Motocross
10 Facts You Should Know About Tarah Gieger
Think you know Tarah? There's only one way to find out. Make that 10.
She's all smiles now...
© Robert Snow/Red Bull Content Pool
Tarah Gieger is no stranger in the realm of motocross. She's been around for a little while and between her MX, Endurocross, and Nitro Circus antics, she's made quite the splash. But the people always want more Tarah, so we've assembled 10 facts that you might not know about Giegsey:
1. She’s 100-percent Puerto Rican.
Tarah was born and raised in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, where her parents moved to from Florida to open up a surf shop.
2. She speaks fluent Spanish.
As is often the case with growing up in Puerto Rico, Tarah learned both English and Spanish. Meaning she can order King Taco for you in at least two different languages.
Tarah Gieger surfing
© Jimmy Wilson
3. She's an extremely talented surfer.
Since Tarah's parents owned a surf shop in Puerto Rico, she grew up on waves. She surfed even before she even rode a dirtbike and is arguably a professional-level rider on a board, too. Bonus trivia: her brother is actually a professional surfer.
4. She was the first female gold medalist ever in a moto event at X Games.
2008 was the first year that women competed in moto at X Games, in the Supermotocross supercross event, which Tarah handily won.
5. She is the most decorated female moto athlete in X Games history.
After her bronze in Women's EnduroX at the 2013 Los Angeles X Games, Tarah has a total of seven medals from series, besting the gold medalist from the same event, Maria Forsberg, whose medal count is at six.
6. She is the first female to land a backflip on a motorcycle.
Being friends with Travis Pastrana usually means that at one point or another, you will end up upside-down. Tarah famously landed the backflip at Travis's house while filming for one of the original Nitro Circus videos.
7. She is the only female ever to compete at the Motocross of Nations.
Tarah raced the event at Budds Creek in 2007 for Team Puerto Rico, becoming the first woman ever to compete in the storied event. She is still the only woman to have achieved that feat.
8. She broke her pelvis and neck in the same year.
2005 was one that Tarah would rather forget. In only her third year as a professional, Tarah broke her pelvis preparing for the season. She was able to return and race a few months later, only to break her neck (thankfully it was nothing too serious) at a round of the WMX Championship. She's probably tougher than you.
Tarah whips her bike at the X Games
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
9. Her favorite food is pudding.
"I could eat pudding for every meal of the day if it weren’t frowned upon," said Tarah Gieger.
10. And finally, her favorite flavor of Red Bull is the original one.
Tarah appreciates the classics.
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