Chance for women to hit the trails

A trio of dedicated female mountainbikers are keen to encourage more women into the sport through specialised beginner bike skills sessions in Timaru.

Alice Brice, Jenna Hughes-Games and Kate Watt already have more than 50 women interested in the free lessons at Centennial Park after just a few days of promotion.

Brice, a mother of two, said she has been mountain biking for about 10 years.

While she thought the South Canterbury Mountainbike Club male members were supportive of women, at some events she was the only female.

She said many women tended to ride on the walking tracks because they did not have the confidence or skills to go on the more rugged mountainbike tracks.

‘‘We want to encourage more women off walking tracks onto bike tracks.’’

Mountainbiking required experience to build confidence, Brice said.

‘‘It’s about balance, positioning your body, putting your bum back when going downhill, and where to put your eyes. If you look at the rock you don’t want to hit, you know what happens.’’

Brice and Hughes-Games came up with the idea for the sessions after being approached by Watt on the South Canterbury Adventure Ladies social media page. Watt was looking for someone to help her improve her technical skills and will now help run the ‘‘low key’’ lessons.

‘‘It’s hard to find like-minded female mountainbikers to ride with at the same ability level,’’ Brice said.

Hughes-Games has been mountain biking for about five years.

‘‘I want to enable women to do what I do. It’s fun and you don’t notice you’re working out.’’

She said some women did not want to go riding with a group because they were scared of holding other people back. ‘‘Everyone started somewhere.’’

She said women often felt intimidated by men who tended to take more risks early on.

The trio will take the riders onto the children’s mountainbike track to start with, and those with more confidence will be able to work on a more advanced trail. Women will be expected to know how to ride a basic bicycle.

The trio will run the free weekly sessions from March 18 at 6.30pm, meeting at the pond car park at Centennial Park.

BEJON HASWELL/STUFF Jenna Hughes-Games rides over a bridge in Centennial Park watched by Alice Brice. With the help of Kate Watt, the pair will hold free bike skills sessions for women at Centennial Park.