an inspiration and motivation is really important to me, as looking up to women like Ellen Noble and Emily Batty has helped me get to where I am today.

Advice for younger girls interested in riding?

Don’t be afraid! This sport can be really intimidating and scary at times, but the opportunities that you’ll receive and the people that you’ll meet make it all worth it.

Advice for balancing school and training?

Balancing school and training is really hard! It’s actually way harder than I anticipated it being. Bringing all of your books and homework is a necessity. On top of that, I have a set homework and training schedule, and I also schedule my classes around my set training times. All of the above really help with staying on track, but even so, know that you’ll likely have to miss a training day or two due to studying or a paper that you have to write (which is completely okay!)

Favorite piece of gear?

My favorite piece of gear (aside from my bikes, of course!) is probably my pair of Oakley riding glasses that I recently bought. The lenses have pink and purple in them, and I think that they look super cool!

Obviously, I know you from the ENCX Quest camp—what was the best part of that camp + biggest thing you learned while you were there?

The best part of the ENCX Quest was meeting so many likeminded girls. It was great being able to meet so many others- this sport can feel really lonely at times, so instantly connecting with the group and staying in touch with them has been really beneficial to my training and everyday life. The biggest thing that I learned while at the Quest is simply that it’s okay to not be okay. In this sport, it can be really easy to feel like you’re weak, and strength is one of the main things that women in cycling are expected to portray. Talking to people and struggling mentally or physically is 100% okay, and does not make you weak in the slightest.

Where can people find you and follow your adventures?

People can find me on Instagram and Facebook @KiraZazzi to keep up with my adventures!