News: Missy Giove Arrested Following Massive Pot Bust

By Chris Lesser and Lou Mazzante
6/18/09
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Photo: David Reddick

The mountain bike community was shaken yesterday and this morning after learning that former world champion Missy “the Missile” Giove was arrested on federal drug charges following a large-scale drug bust near Albany, New York. According to several published reports, Giove was charged Tuesday with conspiring to possess and distribute nearly 400 pounds of marijuana.

The 37-year-old Giove and two others were taken into custody after police followed a truck and trailer she was driving to the residence of Eric Canori, 30, of Wilton, New York. Police reportedly seized 220 pounds of marijuana from the trailer and another 150 pounds from Canori’s home, where they also found more than $1 million in cash hidden in a closet and in the basement.

“She’d always been a type-A extreme-case shredder with everything she did, from biking to life in general,” said former Volvo-Cannondale DH race technician Doug Dalton, who wrenched for Giove from 1998 to 2000 on the World Cup circuit. “They didn’t call her ‘The Missile’ for nothing.”

According to Associated Press reports, DEA spokeswoman Erin Mulvey said that authorities learned of Giove and Canori’s plans last weekend after Illinois state police pulled over a woman driving a truck trailer with about 220 pounds of marijuana. Giove, according to those reports, later picked up that truck outside of Albany, New York, and drove it to Canori’s home in the nearby town of Wilton. Police made the arrests of Giove, Canori and Tamara Geagley in nearby Saratoga Springs.

If convicted, Giove faces between 10 and 40 years in prison. Already in custody, she is scheduled to have a detention hearing today.

This isn’t Giove’s first encounter with the law. The notoriously rebellious rider says she has been arrested at least four times previously. Once for reportedly “borrowing” a police officer’s cap and “accidentally” hitting another with a skateboard. As a child, she was repeatedly expelled from grammar school for fighting. “My parents realized early I wasn’t the type of child they could control,” Giove once told People magazine.

During downhill racing’s halcyon years of big-budget race teams, six-figure contracts and international fame, Giove stood out for her brash, aggressive style and willingness to let it all hang out. And when she crashed, she crashed hard, breaking more than 30 bones during her career. She famously wore a dead piranha around her neck, and rode with the ashes of deceased pets tucked into her sports bra. While shocking, Giove’s style propelled her to 14 NORBA downhill titles and 11 World Cup victories, including the 1994 Downhill World Championships.

“It’s a shame to hear,” said Foes Racing owner Brent Foes, whose team Giove raced for following her stint with Volvo-Cannondale. “I think she could have had a future in the bike industry, working with some companies, promoting product. When she was around, people knew it. When we had her on the team, it definitely gave us some notoriety. She was good for the sport, gave it some flavor.”

Indeed, Giove’s notoriety helped her—and the sport—gain international attention. Giove parlayed her racing career into a guest host spot for MTV and appearances on the David Letterman show. She also started an organization called Team Amazon to help young urban female racers compete in an equipment-dependent sport.

Giove’s notoriety, it appears, was even known by DEA Special Agent John Gilbride, who, according to a story in the New York Daily News, regrettably quipped that "Drug trafficking can lead you downhill fast."

Reader Comments

Posted Thu Jun18, 2009, 7:20 PM — By tahoecrispy

Pretty dumb on her part. but cmon...LEGALIZE IT! Shheeesh its only weed. A lot better than booze.

Posted Thu Jun18, 2009, 8:24 PM — By Smith

Giove isn't rockin the bike anymore but apparently still livin like a rockstar. I guess drug dealing is as good a form of retirement as any other. Wonder what her podium time crossing the border was.

Posted Fri Jun19, 2009, 1:10 AM — By Downhilldoug

Too bad i really liked her i met her a few times she was nice and a great racer. its only pot big deal so your gonna lock some one up for the rest of there lives because of the stupid drug laws. just my two cents.

Posted Fri Jun19, 2009, 10:18 AM — By Merohedral Twin

Agreed...Alcohol is very dangerous...Ever hear of delerium tremens? You can die from that...Marijuana has never ever caused one to die.

Posted Fri Jun19, 2009, 10:42 AM — By LUIS MANUEL DE ANDRADE

legalize, no more represion

Posted Fri Jun19, 2009, 2:10 PM — By One of the Lizard Brothers

Maybe the public defender is right and it was planted? This is sad news, I have met and talked to Missy a few times back when she was racing pro downhill and spanking the mountain and the other racers backside. I hope she comes through this okay and finds purpose in her life. The comments that "it is only pot" are naive because illegal is illegal, doesn't matter if it is marijuana, cocaine or steroids. Peace, Love and I'm out of here.

Posted Fri Jun19, 2009, 6:50 PM — By Reid

Funny, she doesn't look like a pothead. Never would have guessed...

Posted Sat Jun20, 2009, 11:07 AM — By Raiderbo

Legalization is immpossible due to the public being able to grow their own with no accountability/regulation. As for Missy -400 lbs and a Mil in cash-would still be illegal,the legalization will only cover personal use -not for distribution/sale and of cousre you would have to pay your share of Uncle Sam's taxes.She would still have been in a legal mess.

Posted Tue Jun23, 2009, 5:43 PM — By Fabrice Vincent

Wow, I am most impressed by the mountain biking and life achievements of beautiful Missy “the Missile” Giove. She is an awesome role model to me and the world. I salute her competativeness, success and her support for love and gay and lesbian rights. If I were President, I would pardon her and give tons of money to support her Team Amazon project helping inner city kids ride bikes. And I would give Citibank zero dollars and figure out what laws they broke in losing billions and send those lawbreakers to jail, not Missy Giove. I am praying she is acquited or gets minimum sentence or gets fully pardoned.

Posted Thu Jun25, 2009, 7:48 PM — By slappy chee

it is very obvious to us that as a species, you are incredibly stupid. Marijuana is actually a plot by your government to sterilize your breeding stock and prevent us from overwhelming your pitiful species with our alien D.N.A. Missy was nothing more than a pawn for your Obama and his DEA. We are watching and we will have our day. Love, Tom Cruise and the Scientologists

Posted Thu Jun25, 2009, 8:16 PM — By taco

see now here in calia they don't give a f*#k now i do understad over therecas ove all the drugs and the killing now if the people that lived in new york would learn to relax mybe they jst might liglize it..........

Posted Thu Jul16, 2009, 9:45 AM — By BB

The comments "legalize it" and "it's only pot" are pretty irrelevant due to the ammount. If she was caught with a bag or even a pound, it would be a different story. Once you start looking at hundreds of pounds and millions of dollars it is a whole new ball game. Did she not realize that at that level, friends kill friends for that kind of money or to stay out of prison themselves? I'm not a pot dealer, but even I know that at that level it is strictly ammature hour to not be packing a gun and be ready to use it. Is this the Missy we knew? Did she think that getting bust with 400 pounds would be classified as a first time offense and she would get only a slap on the wrist? I'm not a smoker, but the stuff should be leagalized. However, she was fully aware of what she was into and she clearly was not just looking to have a stash for her personal use.

Posted Sat Aug29, 2009, 11:12 AM — By SRW

I used to love watching Missy at the races, the way she attacked the courses was amazing. I don't have a problem with smokin it, but when you start dealing, you know what will happen when you get busted. Especially at that level! I hate to see her go down that way, but she made her own decisions. No tears here!

Posted Wed Dec23, 2009, 11:07 PM — By Tommy Ting Ding

Duuuuudes, it was an "accident." Chillax.

Posted Thu Dec24, 2009, 11:17 AM — By DeeZee

Sad case of another fallen star looking to option out using the drug game instead of branding her own name in the industry that made her famous. In the long run, if she would have gotten involved in the bike industry instead of trying to be the Tony Montana of chronic, it would have paid off ten times over. Hell, move to California and open up a dispensery and move those pounds that way!! Very dissapointing! She must've been "high on her own supply" to make that kind of move. Sad but the game doesn't break bones, it takes years off your life. Good luck Giove and see you on the trail in a few years.

Posted Thu Dec24, 2009, 1:33 PM — By Scuff

Well it goes with the territory. I've been riding mountain bikes for 25+ years. Now it's magazines like Bike and the industry itself glamorizing the "Freeride lifestyle." Booze, drugs, sex and riding sells product right? My 21-year son watches all of the latest freeride vids and just idolizes of the so-called "stars." Of course he now thinks that drinking a fifth of Jack the night before a ride is just the coolest thing in the World. What used to be an activity that taught him the merits of discipline, sportsmanship and good health is now just an excuse to drink beer while he rides. Oh and did I mention, he just got arrested for possession of pot? I'm all for partying, but stop glamorizing this shit.

Posted Fri Dec25, 2009, 11:31 PM — By Chad evans

it's very sad that someone's life has to be ruined over a ridiculous law that states it is illegal to use one of the Earth's great plants to make a living and/or ingesting. In some more advanced societies they have made it legal already, the United States won't legalize because they can't tax it like booze and people who smoke pot don't drink as much booze or get DUIs as much which is another reason,,the govt males money off DUIs and every prisoner locked-up. Each state gets federal money for each prisoner,therefore they need laws to be broken so people can be locked up like dogs and the state can get their money. SO SO SAD,,WHAT A MESSED UP COUNTRY WE LIVE IN.... LOVE MY COUNTRY! FEAR MY GOVERNMENT! Peace Love and Understanding to all! I hope you beat this case Missy!!!!!

Posted Sun Jan17, 2010, 2:16 PM — By John Vorobej

I've been out of the bicycle industry loop for a couple of years now and was shocked today when I stumbled upon an article about Missy's arrest. In reading through the other comments, there are some interesting points brought up and some that have nothing to do directly with the case against her. As a reasonably independent observer, up here in Canada, This is about trafficking and tax evasion. While I don't personally use drugs or alcohol, I do support an individual's choice to consume their intoxicant of choice in the privacy of their home or any licensed establishment. But, we're talking about 350+ lbs.and $1,000,000 in cash. That's obviously not about 'personal use'. I don't know Ms. Giove's personal circumstances, but she's a 37 year old woman and should be prepared for the consequences, and in reality, expecting them.

Posted Sat Feb20, 2010, 2:11 AM — By Baby Shower

Yo, I'm with ex girlfriend of Missy the missile. Ye al need to chill the fuck out. We know the truth. She likes pot, MaryKay and hopefully recovering lawyers. Duh! Oh come on ----Be nice---it'true!