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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

GOT GRIT? Group aims to build women’s mountain biking community

TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY

Luke Thompson

Yakima Herald-Republic, Wash. (TNS)

Confidence in mountain biking, much like in life, takes time to develop and grows faster with guidance from others.

A desire to share her love for the sport, especially with women, inspired Shannon Skouras-Mahre to create unique opportunities for mountain bikers in the Yakima Valley. She earned her coaching certification from the International Mountain Bicycling Association a few years ago and started Girls with Grit, a nonprofit organization committed to empowering women by getting them outside and on the trails.

It’s often difficult to find other women to join a mountain biking trip, said Holly Dunham-Wheeler, a health teacher at West Valley Middle School. She joined eight other women at a Girls with Grit beginner/intermediate clinic last Saturday in Naches, despite steady rain falling all day as the group moved from Depot Park out to the Oak Creek Trail.

“Female athletes have spent too much time only doing things with males,” Dunham-Wheeler said. “It’s helpful to find other females.”

Natalie Martinkus of Yakima agreed, and Skouras-Mahre hopes the clinics provide a great bonding opportunity in a friendly environment. Along with co-instructor Kristen Farris from the Tri-Cities, Skouras-Mahre maintains a focus on positive reinforcement while teaching proper riding techniques.

Rose Rehfeldt attended a similar Trek dirt clinic in Colorado and wanted to continue enhancing her skills. Riders of all ages and abilities can attend the clinics – for a fee of $175 per person – and Bearded Monkey Cycling allowed for the free use of three demo bikes on Saturday.

“We’ve grown up riding bikes by sitting on them and not using the bike as a tool,” Rehfeldt said. “There you learn how to use the bike as a tool to make it safer and more enjoyable.”

Central Washington freshman and former La Salle soccer player Skylar Reep took a new mountain bike with her to Ellensburg this fall to take advantage of all the popular mountain biking trails in Kittitas County. She appreciated Skouras-Mahre’s relaxed approach at the clinic, which began with yoga and breakfast at Bron Yr Aur, where the group returned for beer and prizes Saturday afternoon.

Skouras-Mahre also teaches private lessons or clinics, and she’s begun to widen the scope of Girls with Grit to include other activities and even men in some cases. Starting this Saturday, she’ll team up with her husband, professional skier Andy Mahre, to offer a four-week pre ski season trail boot camp for women at Rocky Top, which will also include personalized at-home workout and meal plans.

“It’s getting strength in the legs, lower body and also their core,” Skouras-Mahre said. “A little bit of upper body.”

She said like the clinic, attendance for the boot camp might be small because of limited marketing for the event. That could change as word spreads for Girls with Grit, and Mahre went out Saturday to take promotional photos and videos for the next clinic, which will be held Nov. 18.

Skouras-Mahre plans to host more clinics in the spring and is exploring more partnership opportunities with Bearded Monkey Cycling and other local businesses. Mahre wants to offer his expertise and said he’s become a better coach from watching his wife.

“It’s a full-time job for her, I would say,” Mahre said. “A full-time job all while watching her child and I do whatever I can to help when I can.”

Their 1-year-old son, Ryder, seems destined to become a mountain biker and Skouras-Mahre wants to help other kids follow a similar path. She’s been instrumental in the formation of a Washington Student Cycling League team, which will offer middle school and high school kids the chance to practice from November to April before competing against 600-700 other riders across the state in four races next spring.

Skouras-Mahre and Mahre see a lot of potential in the mostly untapped Yakima Valley market, and she said they may change the name to Highway 12 Adventure to be more inclusive. Single Track Alliance of Yakima vice president Will Hollingbery said Skouras-Mahre stands out as a passionate advocate for mountain biking, so his organization is more than happy to host any events on the trails it manages at Rocky Top.

“Shannon works really hard and you can see it in the results of her work,” Hollingbery said. “Getting women involved in mountain biking is huge, too. Traditionally, it’s a male-dominated sport.”

Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance’s new Central Washington chapter also figures to be a key advocate in efforts to make mountain biking more accessible and appealing to everyone. Skouras-Mahre’s co-instructor, Farris, serves as the group’s treasurer and said Girls with Grit’s clinics aid in the mission of teaching more families the joys of exploring the trails on two wheels.

lthompson@yakimaherald.com

509-577-7689

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)2017 Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.)

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