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MOUNTAINLIFEBLUEMOUNTAINS
SUMMER2016
The Pedalpushers/Collingwood Cycling Club
youthmountain bike program has been
gainingmomentum the past five years with
Collingwood-area kids but last year only three
females were registered in the program. This
year things are improving with 12 females
registered from ages 10 and up. The plan is
to keep building on this momentum. Cycling
coaches including Linda Shin, Stephanie
Martinek, Laura Powers andmyself will be
mentoring the juniors at the youth program
and the 6 Hours of Gibraltar relay race. All
four women have competed and podiumed at
the masters provincial andWorld Cup level.
“Acting as mentors for our juniors is essential
to building a strong community of female
riders,” says Stephanie Martinek, Pedalpushers/
Powerwatts coach and worldmasters mountain
bike champion.
Mountain biking is a male-dominated sport
and can be intimidating to a young girl. Once
girls learn to take risks and develop new skills,
their confidence soars. “I love being in the
woods,” says 15-year-oldMichaela Gosselin, one
of the bikers new to the youth program. “The
fresh air has a special aroma. I also enjoy the
opportunity to ride with great role models like
Noelle and Stephanie. I can see myself biking
for many years to come.”
Focusing on junior female riders like Michaela
gives them the tools and encouragement
to continue riding and enjoying the sport.
Promoting a healthy lifestyle via sport enhances
strong female bonds and confidence on and
off the bike. Our goal is to increase female
participation not only in the youth program but
also at the 6 Hours of Gibraltar relay in July. A
fundraiser for a local women’s shelter, last year’s
event raised an unprecedented $104,000.
Pedalpushers will be fielding two all female teams
with the help of local sponsors Squire John’s
and Collingwood Cycling Club. The Pedalpushers
PINKSTRONG junior and senior teams will not
only compete in the all-female category; they plan
to race against themen. They hope to show girls
that they can be fast, ride technical trails, and
love biking asmuch as the boys.
Oncegirls learn to take risks
anddevelopnewskills, their
confidencesoars.
WHEEL
WELL
RIDE LIKEAGIRL
STEREOTYPE-CRUSHINGONTHETRAIL
words :: NoelleWansbrough
#FastandFemale, #RideLikeAGirl—these hashtags have dominated social media as the stereotype-
crushing empowerment movement for young women inMTB goes viral. In the Blue Mountains
region we have some of the best mountain biking trails in Ontario and our local sports teams
boast some talented female athletes—but many have never ridden a mountain bike.
Ladies first: StephMartinek leadsGibraltar '15. COLIN FIELD
