Changemakers: My Story of Building Space for Women and Girls in Mountain Biking

Last year, something unexpected and deeply meaningful happened: Stirl and Rae Media Haus created a documentary about my work in the Kelowna community.

The film, part of the Changemakers series, captured my mission to get more women on bikes and to make mountain biking a more inclusive, empowering space for everyone.

Seeing my story through their lens was surreal. I’m usually the one behind the scenes — coaching, encouraging, building community — not the one being filmed.

But this project reminded me why I show up the way I do: because movement changes people, confidence grows on the trail, and representation matters more than we often realize.

My Mission: More Women on Bikes

Mountain biking can feel intimidating — especially for women who don’t see themselves represented on the trails. That’s exactly why I’ve poured so much of my time into coaching and community building. When women feel supported, encouraged, and welcomed into the sport, they don’t just ride — they thrive.

The Changemakers documentary highlighted what this looks like in real life, right here on our beautiful Okanagan trails:

• Women learning to ride for the very first time

• Coaching sessions across Kelowna’s diverse trail network

• Honest conversations about accessibility, inclusion, and confidence

• The energy, connection, and empowerment that happen when women ride together

This wasn’t just a film about mountain biking. It was a film about possibility — and about what can happen when women are given space to show up fully, boldly, and unapologetically on the trails.

The Impact of Being a “Changemaker”

After the documentary was released, women reached out from all over saying they felt inspired to try biking, return to it, or finally take that first step. That’s the kind of impact that keeps me going.

This film wasn’t about perfection. It was about real people, real stories, and real change happening right here in our community.

What Comes Next

Being part of Changemakers wasn’t a finish line — it was a milestone. A reminder that the work continues and that there’s still so much room to grow the presence of women in mountain biking.

I’m grateful for the opportunity, grateful for the community, and grateful for everyone who continues to ride, learn, and push boundaries with me.

Here’s to more women on bikes. More representation. More courage. More change