SUMMER2016
MOUNTAINLIFEBLUEMOUNTAINS
85
AriannaVegter. ALLISON KENNEDYDAVIES
HowmuchdoesAriannaVegter lovebikes?
Well, enough tomake themove fromBarrie
to “metropolitan”Redwing just tobe closer to
BlueMountain’sDownhill trails and the region’s
top cross-countryoptions.TheKnollyBikes
andSquire John’s-sponsoredprogot her start
inDownhill five years ago—going frombarely
riding abike towinning theCanadaCup in2012
and2013.Recent finishes includeOverallRace
SeriesChamp, EasternStatesCup last fall, and
2ndplace in the2016VittoriaESCAtlanticCup
DH.Vegter is gratified to see anuptick in female
Downhill riders and sees value in “no-boys-
allowed” ridenights todiminish the intimidation
factormanywomen feelwhen approaching the
dude-dominated sport. “Whengirls ride together
there’s nopressure at all,” she says.
MountainLife:
Howdid you get started
Downhilling?
Arianna:
Iwent from riding a bike around the
block as a kid tonot biking for themajorityof
my life (
laughs
).Then I starteddating a guywho
likedDownhill and I thought I’d try it. I putmy
short shorts on andmy sneakers and Iwent to
Blue. Iwent a few times and said this is not for
me. I kicked it to the side, watchedmyboyfriend
race anddid themarshalling thing instead.
Whatmade you give it another try?
Itwas inspiring seeing the other girls at the races.
They got toknowme andurgedme to give it
another try. I set a goal to race by the endof the
first season. I rentedbikes all season and signed
up for the last race. I didn’t dowell but everyone
was sowelcoming and stoked tohave another
person riding. Itwas addictive—that atmosphere
and the progression you can see in such a short
time. You’re always learning little things and
overcomingobstacles, goingover one rock that
you couldn't ride last time. You get all excited
andwonderwhat you candonext run. Even if I
master a trail that’s super challenging right now,
I know just around the corner there’s a trail that’s
20 times harder.The challenge is constant and
I love it.
Are theremany girls who ride in this area?
I take a groupof girls out riding everyFriday
night atThree Stage—friends ofminewho
have just started to dabble in bikes.We have a
no-boys-allowed ride night. It’s a lot of giggles
and squeals and no intimidation; no one gets
frustrated. It also bringsme back too. It’s good
forme to remindmyself how you properly
ride over a rock. Sometimes I forget and I just
smash over things so it’s good forme to go
back to the basics.
What about girls on the downhill trails at Blue
Mountain?
Last year therewas a significant jump in the
number of girls at Blue. It’s nice to see somany
girls showingup andhopefully they’ll come race
too. I know it’s a bit intimidatingbut ultimately
it’s just a bunchof girlswho are friends and it’s
pretty awesome riding your bike
for theweekend andworking
specificallyonone trail. I’ll never
regret doing that first race because
it really got the ball rolling. I
learned somuch.
Why do you think girls thrivewhen they ride
together?
When girls ride together there’s nopressure at all
and it’s a tonof fun.There are somanydifferent
ways a girl carries herweight on a bike too—
frompositioning to thewaywe handle the bike.
You’ve competed inCanadaCup races inBC,
Quebec andOntario and raced in theUnited
States.What are your plans for this season?
There’s aCanadaCup race at BlueMountain this
summer.Myboyfriend and I prettymuchdo all
the races at BlueMountain and theEasternU.S.
Cup races inNewYork, Pennsylvania andNew
Jersey.My goal is to take off some of the pressure
I put onmyself and focus onhaving fun.Those
Fridaynight rides are the rightmix: Laughs and
tailgate beers after.
–AllisonKennedyDavies
You’realways learning little thingsand
overcomingobstacles, goingover one
rock that you couldn't ride last time.
OVERCOMING
OBSTACLES
ProDownhillerAriannaVegter
isaTouchstone forWomenRiders
