Mar 16, 2021
From pump tracks to career inroads, Grow Cycling Foundation aims to build pathways into cycling for marginalized demographics. At the heart of this new nonprofit is former World Cup downhill racer Eliot Jackson, who admits he’s always had a “bias for action.” A longtime motocross racer who grew up in Oklahoma and California, Jackson first got into racing mountain bikes at age 18 and immediately set his sights on racing World Cup downhill, which he ended up competing in for 10 years. Today, he is a presenter for Red Bull TV and continues to race the Crankworx series.
In this interview, which was recorded in mid-January, Jackson talks about his life growing up with two entrepreneurial parents; how he got into mountain biking, his experience as a Black athlete, Grow Cycling’s aspirations—including the construction of a $1.2 million pump track in Los Angeles—and the best way one person can make a difference.
This episode is possible thanks to the support of 10 Barrel Brewing.
[Photo] Jeff Clark