Emma White

By Liz Lukowski

Age: 15
Family: Siblings: Curtis (17), Sarah (13), Anna (12), Harrison (10); a Great Mom and Dad (her words), Chris and Tom; and Three Crazy Cats
Residence: Delanson
School: Sophomore at Duanesburg High School
Favorite Subject: Algebra
Main Sports: Road Cycling and Cyclocross
Other Sports: Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and Skiing

She’s only 15 but her composure, focus, and sportsmanship rival even the most seasoned cyclists. Emma White has been competing in bicycle racing for six years and has already earned three National Championships (two in cyclocross and one in road racing), and a handful of National Championship podiums as well – and it seems she’s only just begun. Watching her seemingly effortlessly maneuver around the twists and turns of a cyclocross course or graciously hug her competitors after a race; you get the feeling that you are in the presence of a true talent who has a bright future ahead of her.

Emma spent this road season racing with the local women’s Farm Team Elite squad. After several seasons developing her cyclocross skills under the guidance of the NYCROSS.com team, she’s making her debut in the colors of the Cyclocrossworld.com team. She has had success in both road racing and cyclocross; but it’s pretty clear which is her favorite, “cyclocross is more of a laid-back sport, which makes it super fun. I’m always looking forward to cyclocross weekends. I like the cooler weather in cyclocross season better too!”

Emma’s brothers, Harrison and Curtis race as well, so the entire White family travels to many of the races together. On race day Tom (dad) and Chris (mom) make sure everyone has what they need and is on schedule. There is a constant stream of tires to pump up, numbers to pin onto jerseys, and water bottles to distribute. The older siblings are always there to support the younger ones. Tom can be found in the support “pit” while the races are in progress. Her sisters, Sarah and Anna, are always somewhere along the course ready with a cheer or a ring of a cowbell when Emma or their brothers race by.

Emma became interested in bike racing through her older brother, Curtis (Athlete Profile, September 2006). He is among the top “U23” racers in the world – a designation given to up-and-coming riders under the age of 23, and often trains and races in Europe in an elite junior development program. “My brother sets a high bar,” Emma states, but she hardly seems daunted by this. She admits though, “There have been times when I get really frustrated.” During these times, she remembers that “the people I have met through cycling are an incredible bunch, and it’s really cool to see so many people that encourage me and want me to succeed.”

Emma’s first experience racing was in a youth mountain bike race. She passed a boy on the inside of the last corner and won! She surprised herself and the boy who asserted that he had never lost a race. She says it felt good to win – especially over a boy – and it definitely made her want to race more. Emma’s proudest moment though was in January 2012 when she crossed the finish line in Madison, Wis., to win her second consecutive US National Cyclocross Championship – Junior Women 15-16 in 2012 and Junior Women 13-14 in 2011. This January Emma will defend her championship title in Madison again.

National Championship races and other major races have brought Emma to some new and interesting places all over the United States and Canada. She’s raced in Oregon a handful times and she believes it to be the “most beautiful state.” This summer Emma raced in the Tour of Rimouski, a road cycling stage race, in Quebec, Canada.  Emma says she would love to do this race again and was the “coolest race experience” she’s ever had. Emma hopes to be able to race internationally in the next few years.

Her goals for this cyclocross season are to improve as much as possible and to race the two premiere cyclocross series in the Northeast, the Verge New England Cyclocross Series and the Shimano New England Cyclocross Series. In both road cycling and cyclocross, she spent the first few years in junior races, and then moved up into the amateur women’s fields. In cyclocross, she quickly dominated the amateur women’s field. She found herself in an interesting position coming into this year’s season: Ineligible to race in the women’s professional UCI Elite field until she turns 16 next year (as per the governing body of cycling, the Union Cycliste Internationale), and too fast to continue racing in the amateur women’s field.

She has chosen to race primarily in the men’s amateur Category 3 field. Emma has kept her focus and not let herself be intimidated in the larger, faster field. In the men’s races she’s raced so far this season, she has finished ahead of 50-percent of the men’s field on average, and shown that she can handle herself amongst a crowd as well as out front! She’s found that “racing with the men is more intense and aggressive for longer periods of time.” This experience will no doubt hone her technical skills and help her prepare for longer races.

Emma’s made an impression on Adam Myerson, a professional bike racer and president of Cycle-Smart. “It’s been clear as she’s grown into a young adult, and that she has the talent and skill to go as far as she wants in the sport,” he says. “Some of the choices she’s already made show a level of maturity, foresight, and patience that I don’t think many riders twice her age possess.”

Emma balances school, racing, and being a teenager extremely well. She attends high school like most other teenagers and works hard to keep her grades in the A’s throughout the cycling season. Outside of school, she leads a less than conventional life of training on weeknights and traveling to races many weekends. She’s pretty sure her classmates don’t realize exactly what her bike racer lifestyle is like. Some of her close friends have come to local races with her, but she acknowledges, “It’s hard for them to fully understand without experiencing it.” When not cycling she can be found horseback riding with her younger sisters or playing with her cats.

Emma is equally beloved as she is respected by her competitors, fellow cyclists, and others involved in the sport. Ellen Noble of Kennebunkport, Maine, another talented young cyclist who races for the Trek Cyclocross Collective and a friend of Emma’s has this to say, “Emma’s fabulous inside and out. She’s your nemesis on the course, because she’s so darn fast, but your best friend off of the course because she’s so darn nice.”

When asked if she had any advice for other girls that might be interested in bike racing, Emma says, “Cycling isn’t easy and it takes a lot of work and dedication, but the outcome is so worth it.” She continues with this wise caveat, “Have as much fun as possible because it’s not worth it if you aren’t having a good time.”

Liz Lukowski (lizlukowski@gmail.com) is an engineering geologist for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. She is cyclocross racer with Team NYcross.com and occasionally blogs about bikes on The Bike Blog for the Times Union.