Spencer Paxson
Career Highlights
- Member of Olympic Long Team, London 2012
- Four-time member of U.S. National Team for World Championships
- 2014 Elite Pan American Championships, 5th
- 2014 U.S. Cross-Country National Championships, 6th
- 2014 Transylvania Epic, 3rd
- 2013-14 BC Bike Race, 2nd
- 2013 U.S. Cross-Country National Championships, 4th
Hobbies: Skiing, writing and playing music
Favorite Race: Mt. Hood Ski Bowl XC
Favorite Place to Train: Anywhere far from a city with big trees and loamy dirt
Best Cycling Memory: "My first mountain bike race."
Best advice received from a coach when you were starting out: "My mentor, Erik Tonkin, said something like, 'If you can't figure out how to enjoy the process of becoming pretty good doing things the hard way, you probably won't truly enjoy being really good any other way.'"
Motivation: "A strong sense of purpose and a passion for frozen yogurt."
Hero/Role Model: "In the world of cycling, I really dig Wendy Simms' style (Kona teammate, Canadian cyclocross/mountain biker, world class, down-to-earth, mother of two, professor of biology, getting PhD, the consummate professional yet laid back, makes it all happen in a fun, meaningful way)."
Cycling & Personal/Career Goals: "Earn one of those elite Stars-and-Stripes jerseys, or a start at Olympics; lend a hand in designing great mountain bikes and building great trails."
First Involvement in Cycling: "Grew up in a really small town where bike was the way to get around. When I was 12 I saw an ad for a bike race in a magazine, entered the race using my dad's bike and the rest was history."
Charity Work: Supports Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition and Evergreen Trail Alliance, trail days and donations.
Family: Sister, Emily Paxson, finished 2nd in Cat 1 at Marathon MTB Nationals and 5th in omnium at 2013 Collegiate MTB Nationals
