Women wanting to try downhill mountain biking in a safe, unintimidating style should load their bikes in the truck and head to Horseshoe Resort for the season opener of Horseshoe Shred'HERS on July 4.
The women's downhill mountain biking club welcomes women of all ages and skill levels to the Thursday night program that runs weekly from 5 to 7 p.m. until the end of August.
"We create a safe space for women where they can progress and thrive within the sport of downhill mountain biking," said Manda Freyman, who runs the program with Shannon Mathieson.
There is no cost for the program, which includes instruction to introduce women to the formerly male-dominated sport. One run is closed each night so women can ride without the pressure of racers around them.
"It's one trail per night, and we progress them," said Freyman. "We start with the easiest trail and mark safe places on each trail so you can get off your bike. We also mark features so you know what's coming as downhill is fast."
Last year, women's night attracted 127 members and the average age of the riders was 45, said Freyman, 50.
In a partnership with Horseshoe Resort, ladies who come at any time on Thursdays receive a half-price lift ticket for the day and night.
"We want to make it affordable enough so that if they wanted to try one run and that was enough, it won't break the bank," Freyman said.
Horseshoe Resort is the only chairlift access downhill mountain biking venue in the province. A weekday lift ticket costs $45 and a weekend ticket goes for $55, good for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week (summer hours as of June 28).
Freyman has been involved with the program since its humble beginnings in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Horseshoe Resort and local rider Hannah Simms approached Freyman, asking her how the resort could attract more females and children to the sport.
Freyman is the owner of The Mountain Bike Exchange, a women's mountain biking exchange program with a large membership, and she co-ordinates the local Peace and Wheelies women's mountain biking group.
Matt Konings, manager of parks and events for Horseshoe Resort, and a former competitive BMX biker, said there weren't many women coming to the park before they started the women's program.
"I've always seen in downhill in Ontario there was always 10 guys to one gal. It was such a male-dominated sport," he said.
Konings worked with Simms and Freyman to build the women's program. To do that, barriers had to be brought down.
"Building community at the bike park was kind of tough for males and females because it was perceived as a race-based sport," said Freyman.
Racing does take place at Horseshoe Resort on Wednesday nights, and the resort hosts international mountain biking competitions.
Freyman worked with Konings to close one trail per night to other traffic and have it well marked to reduce the intimidation factor, and get the half-price lift tickets.
Experienced riders shared their knowledge with new riders about what line to take down the hill and how to ride over rocks, roots and features.
"There developed a camaraderie, which made the newer riders more comfortable," said Freyman.
Part of the lessons is how to load the bike on the chairlift, to remove that intimidation factor, she added.
Ashley Brown, owner of The Crank & Sprocket Bicycle Co. in Orillia, rode all manner of bikes before she had her first child. After his birth, she stopped riding entirely.
But she was attracted to the Shred'HERS two years ago because of the wording on the social media post saying it was for new riders and no experience was necessary.
"I hemmed and hawed, but their expectations were low, so that's what roped me in," she said.
"There's a group of us who have children. They ride up with us and walk down the hiking trail. One night, the kids were pushing their bikes up the hill and riding down, saying they are doing it it 'just like mom.'"
Thursday nights are her time, but now the family of four comes every Sunday.
"Our family would have never done that if it wasn't for the ladies' night," Brown said.
The members of the women's group also sit together after the ride to enjoy each other's company. Horseshoe Resort offers 20 per cent off food and non-alcoholic beverages to participants. There are also bikes for rent. Booking ahead is recommended.
More information about Horseshoe Resort is available by calling 705-835-2790 or visiting horseshoeresort.com.
Details about about The Mountain Bike Exhange can be found at themtbexchange.com. More information about the Peace and Wheelies group is available at crankandsprocket.ca/articles/peace-and-wheelies.
