2008 Loeka Team
Tara Johnson - Marin County, CA
My name is Tara Johnson, I was born on June 19, 1979 in Marin County, California, home to Mount Tamalpais, which is the claimed birthplace of Mountain Biking in the early 1970's.
I am an extremely active girl. With my job as a UPS driver to what I love to do with my free time, I'm always ready to have some fun! I've dove into many sports from martial arts to tennis... but my favorite hobbies include almost anything on a board or two wheels. Growing up by San Francisco I had a concrete playground for skateboarding and an ocean to surf. Upon moving to Lake Tahoe for two years, I had to take up snowboarding. And, I love wake boarding during the summer, because it's almost too hot to do anything else. As far as 2-wheels, I have been riding dirt bikes and motorcycles since 1997, and started racing motocross and hare scrambles in 2003
In 2005 I was introduced to mountain biking at some local dirt jumps. I loved dirt jumping but soon discovered... Downhill Mountain biking! It reminded me so much of dirt bike riding! In 2006 I decided to try racing DH at some local races and placed on the podium at every race.
In 2007, I got my racing license, stepped it up to the Expert Class, and had a goal to go Pro by the end of the season racing the NMBS Series and some local races. I came into contact with Team Loeka who supported me big time! I did great at Sea Otter placing 2nd on the podium by only 2 seconds. The next weekend I was practicing at the first RideSFO CHDH race and shattered my wrist on my last practice run. That put me in a cast for six months and out of racing for the rest of the season... bummer.
My plans for the 2008 race season include racing Downhill as well as stepping into Mountain cross and Dual Slalom. I plan to race the NMBS series, Sea Otter Classic, RideSFO's CHDH Downhill Series, the Downieville Classic, and, hopefully, Crankworx. As I am still recovering, I will continue in the Expert class with a goal to step it up into the Pro ranks by the end of the season.
I am looking forward to this upcoming race season and riding with the Loeka Team this year as Coreena and Rory have some great plans for the girls!
