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Jessica Cera

2,173 REVIEWS – 5 STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

About Jessica Cera

Born and raised in the mountains of Whitefish, MT Jess grew up with a love for outdoor recreation. She enjoyed cross-country skiing,snow shoeing, hiking, and running as hobbies, but never entered any competitions until 2007 when she entered her first mountain bike race.

Jessica Cera | 2013 Sage Brush / US Cup
(Photo Credit Ti Peng)

 

Shortly after entering the mountain bike arena, Jess read about XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon in a magazine and completed her first race in 2008.  Over the next two years, Jess excelled racing XTERRA and won the overall female amateur title at the 2010 XTERRA National Championship. In 2011 raced her first season on the XTERRA America Tour professionally, and finished ranked 6th in the pro women’s division.

In 2012, Jess won the Cat 1 mountain bike race at Sea Otter and upgraded to the pro category.  Shortly after she discovered that what she thought was an injury plaguing her right leg, was actually Illiac Artery Compression Syndrome.  No longer able to complete trail runs, or bike at high intensity, due to loss of blood flow to her right leg, Jess decided to give XTERRA and XC mountain bike races a break and focus on the USAC Pro MTB Ultra Endurance Tour.  She finished the season ranked 2nd overall for the pro women.

At the end of the 2012 season, Jess had a major surgery in which a vein patch was used to replace the compressed section of her iliac artery.  After a winter of rest, Jess came back stronger than ever for the 2013 season and decided to keep the focus on the bike, placing within the top 3 at all southern California road races, and finishing 1st and 2nd, respectively, at the first two endurance mountain bike races of the year.

Jess graduated, in 2007, with a M.S. in Exercise Physiology from San Diego State University.  In, 2009 Jess started her own company called Fit Food by Jess, where she is a private chef and caterer. Fit Food by Jess has gained great traction in the triathlon and cycling communities, as well as her Fit Bars (energy bars for endurance athletes).  Jess writes weekly recipes and monthly columns for Triathlete Magazine where her fresh, seasonal style of cooking has been well received. Jess wants to share her love of cooking, along with techniques, so athletes can better understand how to combine this element into their daily lives and fuel their training.

Mentoring athletes is extremely important to Jess because she attributes her success to the mentors she’s had along the way.  Specifically, Jess enjoys working with women and building  “bike confidence,” making the sport more fun and safe and applying a popular saying in the mountain bike world, “smooth is fast and fast is smooth.”

To learn more about Jess, check out www.fitfoodbyjess.com

 

 

It was very professional and at the same time really fun!

The intermediate and advanced clinic was very helpful and effective. Easy to follow, a lot of information but somehow I...
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2014-03-19T14:24:40-07:00
The intermediate and advanced clinic was very helpful and effective. Easy to follow, a lot of information but somehow I was able to retain it. I think because the instructors present it well. It was very professional and at the same time really fun! ~ Karen B.  

I definitely recommend and will do again!

Thanks Richard for this awesome clinic. Went back to basic fundamentals and through the repetitiveness of each section, it helped...
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2014-03-19T14:44:43-07:00
Thanks Richard for this awesome clinic. Went back to basic fundamentals and through the repetitiveness of each section, it helped build confidence & speed! More drops please! ha! ha! Had fun at the same time and a great workout! I definitely recommend and will do again! ~Robbyn E.  

I was absolutely blown away …

I was able to participate in the Sedona 2 day skills camp this past weekend run by Richard and his...
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2017-05-04T08:10:33-07:00
I was able to participate in the Sedona 2 day skills camp this past weekend run by Richard and his team and I was absolutely blown away with the outstanding quality and attention given to me to help improve my riding and skills. Richard is a class act and not only has a wonderful ability to teach and instill you with confidence but also keep you humble so you stay safe and don't tackle a skill your not yet ready to conquer. I will no doubt soon be looking to attend my next Ninja camp so I can continue to take my riding to the Ninja level !!! ~Chance Bex

I feel more confident and safe …

I took the fundamentals  1/2 day works shop in Orange County this weekend and l learned way more than I...
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2017-06-05T14:27:44-07:00
I took the fundamentals  1/2 day works shop in Orange County this weekend and l learned way more than I thought possible.  Richard and his team of instructor reinforced all the information with practical application on the mountain.  Thus, I was able to put these new skills to practice immediately after the workshop with a post workshop ride and a follow up ride today.  I feel more confident and safe to try more technical routes now.  I have already signed up for a intermediate/advanced workshop and recruited 3 friends to joint me! ~Eric R.

I love love love Ninja mountain bike clinics.

I love love love Ninja mountain bike clinics. I had the opportunity to take part in the 2 day clinic...
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2021-10-19T06:10:19-07:00
I love love love Ninja mountain bike clinics. I had the opportunity to take part in the 2 day clinic on the Kingdom Trails in Burke, Vermont with Patrick Howell. Truly, the best days on my bike ever, I jumped AND landed and have the video to prove it! 😊  I can’t get over my learning curve and special bonus that my 10 year old thinks I’m a rock star because I can jump 5 feet! I felt safely challenged and completely encouraged by Patrick and his assistants for the weekend. This was the second Ninja event for our family this summer, the first was a half-day for my son. I’ll tell you what, if the Ninja’s are in your town or close enough to access, sign up! My cheeks still hurt from smiling so much  Thanks Ninjas and Patrick  💕 Maggie Hooker Vermont 

I felt so confident that I recently signed up for the Catalina MTB Gran Fondo!

I participated in the beginner skill clinic at Malibu Creek last Saturday, because I'm truly a beginner who couldn't stop...
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2014-03-19T14:28:10-07:00
I participated in the beginner skill clinic at Malibu Creek last Saturday, because I'm truly a beginner who couldn't stop falling down during each mtb ride. The class was small and super fun...and the instructors (Richard and Kris) were informative and dynamic. The clinic was small enough for each member to practice each learned skill and receive immediate feedback. I learned many new skills on that day and felt much more confident with my bike-body connection. I felt so confident that I recently signed up for the Catalina MTB Gran Fondo...the 55 mile route! Woohooo!! The next day, as I was road biking (training for the Solvang Double Century), I dodged a bullet on the Snake/Mulholland by applying my learned mtb skills--a long towing truck went over almost half of our lane on a blind turn as we were descending. Instead of fixating on the truck, I remembered the importance of looking for a clear path and keeping my eyes on where I want to go....Now I understand what people meant when they said that mtb will help improve my road riding skills too! I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn, and I look forward to the next clinic! ~ Uyen N.  

Great clinic. I learned really useful skills.

Great clinic. I learned really useful skills… I’m ready for another clinic with more challenging terrain. ~Beatrice D.  
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2014-03-19T14:45:33-07:00
Great clinic. I learned really useful skills… I’m ready for another clinic with more challenging terrain. ~Beatrice D.  
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Ninja Mountain Bike Skills