One of the biggest barriers to kids progressing their mountain biking skills isn’t fear or fitness — it’s their bike setup . If young riders can’t properly use their brakes, shifters, or dropper post, everything on the trail becomes harder. Key things I assess with every new rider: Brake lever reach: Kids should be able to use one‑finger braking for better control and grip. Shifter + dropper access: If they can’t reach the levers, they can’t shift smoothly or lower their seat when needed....

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...

Every rider has that one trail system — the place where everything clicked, where the sport stopped being just a hobby and became something deeper. For me, that place is Rose Valley Regional Park. I’ve ridden those trails more times than I could ever count. Before I left Strava, I remember seeing that I’d climbed Daze of Roses up to City on the Edge of Forever 278 times. Maybe that’s a lot, maybe it isn’t, but considering my first ride there was back in 2015 — when I was brand‑new to the...