“Half the Road,” a documentary film that highlights the challenges elite female cyclists face as they work to be competitive at the highest level, will be shown here on July 26.
The film runs on the same day when many of the country’s top mountain bike riders will be here to compete in the Catamount Classic Professional Cross-Country Tour (Pro XCT) at Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Williston, Vermont. Several of the riders will be on hand to participate in a Q & A during the 90-minute film’s intermission.
The screening is a benefit for Little Bellas, a local non-profit that provides opportunities for girls through mountain bike clinics and mentoring with professional female cyclists.
“We are really excited to bring this film to Burlington especially when focus is turned to pro cycling with the Pro XCT in town,” said Lea Davison, co-founder of Little Bellas and an Olympic mountain biker from Jericho, Vermont, who won last year’s Catamount Classic and the Pro XCT series. “ ‘Half the Road’ tells the story that is sadly familiar to top female athletes. When it comes to elite-level and pro competition, it’s still in many ways a man’s world. We hope by bringing this film here, Little Bellas can help raise awareness about inequity in sports and push for change.”
The film was directed by Kathryn Bertine, a journalist and pro athlete who chronicles her quest to make the 2012 Olympics in cycling. Along the way she witnessed:
· Prize money was much lower than for men’s events;
· There was no base salary or union to protect female cyclists;
· Women’s events were rarely linked to major men’s events;
· Female racers were treated like second-class citizens by the sport’s governing body.
In short, she observed that women’s professional cycling was stuck at the level of women’s professional tennis in the 1970s.
“As a sports journalist and professional athlete, I knew we had to show the truth about gender equality in sports—which is simply a mirror for gender equality in society. As much as everyone wants to believe that Title IX has leveled the playing field in sports, the reality is there is still a long way to go. The good news is that cyclists and fans are pushing for change, and at the heart of this movement is a raw, pure, uplifting love of sport specific only to the struggle and triumph of female athletes,” Bertine said.
The screening is at 7 p.m., July 26 at Main Street Landing, 60 Lake Street, in Burlington. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Tickets can be purchased through the Little Bellas website: http://littlebellas.com/?page_id=1988
About Little Bellas: Based in Jericho, Vermont, Little Bellas is a mountain bike organization founded by sisters Lea and Sabra Davison, both competitors at the highest level. Lea Davison competed in the 2012 Olympics. Little Bellas’ goal is to help young women realize their potential through cycling. The organization is focused on creating a community that empowers girls through the sport, emphasizes the importance of goal setting, promotes healthy lifestyles and recognizes the positive effects of strong female bonds. While this program is centered around creating camaraderie for girls on bikes, it is most importantly about having fun in a constructive environment. For more information visit www.littlebellas.com.
Source: Little Bellas, July 15, 2014
United States