Women's MTB Network

The Hard MTB League officially launched on October 25, and today we’re digging into the story behind it with its founder, Braydon Bringhurst.

In this episode, we talk about the vision behind the Hard MTB League, why Braydon wanted to create a new competition format, and how inclusivity shaped the course design from day one. We also dive into athlete feedback from the pilot event, the importance of mental performance, and where the league is headed next — including building community, supporting athlete development, and elevating the women lining up for future Hard MTB events.

If you want to understand the why behind Hard MTB and where this project is going, this conversation covers all of it.

🌐 Learn more about Hard MTB:
https://www.hardmtbleague.com/

🌐 Learn more about Women's MTB Network:

https://www.womensmtbnetwork.com

Follow us:

www.instagram.com/womensmtbnetwork

In this episode of the Women's MTB Network podcast, host Mia and co-host Candice sit down with photographer Dominique Powers, who has made significant contributions to the representation of women in cycling and outdoor sports.

They discuss Dominique's journey into photography, her experiences in cycling, the challenges women face in media, and her work covering the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. The conversation highlights the importance of storytellingin action sports and the barriers that still exist for women in the industry.

In this engaging conversation, Dominique Powers shares her experiences as a sports photographer, focusing on the emotional intensity of racing moments, the camaraderie among women athletes, and the creative challenges she faces in different environments. She discusses the importance of safety in extreme sports photography and reflects on her future projects, emphasizing the need for storytelling that resonates with audiences. The dialogue highlights the unique aspects of women's sports and the powerful narratives that emerge from them.

Connect with Dominique:
Website: dominiquepowers.com
Instagram: @dominiquepowers

Connect with us:
womensmtbnetwork.com
Instagram: @womensmtbnetwork
YouTube: Women’s MTB Network

Today I’m joined by Natasha Woodworth, founder and creative force behind Curious Creatures, the women-led outdoor apparel brand known for small-batch production, bold design, and a deep commitment to responsibility.

Natasha created Curious Creatures because she wanted bike gear that felt fun, expressive, and true to the weird, wonderful humans who ride. In this episode, we talk about how the brand started, the realities of small-batch production, why transparency matters, how tariffs impact independent outdoor companies, and what it means to build a creative business with intention.

We’re also featuring Natasha as part of our Women-Led Wednesday spotlight next week, highlighting women who are shaping the outdoor industry in powerful, thoughtful ways.

In this episode:
• How Curious Creatures began
• The inspiration behind the brand’s playful, creative identity
• What “responsibility” means to Natasha and how it guides production
• The real impact of tariffs and supply-chain challenges on small outdoor brands
• Staying true to small-batch values while growing
• The importance of transparency and thoughtful sourcing
• Building a women-led company in the outdoor space
• Natasha’s favorite sports, creative hobbies, and outdoor rituals
• Fun rapid-fire questions

Connect with Curious Creatures:
wearecuriouscreatures.com
Instagram: @wearecuriouscreatures

Connect with Women’s MTB Network:
Instagram: @womensmtbnetwork
womensmtbnetwork.com