Women on Wheels
By Dee Raffo
The curve of the wooden bridge came up fast. Am I far enough to the left that my back tire won’t slip off? Am I going too slow? Ugh, my foot isn’t on the pedal right! I felt an all-too-familiar sense of panic start to take over my body. The finger hovering over my brake wanted to press down and save me from whatever was going to happen next, but that’s when my coach’s voice cut through the forest.
“Look ahead. Your bike will follow. Off the brake now.”
Images Courtesy W/B - Matt Sylvestre
I did it! I beat my arch-nemesis, an inert wooden bridge with a sharp right-hand curve. My heart was pounding as I high-fived a fellow rider. Good bike days are made up of small victories like this, and having a coach to guide you through them makes those battles a little easier to overcome. And I am not alone in my quest for biking wins.
“We’re excited to be celebrating 20 years of Women’s Nights in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park,” says Michel Berthoud, supervisor of adult programming. “We used to have 30 women coming one night per week; now it’s around 170, two times a week.”
Berthoud explains it’s the focus on growing skills in a fun and supportive atmosphere that’s been a big part of the program's success. Laura Mackie, Whistler Bike Park coach, is someone who sees this in action.
“I teach on a Monday night and then I’m a student on Thursday [night], which tells you what I think of the program,” Mackie says with a laugh. “Women need to feel included first, and we focus on creating a supportive space where they can unlock their ability to shine.”
And before you go thinking the bike park is full of 20-year-old, athletic go-getters, Mackie comments that the age groups, backgrounds, and abilities of the women in attendance are quite diverse.
“Women aged 30 to 50 are a growing demographic for us,” she says. “Mountain biking can be intimidating, especially if you’re on your own, but that’s exactly what we’re here for.”
Interest in Whistler Blackcomb’s Women’s Nights has gained so much popularity over the years that their multi-day summer options sell out fast (they also offer drop-in sessions).
But don’t worry: Whistler has more options for riders of all abilities.
“I’ve been coaching in Whistler for over 20 years,” says Katrina Strand, local mountain bike coach, athlete, and mom. “As the sport’s grown, the options and styles of riding have grown. You can join a social ride, choose a clinic that focuses on a certain skill, opt for personalized coaching, or join a co-ed or female-only group.”
Strand has an ethos that seems to resonate particularly with female riders, although most of what she offers is gender-agnostic.
“You can train the hard skills as much as you want, but you have to train the mind too,” she explains. “Mindset is usually what’s getting in someone’s way, and I focus on that. You have to build trust in yourself, which can make mountain biking a tool for becoming more resilient in other areas of your life,” says Strand.
Image Courtesy Strand Training - Hailey Elise
Whistler is a biking hub with one of the best mountain bike parks in the world and hundreds of cross-country trails weaving around the valley. Whether you’re looking to start riding, hone existing skills, or push yourself to the next level, Whistler offers an incredible array of coaching programs.
“Whistler has so many trails, which means there’s space for progression,” Strand exclaims. “The bike park is a tiny fraction of what’s out there. If you’re a pure novice, there’s something for you. If you’re pro-level, there’s something for you too. Whistler has the biking gamut.”
Here are some of the programs you can consider for this summer, fall, and the future.
• Whistler Blackcomb’s Women’s Nights - Mondays and Thursdays during the summer, with camps and drop-ins available for all levels from novice to expert level. whistlerblackcomb.com
• Katrina Strand offers ride nights and clinics throughout the summer for intermediate to advanced riders. strandtraining.com
• ZEP Coaching has camps in the spring and fall for novice to advanced levels. zepmtbcamps.com
• Sweet Skills runs camps and clinics in the spring and early summer for all levels. sweetskills.ca
Last year, history was made at Crankworx Whistler, one of the world’s largest bike festivals, as it was the first time women competed for podium spots at the signature event, the Red Bull Joyride. And although the wooden obstacle I tackled is nothing like what those women can do, it was fun, and that’s what matters.
Bring your bike and have your two-wheeled adventure in Whistler this summer! crankworx.com/whistler