Pak is a Korean-American dirt chasing cyclist, filmmaker and educator. You can find him on the road/bike with his dog, behind the lens or exploring the backcountry.
Name: Eugene Pak
Hometown: DMV
“Bicycles will always have my heart, whether its gravel riding, mountain biking or bikepacking.”
What kinds of outdoor activities did you do with your family when you were younger?
My parents weren’t around much during my childhood, they were busy hustling for us. I vaguely remember going camping once or twice but most of my outdoor activities consisted of sports, playing basketball and football with friends. I wasn’t involved in any outdoor sports until a few years after college.
What kinds of outdoor activities do you enjoy now?
Bicycles will always have my heart, whether its gravel riding, mountain biking or bikepacking. I started in 2014 while I was in the Peace Corps and haven’t stopped since. I also have an unhealthy relationship with climbing. My stoke is high for a few months at a time, then it severely cripples, a toxic cycle.
Can you tell us about your rescue pup?
My pandemic rescue pup is Gaara! He’s an Aussie Shepard & Blue Heeler mix. I named him after a character in one of my favorite animated shows growing up after an interesting first meeting (long story) and recently found out that it’s a desert flower as well!
I’m currently training him to get into a bike trailer so I can take him on my long bikepacking adventures.
Your article, 10 Things I Wish My Outdoorsy White Friends Knew About Me has connected with a lot of people - over 40,000. Why do you think that sort of conversation resonates? And why do you think talking about race in the outdoors can be so challenging sometimes?
Well, I guess the numbers don’t lie. I’ve gotten so much positive feedback from others that it really shows how outdoorsy POC folx feel being in the outdoors and in the outdoor industry.
The history of race and the outdoors is brutally interwoven so the challenges are multiplied. I would argue that it’s impossible to distance colonialism, imperialism, capitalism or any -isms with its connections to the land.
I honestly didn’t think this article would resonate so strongly with folxs. These are just some takeaways and learnings I had after working in the outdoor industry for five years. The overwhelming response really confirmed for me the “shared minority experience” within the shared human experience.
Is there a similar disconnect when we talk about the outdoors with our BIPOC families—especially the older generations?
I can only speak from my own experiences, but I do believe there is a disconnect of shared experiences between the younger and the older generations. Whether its racism, immigration, crisis, segregation, technology, genealogy, the list goes on. I feel like the older generations experienced a less filtered life compared to the present moment. Which can make it hard for generations to understand and connect with each other.
Which made me start to question, where do we fit into these predominantly white outdoor film narratives?