JUST ONE OF THE RIDERS

Q ADo people get star struck when they see you on the local trails?

I think I’m just one of the riders. To be honest, nobody tells me, so if I am a star nobody is saying ‘woah’ until after when they say, ‘I’m such a big fan’. When I just go riding it’s just normal and then when I get home I get all these messages saying ‘It’s so great to meet you’. So that’s funny. I try not to act any different. I grew up riding here and they’re just riding. We’re all just riders after all.

Does mountain bike riding seem to get bigger every year when you come back, especially events like the Gravitate festival?

AMountain bikes in general is getting bigger, which means competitions are getting bigger. I think the hardest thing is getting more of the local businesses behind a festival like Gravitate or behind any kind of festival to do with mountain bikes. It’s a hugely growing sport. I feel like the community support is still catching up and these events could be much bigger. I don’t know if it’s because of me, but I do notice with the introduction of enduro racing and trail bike riding a lot more girls are finding it easier to get involved.