Individually, they're are a mom, a teacher, graphic designer, Web site designer, real estate representative, river guide and marketing director.
Collectively the women are Team LUNA Chix—a mountain bike team charged with inspiring other women to ride.
"The idea is two-fold. The first is to promote athleticism in women. The second is to raise money for breast cancer," Dana Vallely of Ketchum said.
Vallely is a member of Team LUNA Chix. Her teammates include Wood River Valley residents Britt Overby, Shirley Studebaker, Katie Raffetto, Monica Montgomery, Stacia Sander, Christine Kirby, Randi Pallan, Jessica Dunn and Ryan Waterfield.
The women earned team status in May as a non-competitive mountain bike team from Luna, a manufacturer of women's nutritional bars. The women's riding season runs from June to October.
The company selected 16 squads comprised of well-rounded women to encourage female participation in sports. Select teams represent pursuits from running to cycling with groups scattered from California to Montana.
"The idea is that it is not at all a pro-team. The purpose is more to inspire women to ride," Vallely said.
The team invites women of all abilities for weekly Wednesday rides at 5:30 p.m. The group meets at the Park and Ride lot in Ketchum to ride nearby trails. Plans are in the works to offer free monthly bike maintenance and mechanics clinics. The team also plans to bring a national film festival showcasing short films by and about women to the valley this fall.
The events are intended to bring women together as a support network to learn the sport, develop skills and train in a fun environment.
"We want to make it so women are exited about getting out there and having people to ride with it," Vallely said.
Viewing the opportunity as a chance to give back to the community, the ladies applied this spring for team status. The application process required details of how each member balances work and play.
"A lot of their goals are things we do naturally. We already get out and meet for a weekly ride. We want to get other women involved," Vallely said.
Recreational involvement comes with intention to increase the awareness of breast cancer.
"Every single one of us has some tie to cancer in general. Having that tie does make it worthwhile," Vallely said.
The team hopes to raise $1,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund, a non-profit organization that advocates for the elimination of the disease through donations.
"It's a way for us to do something for others," Raffetto said.
For more information contact 725-7836.
