The second annual ShredHers women’s enduro race is taking place on Grey Mountain at the Magnusson parking lot tomorrow.
The second annual ShredHers women’s enduro race is taking place on Grey Mountain at the Magnusson parking lot tomorrow. Pre-registration is at 10:30 a.m., followed by the race from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
ShredHers is a timed event; there are three timed segments and the fastest overall times will place 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Michelle Friesen, the race organizer, explains why the event came about.
“The local bike club, the CMBC (Contagious Mountain Bike Club) weren’t able to host their weekly rides with the Dirt Girls, and that was where I found that I was really able to grow a lot as a rider, with the support of other women around me that were also trying things that were really scary, or that just had a bit more experience than me … I started the ShredHers group just to try to kind of fill that gap.
“I was able to receive some funding through the Rising Youth (from) TakingITGlobal program last year for an enduro. So that was where I came up with the idea to do the race as a way to get women out of quarantine, out of isolation in a safe and healthy way, like get outside and connect with supports, and also to provide mental health and wellness resources, which I got from the Canadian Mental Health Association, from Yukon Division. That was really how the idea was kind of born.
“There was just so much community interest, and everybody really loved the idea, and everybody had such a great time, and the local bike club, CMBC, actually picked it up for a second year. We’ve partnered with the Mental Health Association again, so we’ll have pamphlets available and numbers to call if you need anybody to chat with.”
“It’s open to all levels of riders, and I always try to pick a course that will be inclusive, so there’s not any black diamond features … I look for trails that will still be fun for every type of rider,” says Friesen.
The route is on Grey Mountain this year. Last year they did some of the trails in the Copper Ridge area. According to Friesen, they are going up a little bit in difficulty level this year, but they’re still accessible trails for any type of rider.
The route is listed as Magnusson (parking lot) to Yellow Brick, Woodcutter’s, Downtown Boogaloo, Boogaloo Heights, Upper Boogaloo, Rip, Upper Riverdale trail, Upper Roller Coaster. The course will be flagged for race day and volunteers will be stationed along the way.
Registration closed on Wednesday night, but Friesen is planning on opening it up for a few people who’s last minute weekend plans may have fallen through. They have about 25 women racing this year.
The group had a retreat out in Carcross this past July from the 16th to the 18. The ladies did some glass-blowing at Lumel Studios, and had a dinner at Gather. Then they headed out to Boreal Lodge near Carcross on Saturday July 17, and spent the day riding in Carcross.
“It was super fun,” relates Friesen. “It was so nice to see all the women who came progress in their riding. We started out pretty easy, and by the end of the day, everyone was riding black diamond trails. It was so fun to see.”
“We went back to Boreal for dinner, and we had Micayla Gatto, who is a pro mountain biker, join us on Zoom. And so she answered some questions from us … and she’d actually just been here in the Yukon in the fall, riding some of the same trails we’d just been on all day, so that was kind of fun.”
The weekend ended on Sunday when 60 Degrees Training put on a bike maintenance workshop for the ladies at Rotary Park.
This year’s ShredHers enduro was previously postponed due to COVID.
“The enduro actually was on the back side of the window that we decided to postpone events on … June 26 was the original date, and we made the decision – well the club made the decision to hold off on events up until June 25, and so I could have held that date, but I just felt like one day’s notice was going to be a bit difficult to maybe like navigate. I just didn’t want to cause any confusion – is it on, is it not on – so I just decided to move the date. It was a bit more time to prepare … my main priority … obviously I want everybody to come out and have a fun day, but I also want them to be safe and healthy. So it just made the most sense to move it,” explained Friesen.
Last year’s race took place on July 18, 2020.
Of course, there are COVID protocols in place for the race.
“All of the racers start staggered … we’ll make sure that there’s still like 30 or 45 seconds between every person on the trail … keep six feet apart if you’re not in your bubble, or wear a mask if you need to, if you can’t distance. We’ll have hand sanitizer, and masks available at the event,” says Friesen.
“Just the standard precautions … I don’t want anybody to come to the event and feel uncomfortable, and I want them to feel safe, and that their health is a priority, because it is.”
The race sponsors include Icycle Sports and Cadence Cycle, who, according to Friesen, have been really supportive of women’s events. Wykes, a new sponsor this year, will be sponsoring a post-event barbecue.
Kate White is coming back to be the MC again this year.
There are prizes from their sponsors which will be given out in a random draw.
“I’m excited to see who shows up this year,”Friesen says enthusiastically. “Last year we had a ton of women who were competing for their first time in a race, or still in their first season of riding, and we had five generations between our youngest and oldest rider, which was really cool to see. It’s just meant to be a fun day to get out and meet some other women and have a fun ride.
“It’s just really fun to see the difference at the start of the day, when everybody has their nerves, and not quite sure what to expect, especially if it’s their first race. And then at the end how excited and confident everybody comes out … I’m just excited.”
ShredHers women's race taking place tomorrow - Whitehorse Star
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