The written work I do engages a range of audiences through academic journals and presentations, alongside print and web based media.
My research investigates the relationships between thinking and doing in a performance context, and how people understand these experiences as they happen. My PhD thesis, “Embodying Biking: Sport as Live(d) Events”, examined these ideas using case studies from mountain bike racing. I undertook this research in the Department of Performance Studies at the University of Sydney, where I was also awarded a Faculty Teaching Fellowship in 2011.
As a freelance journalist, I am interested in writing stories about people, and how they respond to the places and events that surround them. I also specialise in work related to the cycling subculture. Links to copies of recently published work are below.
Refereed Articles:
Conference Presentations:
“Everybody’s Writing.” 5th Annual Australian Cycling Conference, “Everybody’s Cycling?” Adelaide, Jan 21-22 2013.
“Body-as-Object and the Materiality of Fatigue.” Cultural Studies Association of Australasia Annual Conference, “Materialities: Economies, Empiricism & Things”. University of Sydney, Dec 4-6 2012.
“A Sense of Place, A Sense of Self, A Sense of Something Else.” Phenomenology in Performance Studies panel at the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) conference “Transcultural. Transnational. Transformation. : seeing, writing and reading performance across cultures”, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 28 June – 1 July 2011.
“Pushing Past Pain.” Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference “Stripping Bare…!”, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia 29 June – 2 July 2010.
“What Does Five Minutes FEEL Like?” “Time, Transcendence Performance” Conference. Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 1 – 3 October 2009.
“Sport, Performance and Environment.” Joint conference paper with Dr Ian Maxwell for the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) Conference “Turangawaewae: A Sense of Place.” University of Otago, Dunedin New Zealand, 30 June – 3 July 2008.
PhD Thesis:
Selected Magazine Articles:
The Extra 1% – A Chat With A World Champion – Feature interview with 2010 World Solo 24 Hour Champion, Jessica Douglas.
Doing it for the Team – Feature article on the 2011 Scott 24 Hour race looking at what the event means to long term sponsors, Swell Design Group.
Backstage at Stromlo – What does go on behind the scenes at large scale, volunteer run events?
Making Trails: The 2011 Mont 24 Hour Race – New trails, familiar players. A feature article on the 2011 Mont 24 Hour race.
Summoning Up the Courage – Discussion and reflection about the early racing experiences of female riders for Enduro’s Girl Talk page.
The Merida Whaka 50 – Event report on the Whaka 50km race in Rotorua, New Zealand’s singletrack paradise.
Beer Carbs are for the Finish Line – Feature article on the 2010 Dirt Works 100km race.
Outa the Box – Feature article investigating the extended recovery process that commonly takes place after a grueling endurance race.
Trail Tales – Column. Enduro, Issue 11.
Trail Tales – Column. Enduro, Issue 15.
St Mel Screen Printed Apparel – Product review on hand printed apparel from a creative, new company based in Victoria, Australia.
Lezyne Alloy Drive CFH Pump – Product review on Lezyne’s sexy and beautifully designed CO2 cartridge carrying bike pump.
Northwave Women’s Maya Shoes – Product review on North Waves affordable but comfortable Maya mountain bike shoes.
Web:
The web provides an interesting avenue for short, punchy, timely content and necessitates a different approach to writing as a result. In addition to the research and magazine work summarised above, I also write for additional websites which attract a broader readership than my own.
Flow Mountain Bike launched in October 2012. Have a look at their website for product reviews, event reports, interviews and other interesting articles from the global biking scene. Reader subscriptions allow for high production values and original, well-developed content. Stories with a more in-depth and timeless feel are reserved for their quarterly print magazine.
Content from this site is also featured on www.marathonMTB.com – a website that covers the international mountain bike marathon and stage racing scene.
The Enduro Magazine website, www.enduromag.com.au, also covers some events in blog form in between issues. I have provided original content for this site in the past as well.
