Prior to my one-on-one exclusive interview with mountain
biker Niki Gudex for the cover feature in this 20/20’s sports
eyewear issue, I had never heard of her, myself being only a
sporadic bike rider, giving up for months at a time when the
chain falls off the pedal sprocket. While researching the subject
of athlete sponsorship, I opened up my Shape magazine
to an Oakley ad featuring pictures
of Niki on horseback at
the beach, waist-high in a lake
lifting her bike over her head and
swinging carefree in a field, and I
was even more inspired to learn
about this multi-faceted biker.
When I had the pleasure of
speaking to Niki and Oakley
sports marketing manager Steve
Blick, I learned about
a collaboration that
transcends business,
an athlete whose
aspirations transcend
the sport itself, whose
style goes beyond her
cool looks. Behind
the Oakleys is a
girl whose life is
lived, as Oakley’s
campaign name
puts it: Uniquely.
— Melissa Arkin
Top and left images photographed by CHRISTOPHER WRAY-MCCANN; bottom right image photographed by DEREK FRANKOWSKI
