Meet an OGExpert, Pride Edition: Deborah Kraft

What’s an OGExpert? They’re the folks that huff and puff alongside you in the skin track, give you a yell from the lift, move that pad for you at the climbing gym, share their granola at the summit, or help you change a flat tire at the bike trail head. They’re us. We’ve done it all, and used pretty much every kind of gear along the way. We live, breathe, and recreate with the community.

NAME:

Deborah Kraft

PRONOUNS:

She/Her

AGE:

29

HOMETOWN:

Averill Park, NY

WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE TO VERMONT?

Graduate school! I loved Burlington so much, I stayed after graduating.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING AT OUTDOOR GEAR EXCHANGE?

3 months

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT OGE?

Bike technician

WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR AREA OF OUTDOOR EXPERTISE?

Bike touring 😎

IF YOU ARE PART OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, ARE THERE PLACES OR ORGANIZATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE FELT SUPPORTED AS A QUEER PERSON AND HAVE EXPERIENCES WHERE YOU WERE ABLE TO BE YOUR TRUE AND FULLEST SELF?

OGE is for sure on the list! I’m beyond grateful for my team of co-workers and managers who have already taught me so much in 3 short months. The patience, validation, and support that I feel working as a queer woman in the tech department is palpable. I always feel encouraged to try new projects and to improve my skills, and my abilities are never doubted. There is also a group in Burlington called Queen City Bicycle Club, or QCBC for short. QCBC is a community of trans, femme, and queer people who ride bikes together to find connection, have fun, and empower each other. They plan group rides, provide a supportive online presence for questions and gear talk, and all around bring stoke to the queer, cycling community of Burlington!

DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OTHER FOLKS FROM THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY FOR FINDING COMMUNITY AND A SENSE OF PLACE OR BELONGING IN THE OUTDOORS?

Do not feel like you have to look a certain way to fit in or to be validated in your queerness! I love the idea of flipping the narrative on what is expected of “outdoorsy” people. While tuning up bikes in the tech room, I often wear colorful dresses or skirts under my shop shirt because it subverts expectations and reminds people that there’s no exclusively right way to look in any given job. I dress for my comfort and personal style, and find that it gives me the ability to focus and do my job well because I feel confident and relaxed (I also find that I receive a lot of compliments on my style!)

TELL US ABOUT ANY UPCOMING GOALS OR TRIPS YOU HAVE.

This July and August I’ll be biking over 1,500 miles across Alaska with a good friend! It’s going to be wild, and I’m excited (but also very nervous) about the prospect of seeing my first grizzly bear. Also, later this month, a few friends and I are also going to attempt “200 on 100”! We’ll be riding just over 200 miles on route 100, from the Canadian border to the Massachusetts border, all in a day’s time.

WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE OR TRIP RECOMMENDATION YOU OFTEN GIVE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE OUTDOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME?

Just GET OUT THERE and ENJOY yourself!!! You don’t need the newest clothes or highest end gear to have fun.

BIGGEST OUTDOOR PET-PEEVE?

Littering :((((

FAVORITE PIECE OF OUTDOOR CLOTHING OR EQUIPMENT YOU BRING ON EVERY TRIP?

I’m a BIG big fan of my headlamp. It’s a Black Diamond Sprinter, and there are two main things that I really love about it. 1) It’s USB rechargeable and 2) There is a red light on the back with solid and blinking settings. This means the same headlamp that I would use to navigate a campsite at night can also provide illumination and visibility while I’m biking around after dark! Perfect for short bikepacking trips or longer bike tours where camping is involved.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAIL SNACK AND LOCAL BEVERAGE?

Garuka Bars (an energy bar made in South Burlington) and Trek Bars (a goodie made at Great Harvest Bread Co. on Pine St in Burlington) are two of my favorite local snacks. For bevvies, I’m always up for an AfterGlow Hard Kombucha or a sour from Foam (if I'm not drinking twisted tea 😆)

HOW DOES THE OUTDOORS EMPOWER YOU TO BE YOURSELF?

Nature isn’t offended if I don’t wash my hair or shave my legs. The outdoors beckons me in my most natural state, and I find real beauty in that.

INSTRUMENT OF CHOICE FOR DIGGING A CAT HOLE?

Usually a tire lever or a sturdy stick, due to poor planning on my part ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

ARE YOU INVOLVED IN ANY LOCAL OUTDOOR COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THE SHOP? IF SO, PLEASE EXPLAIN.

Just all my friend groups! We love getting out there for bikepacking trips, hiking, swimming, and general exploring.

HOW WERE YOU INTRODUCED TO THE OUTDOORS?

I had a pretty decent backyard as a kid and some access to woods (and a lil swamp!) so I found enjoyment in exploring the outdoors from a young age. That interest became a lot more honed in college, when I joined my school’s outing club. This robust club had a huge room of gear that we could borrow from, and also planned multiple trips of varying types every weekend (climbing, caving, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking…) It was an incredible resource to learn from and I made so many lifelong friends.

FAVORITE AFTER-WORK SHRED SPOT/OUTDOOR ADVENTURE?

I loooove riding the 127 bike path over to Ethan Allen Park and checking out the view from the pinnacle or the tower!

FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE OGE?

I love the seemingly endless knowledge contained within the staff at OGE, and everyone’s willingness to share that knowledge!

HOW DO YOU SHOW YOUR PRIDE OUTSIDE?

By being completely myself!! My favorite dress to bike in is a rainbow tie-dyed hand-me-down from my mom. I love this dress because the rainbow shows off my pride, but it also sends a message that you can bike how ever many miles you want in a cotton dress (and chacos)! If you’re more comfortable in spandex and lycra, then hell yea do it up, but don’t feel like you need those clothes to be taken seriously :)