Favorite Female Cyclists #9 - Tara Llanes
@teamfreak16 (43618)
Denver, Colorado
January 17, 2017 3:43pm CST
A bit of tragedy is involved with #9 in my Favorite Female Cyclists series: West Covina, California's Tara Llanes.
Tara Llanes ("yawness") started her cycling career as a champion BMX racer before switching to mountain bikes. A downhiller, Llanes also competed in dual slalom and 4 cross. Llanes is the 2001 UCI 4 Cross World Champion, a two time NORBA (American) National 4 Cross Champion, 2002 NORBA National Dual Slalom Champ, the 2006 NORBA National Downhill Champion, and she won the Gold Medal in Biker X at the 1999 Winter X Games.
Unfortunately, Llanes suffered a spinal column injury in a dual slalom crash at Beaver Creek, Colorado. She is paralyzed from the waist down, and is rehabilitating with the goal of not only walking, but possibly even competing again. Here's hoping so.
(Info verified by Wikipedia)
This short story shows the process of overcoming a life changing injury and getting back to doing what you love.
8 people like this
7 responses
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Jan 17
She is from West Covina. That is near where I grew up.
3 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43618)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Jan 17
Seems like a lot of the people in the fringe sports are from that area. Lots of fun things to do.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (122209)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
18 Jan 17
Thank you for sharing the story of Tara Lianes. I hope she makes a complete recovery and returns to compete again.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (122209)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
18 Jan 17
@teamfreak16 If Tara believes she can walk again, she will through help from Above.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43618)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Jan 17
I hope so too. She was fun to watch. I at least hope she walks again.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (52917)
• Mojave, California
17 Jan 17
That sucks and some of those cyclists take some nasty falls. I am a bit surprised this does not happen more often. I hope she recovers and gets back on her bike though.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43618)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Jan 17
Oh yeah, there are some pretty spectacular crashes in the downhill events.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43618)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Jan 17
Oh, most definitely. I really hope she makes it.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
18 Jan 17
I hope she is able to regain her walking and then cycling ability
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43618)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Jan 17
She seems pretty determined. I hope she does it.
1 person likes this
