Stephanie Skinner, Canberra based bikepacker on navigating big ultra-endurance goals and building bikepacking community
Description
The first in our Gutsy Girls three part mini series is here!
A huge thanks to Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour for sponsoring this series - make sure to check out the film festival and get tickets to a show near you at www.gutsygirlsadventurefilmtour.com.au
Episode 54! Today's conversation is with Canberra based bikepacker, Stephanie Skinner. After chasing a big goal of racing the Tour Divide in 2023, Steph had to make some serious decisions when struck by injuries which forced her to refocus and push out this enormous, iconic bikepacking challenge. In the meantime, Steph has had the opportunity to stay close to bikepacking in a different form by spending time building community events for women and locals, while rebuilding and navigating surgery and recovery.
We cover all things bikes and bikepacking, including:
- Discovering a love for riding bikes thanks to a work commute
- Rediscovering Canberra through the lens of riding bikes, on road and off-road
- Discovering offroad riding and her Hunt 1000 experience
- Fuelling your races and adventures
- Injury, healing and refocusing - and the (somewhat begrudgingly done but essential!) physio exercises that are required to build overall physical strength and resilience for big goals
- Mental strength in endurance environments
- Creating a women's only bikepacking overnighter out of Canberra
- Making bikepacking more accessible to a wider audience
- Canberra winter solstice camp out and tips for winter bikepacking on a budget
Steph also references "Touring with a Sense of Urgency" - by legends Sarah Hammond and Jesse Carlsson.
And, of course, we have a chat about dogs too, because, dogs!
Thanks Steph for your time and all the best in your post surgery healing. You can find Steph on Instagram at: @steph_skinner
If you've enjoyed this episode and are enjoying listening to the podcast, you can join the Patreon community for as little as $2 a month - any contribution really helps to keep the lights on. www.patreon.com/intotheweehourspodcast Thanks so much to the existing patrons! I appreciate you!
And thanks too to the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour for supporting this three part mini series, celebrating Gusty Girls in the Aussie adventure space.
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