Diva and Conquer

Outdoor Diva Nadine Budbill

I'd like to introduce you to my daughter, diva-extrodinaire, Nadine Budbill. Founder and director of Dirt Divas, a mountain bike camp for girls in Northern Vermont, Nadine is 5'1" of dedicated dynamite! She has transformed the training, discipline, and athletic grace which she learned as a young girl in ballet classes into an adult life of physical challenge on the mountain bike trail, love and appreciation for the outdoors, and commitment to bringing that love of meeting physical challenges to girls and young women. Nadine has also been a Luna Chix Ambassador, inspiring women to "get outside and play" while raising awareness about the environmental causes of breast cancer. She always makes sure she gets outside for her own daily dose of exercise but it is sharing the empowerment of outdoor adventure that really lights her fire.

Nadine is also assistant director of the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League, where she organizes and directs trainings, camps, and races - all designed to get young people active and outdoors. Simultaneously she is working on her Masters in Education with a focus on outdoor adventure education for girls with special attention to issues of race and class.

It's not unusual to hear from Nadine that she has just been on an epic mountain bike ride in the Sierra Nevada or a 6 day backpacking trip in the wilderness. Her enthusiasm for the challenges, the trail, and the great gear that makes it possible, is always there, bubbling up in conversation. An advocate for leaving the environment better than you find it, Nadine is also an accomplished and powerful poet. Add insight, humor and a gift for friendship to mountain biker, outdoor adventurer, student, writer, and dedicated educator and you get one inspiring dynamo!

Nominated By Lois Eby