Casey Brown is a certified badass. Not only has she raced downhill and enduro to Elite level, twice been crowned Queen of Crankworx, and featured in several big-budget MTB films, but she’s done it all with a style few can match. Before Casey came along, female freeriders didn’t seem to exist, but when she started throwing it sideways in whip-off comps and starring in major videos it paved the way for others to follow. These days we’re seeing loads more women riders stepping up and showing what they’re capable of away from the racetrack, and it was arguably Casey who first blazed the trail.
Who is Casey Brown?
I’m a mountain bike athlete living in Revelstoke, British Columbia, with a black dog named Snuffy.
What do you do?
I compete at Crankworx, and I film the sweet trips I take all over the world.
How did you get into bikes?
I moved to Canada from New Zealand when I was 11, and shortly after that I got my first mountain bike, to chase my brother and dad around the trails on.
What was your first bike?
My first real mountain bike was a GT Avalanche with a RockShox Judy fork.
Current go-to ride?
At the moment, it’s definitely my Trek Remedy.
What gets you excited to ride?
Fresh trails and good friends.
Scariest thing you’ve done on a bike?
Corbet’s Couloir. [An iconic ski run in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which in the winter requires you to send it off a 20ft cornice into a snow gully between narrow cliffs. Seriously gnarly!]
Best trail you rode last year?
‘Dream Track’ in Queenstown, New Zealand, is seriously amazing!
Biggest jump you’ve hit?
A 10ft lip with a 45ft gap.
Worst crash you’ve had?
I had a huge over-the-bars in Panorama, BC, in 2010. I got a grade-four liver laceration and spent five days in intensive care.
Biggest ride of your life?
An eight-day traverse over the Himalayas.
How far can you wheelie?
Not far, like 25ft
Who’s the rider you most like to watch?
Brett Rheeder.
Favourite bike film?
New World Disorder III –Freewheel Burning.
Clips or flats?
Choose flats if you like fun!
650b or 29in?
650b is best for where I live.
Bike park flow or natural gnar?
Natural gnar.
Who’d be your dream non-bike sponsor?
Rocket espresso machines.
What would be your desert island luxury?
A Wilson-brand volleyball.
What advice would you give your 13-year-old self?
Trust your gut.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a pro MTBer?
I’d probably still be freestyle skiing.
Pics: Paris Gore/Red Bull Content Pool
This article was originally published in MBUK 384.