Hey, I'm River Valdez.

I'm 17, a mountain biker fueled by grit, stoke, and a whole lot of trail dust. I live in Sedona, Arizona—a red rock playground that’s shaped who I am and how I ride. I was born in Frisco, Colorado, and lived in Breckenridge until I was four, but Sedona's where I grew up and found my rhythm.

Family means everything to me. My sister is my best friend and biggest fan—she’s studying psychology on a pre-med track at ASU. My dad’s an architect from Texas, my mom’s an interior designer from Kansas, and together they’ve passed on their creative spark. Then there’s Strider, our German Shorthaired Pointer, who basically lives for trail runs and chaos.

On the bike, it’s been a wild ride. As of June 2025, I’m ranked #3 in the world by the UCI, which still feels surreal. In the USA, I race for Bear National and Orange Seal—two incredible programs I’m proud to represent. In Europe, I race for the USA National Team. Every workout, interval, climb, start line — it’s all part of the grind, and I love it.

Off the bike, I’m into music and art. Life’s busy with school, racing, and travel, but I still find time to sketch and mess around on the guitar. Creativity keeps me balanced.

This fall, I’m headed to Barrett, the Honors College at ASU, where I’ll be majoring in Biomedical Sciences on a pre-vet track. It won’t be easy balancing school and riding, but I’m all in. I’ve got big goals, and I’m ready to chase them—on the trail and beyond.

Let’s roll.