KATIE WOOSTER
nMarketing Assistant: Nukeproof
The freshest recruit in our feature, Katie, joined Nukeproof during the pandemic as marketing assistant. She looks after its email strategy and support with other digital channels, internal comms, media visits and comms and helps Rob Sherratt (Nukeproof’s Marketing Manager) with shoots/media camps and team events.
“Having been a relative newbie to the world of mtb – I started riding properly around two to three years ago – I realised quickly it was truly something that I was passionate about. n Storyteller
SASKIA DUGON
Got a creative side and itching to apply it to a job in bikes? Saskia Dugon is a photographer, writer and aspiring filmmaker, shooting for brands, capturing events and adventures and even bagging an mbr front cover last year.
“While I was at university studying for my Law degree I got quite into mountain biking. But that first year of uni saw me spend more time at Bikepark Wales, Afan and Clyne than at my lectures (sorry mum!). From there I headed to some races and between my race runs I would take my camera out and photograph the riders. It wasn’t until my last year of uni that I would seriously consider that I wanted to photograph bike sports for a living. I had my first proper job with Trek, travelling with Tracey Moseley and Katy Winton around Ireland and Scotland for a week, documenting their relationship, friendship and mentorship. I finished uni, packed up the car and headed out to Morzine for the season and I’ve never looked back.
“I love the variety, I love having each day different from the last, I love being able to create my own opportunities, I love being outdoors and working with riders, I love seeing new places, experiencing different
The role at Nukeproof came up when I was least expecting it and I pretty much hounded the HR colleague to give me an interview, slightly embarrassingly so!
“On a professional level, I love that my opinion is respected both as a less experienced mountain biker, and also as a woman – no level of input is too granular, and if you have evidence, all ideas are supported. I love the chance to meet our athletes and see how incredible they are on bikes; videos and images can’t show you how fast and skilful they are. cultures... the list just kind of goes on.
While I enjoy editing, if there could be less time spent behind a computer that would be great. I love the creative process of editing and writing, but I’m not a fan of just being sat down so much.
“If you really love bikes and you find yourself thinking about the industry during your regular ‘office’ job, then be proactive and seek the opportunities. There are so many awesome brands that are actively looking for people to join the industry in lots of varied roles. Also, be passionate about bikes, but know that your working life (mostly!) won’t involve riding all the time, and the passion has to be for mountain biking as a whole. It’s an added bonus that you often get the chance to get out for on-bike meetings!”
“I’d say the main thing you need to be a photographer is creativity and confidence. You can learn how to operate a camera and edit, but you really just need to learn to trust your instincts and to identify and capture the important moments in front of you.”