A new narrative is emerging in mountain biking where girls and women participate, excel, and redefine the sport’s boundaries. Organizations, athletes, and communities are working to make mountain biking an inclusive, equal-opportunity sport for all.

Kennedy Yanke, a 17-year-old from Temecula, California, is a shining example of what’s possible. 

“My dad rode and raced mountain bikes,” she says. “I wanted to try it because it looked really fun.”

She joined the high school mountain bike team while still in middle school. Her father, Chris Yanke, signed up as a coach.

“It brought me out of my shell,” Kennedy Yanke says. “It’s teaching me a lot, and the adrenaline of riding is just so much fun.”

It wasn’t always easy, though.

Kennedy Yanke’s Journey

“During one of my high school races, I crashed off the first turn, falling in last place off the start,” she says. “I ended up in third place. I learned you need a lot of grit and determination—and not to give up.”

She didn’t give up.

“Kennedy focused on her love for the sport, even during the unnerving and unpredictable period when COVID-19 shut down most cycling events in North America,” Chris Yanke explains. “She knew she had to work hard for what she wanted. As a result, she’s made a lasting impact in the Southern California cycling community. She has inspired many young female athletes who admire her humbleness, charisma, unequivocal determination, and success.”

Inspired by professional female riders like Kate Courtney and Evie Richards, Kennedy has increasingly focused on endurance cycling events.

In 2023, she won the Cactus Cup overall three-day race event and the Sea Otter Fuego XL (70+ miles) in her age group. She became one of the youngest female athletes to qualify for the Leadville 100 race. She also won the Whiskey 50 and placed third overall at the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships.

Her journey, marked by determination and family and team support, mirrors the experiences that programs across the country aim to provide for young female riders.

Girls Ride Together

According to the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), girls represent just 20% of its national student-athlete participation. To increase female participation, NICA formed Girls Ride Together (GRiT), a program focused on building a community where girls can thrive.

Melissa Davies, NICA’s director of league operations, underscores the initiative’s goal. “We want all of our student-athlete participants to be empowered to make their mark on the world around them,” she says. “Whether they are future World Cup pros, lifelong singletrack adventurers, or inspiration for the next generation of women riders.”

The program addresses girls’ unique, nuanced needs in sports. This includes emotional safety, social interaction, a supportive and fun environment, positive body images, skill development, cross-age connections, and mentorships.

“I love that NICA’s programming structure fits all levels—from those who love playing bikes to those trying to achieve something athletically in the racing space,” Davies explains. “It coexists in our programming. To me, our magical superpower enables us all to recreate for the duration of our lives.”

Another program, Little Bellas, has 60 programs nationwide. Little Bellas inspires girls as young as eight to pursue mountain biking.

Lori Vosacek, program lead and regional specialist in Cuyuna, Minnesota, says Little Bellas’ approach goes beyond riding. It creates a positive, encouraging space where young girls can grow, learn, and develop a love for the sport.

“As a fifth-grade teacher, I see a dynamic with girls. Sometimes they’ll wait to see what the boys say first,” she says. “And they don’t hold back at Little Bellas because it’s all girls. They feel more freedom to be girly, silly, or not quite as serious.”

Vosacek says Little Bellas’ participants tend to be less fearful about riding and more confident than other girls.

“Our skill practices are authentic, non-threatening, and non-competitive. We ask, ‘Who wants to try this?’ Once they’ve done it, they have more confidence doing things on their own,” she explains. “And it definitely spills over. I can see that girls in the program are much more confident in the classroom.”

A New Era in Mountain Biking

A Portland State University study shows that girls and boys share similar attitudes about exercise and bicycling until age 14. That’s when girls start to fear injury and question their athletic abilities.

Vosacek acknowledges that fear. “We understand it, especially if it’s a girl who has never mountain biked. Those kids often have some fear. We’re not going to ignore it. We will address it to help them feel comfortable and confident.”

“The boys get a lot faster as they get older, and it can be sort of intimidating being a girl,” Kennedy Yanke says. “I’ve learned not to compare myself to the boys. It shouldn’t be something that girls are too concerned about.”

Davies is impressed by the allyship at GRiT activities. “We see these rad dads, boys, and allies who want to create a space that feels good to be a part of. It gives everyone permission to be a part of this initiative.”

Chris Yanke agrees.

“It is phenomenal to see female athletes in this sport. As a coach and Kennedy’s father, I have witnessed males and females getting involved in a sport that allows for an individual or a team scenario,” he says. “They’ve all been positively impacted. It is undoubtedly one of the most unique opportunities to join a sport at a young age. Mountain biking can be a lifelong hobby or competitive sport that allows you to test yourself while also enjoying the satisfaction of your successes and improvements along the way.”

The impact of GRiT, Little Bellas, and co-ed interscholastic programs nationwide extends beyond the trails. These programs instill confidence and a sense of community in young riders, echoing Kennedy Yanke’s journey from a shy individual to a confident and outgoing athlete. Through these initiatives, girls learn about mountain biking, perseverance, teamwork, and self-belief—lessons that resonate in all aspects of their lives.

Stories of female athletes and the success of initiatives like NICA’s GRiT and Little Bellas are inspiring a new era in mountain biking. “That’s the power behind the community we’re building,” Davies says. “More opportunities in that teenage space bring all the good physical, social, emotional, and mental health that activity and biking provide to humans. It’s amazing to witness a whole spectrum of women find this lifelong passion.” 

Follow along with Kennedy’s journey here.

The post Inside the Exciting Rise of Girls in Mountain Biking appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.