07 Aug Women’s Racing – A Mothers Perspective

There is quite a debate going on in the business world currently. It is the conscious discussion by cutting edge businesses, public sector, and women in high profile roles who are saying merely asking to sit at the table isn’t enough anymore. Women of influence who are coming to the end of their careers, are saying we need to understand the differences of influence between men and women. Women have often been taught to obey, to be the good girl, to follow the rules, and your turn will come. Amongst women, it is opening discussed that if you challenge, and have a voice, you are less likely to achieve your dream. Statistically, women won’t acknowledge they are ready to step up unless they believe they have on average between 80-100% of the skills. Men on the other hand will acknowledge they have the skills to step up when they have on average between 30-50% of the skills.

So why is this important for cycling? If our women riders get worn out by the process of applying, attending camps (but not getting international races), evaluating their funding requirements for the year ahead, finding sponsors, sorting flights, keeping race fit, then seeing men get a greater number of international opportunities will more than likely contribute towards the numbers of women riders dropping off post under 19. In effect, if their national cycling body can’t show support, what is in it for them?

Cycling women who manage to maintain their fitness and education, plus race for a team bring more skills to any future employer than the secondary school student who drops out, or goes on to tertiary education. They have more skills as they have had to learn effective time management, achievement of grades, managing sponsorship contributions, navigate social media, and write effective articles which represents their sponsors in a meaningful way. Effectively, they have conscious awareness of how to influence the market place to support their sponsor. Many employees never achieve this level of conscious awareness.

As a women’s cycling team or as a sponsor of a women’s cycling team how can we influence change? Change happens by creating conscious awareness. Something Patrick and Tammy are creating. Being a strong successful international rider happens as a direct result of having mastered your racing craft, having the confidence to extend yourself in international races even when you think you don’t have the skills, more importantly the support of a cycling family, and if you are lucky a sponsored team. Both as parents how often do we wonder how did a particular rider get selected when you know your child or another has beaten them multiple times during the year, only then to see that rider come in the top ten. What would have happened if those other riders had attended as a couple of teams. What could have happened if we sent a larger team? What if we sent multiple teams? Sending one team from NZ to race won’t develop women’s racing quick enough. Racing in the team environment is tough. There can be only one winner, and in a strong team that is predetermined. Let’s find our “hustle”, let’s be impatient. Let’s advocate for multiple women’s teams (National and trade teams), going to multiple events, if this is unattainable then let’s make it simple, by advocating for key performance indicators of comparable statistics to be reported from our National Body.

Change can be easy or it can be difficult. Change is only difficult when the conversation is stifled, or an awareness of the need for change is not socialised. Let’s start the conversation, share the vision, and influence change in NZ cycling.