Kaitlyn Shikaze
Getting creative with mountain bike adventures
Earlier this year, Kaitlyn Shikaze was looking forward to kicking off her under-23 mountain bike season as part of the Durham Shredders elite team. The plan was to race the Canada Cup series and some U.S. races, and try to qualify for World Cups later in the season. The Queen’s University kinesiology student from Oakville, Ont., had also joined the Highgate Racing team for her first foray into road racing. When the season evaporated, Shikaze got creative, putting together what she refers to as a diy stage race. The Ontario Singletrack Challenge saw her riding more than 40 hours across seven days at different trail networks in southern Ontario.
Though the 2018 junior provincial champ also claims to have caught cyclocross fever, Shikaze says her roots are in mountain biking. She competed against the world’s best cross country riders after Cycling Canada provided her with the opportunity to ride at Mont-sainte-anne i n 2019 at the world championships.
How do you balance school and training?
I believe proper balance comes from discipline and knowing what’s important to you and making time for it. I love learning, and kinesiology has opened my eyes to the possibilities of pursuing a career involving two of my passions: sports and science. In 2019, I raced with the Queen’s Cycling Team and we won the Ontario University Cup mtb series.
What were your goals for the
Ontario Singletrack Challenge?
One of the things I missed the most, other than racing, was travelling and exploring new trails as I followed the race circuit. I wanted to try to create that, the best I could, locally. My goal was to try to ride as many different singletrack trail networks in Ontario as possible. Durham Forest, Copeland Forest and 3 Stage are favourites.
Any planned winter challenges?
I recently did my first bikepacking trip and would love to do more of that next-level kind of adventure. I think a winter fat bike bikepacking adventure challenge would be amazing.
Have you gotten any good advice from pros?
I think the one piece of advice I’ve gotten the most is to “keep it fun and keep it diverse.” A lot of pros – Mike Woods, Emily Batty, Haley Smith and Catharine Pendrel – have said that to me as a younger rider. I think one of the coolest things about this sport is how connected the pros are to the whole cycling community, especially in Canada.
Are there causes you’re involved in?
I am very passionate and like to get involved in initiatives involving women’s equality in sports, environmental justice and mental health.
You ride a lot with your dad.
What have you learned from him?
My dad was the first mountain bike racer I knew and I’ve always looked up to him. I think one of the key lessons I’ve learned from him has been to be in control of your own experience and adventure.
Any advice for young female cyclists thinking about competing?
Keep it fun, be true to yourself and don’t be intimidated. I think over the years it’s taken me a while to learn these lessons. We’re really just all out here trying to do our best and have some fun, and hopefully some success, along the way.
(Tentative) plans for next year?
If it’s safe to travel in 2021, I hope to return to racing the Canada Cup and US Cup mtb series and pinpoint a couple of World Cups. I also hope to race the Ontario road races and some national and stage races. With this renewed love for adventure, I’ve also had my mind set on an epic bikepacking trip, either along the coasts of Canada or in Europe.