Gather the Gals: Women’s Nights, Clinics, Weekends, and Camps at BC’s Bike Parks

Images Courtesy of Sun Peaks Bike Park, Whistler Bike Park, Mount Washington, SilverStar Bike Park, and Bike Big White.

When I started mountain biking 10 years ago, I was intimidated by all of it. The rocks, the roots, the rolls, the jumps—and yes—the testosterone. Back then, mountain biking was traditionally male-dominated. When I looked around me on the trails, the average rider didn’t represent me. I learned the basics from my male friends, who were happy to show me the ropes, but I longed for some female energy to integrate into my new love of mountain biking.

Today, the tides have changed and women make up a large portion of people buying bikes and riding bikes. I now have a flock of female friends who ride bikes, too. It’s a more equal playing field out there on the trails, and everyone's better off for it. With more women involved in biking comes more female-focused nights, clinics, weekends, and camps across BC. BC’s Bike Parks have picked up on the trend, too. Many bike parks are now hosting weekly and weekend sessions for women to get together, learn from one another, and ride.

I recently found myself at Sun Peaks Bike Park and got to experience one of these women’s nights for myself. One hot summer afternoon, I joined a group of like-minded women and took to the trails for an evening of coaching and progression. I learned a lot, made new friends, and felt the commodore of people who enjoy bikes and biking just as much as I do. I quickly began my search for other parks in BC offering similar experiences—just for women. Turns out, there are quite a few. Here are some of the female-focused riding nights, weekends, and camps offered at BC’s Bike Parks.

SUN PEAKS BIKE PARK

Sun Peaks Bike Park has always been at the top of the bike park game, but they’ve upped the ante for 2022 with a massive expansion of new trails and terrain. With a $1.5 million dollar investment, this bike park now has 31 km of new trails, another chairlift with six new trails to ride, and a cross-country network that continues to grow on Mt. Morrisey. The trails are quiet, the lift lines are null, and there are trails for whatever combination of terrain you love to ride—flow, tech, jumps, berms, rocks, rolls, roots, and drops.

WHISTLER MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK

If you’re going to ride in BC, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park is about as iconic as you can get. Home to the annual Crankworx mountain bike festival, this bike mecca attracts international visitors and professional bike athletes every summer. They offer their own Women’s Nights, too. Each rider will be guided down Whistler Mountain by professional coaches, offering lessons in a safe and fun environment. This program is purchased as a group of Women’s Nights classes over the whole summer, with options to book into your skill level group every Monday or Wednesday through the end of August. This is hands down the best way to progress on your bike, make connections with the same group of riders each week, and take some dedicated time in the bike park. Women’s Nights are booked up for 2022, but be sure to keep your eye on these events for next summer. Be sure to book them quick, as they sell out fast!

MOUNT WASHINGTON BIKE PARK

Mount Washington is home to Vancouver Island’s only mountain bike park. Here, you can ride the park with views of the Pacific Ocean. This year, Mount Washington teamed up with GRAVITY MTB to offer their own For the Ladies Camp. This 2-day, lift-accessed bike camp runs once in July and once in August over the summer months. Catered to both beginners and those who are experienced riders looking to hone their skills, this camp focuses on body position, cornering, braking, accelerating, and line choice and instruction is provided by professional PMBIA-certified coaches. For those looking for just a night of fun, don’t miss Ladies Night on the first Saturday of every month through summer. Discounted lift tickets give ladies 2-hours of riding and post-ride apres with like-minded peers. For those who are brand new to the sport, there is the option to rent bikes, making it easy to get out and give mountain biking a go.

SILVERSTAR BIKE PARK

When you hear the stats, SilverStar Bike Park has it all: 69 km of downhill trails, 400 dirt jumps, 870 berms, and 44 trails make up one of the largest bike parks in BC. On Fridays, the park is for the ladies, with 2.5 hours of coaching sessions set aside from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm for female riders. These Ladies Friday Skills Clinics are for women 15+ looking to hone their downhill skills with trained PMBIA-certified coaches. Choose from novice or intermediate options, and decide to just join a drop-in class or join all 8 weeks of classes offered right through the end of August.

FERNIE BIKE PARK

What could be better than downhill laps in the Rocky Mountains? Gravity-fed rides at Fernie Alpine Bike Park offer some of the best lift-accessed mountain biking in Canada. Here you can ride wide, machine-made flow trails for beginners or challenging steep and technical singletrack trails for advanced and expert bikers. Ridetheory and Fernie Alpine Resort have teamed up to bring the community an exclusive women’s adult-specific mountain bike clinic. Focused on aerial skills, this clinic works with small groups of women on pumping, popping, and jumping at the downhill bike park. Christine Ma, Ridetheory owner and coach, will offer a one-on-one feel with only six people in the course. This is the ultimate all-day course (10:30 am to 4:30 pm) is only offered on July 31, 2022. Don’t miss out on the events happening next summer for women, and check back in late spring for announcements.

BIKE BIG WHITE

At Bike Big White, downhill trails sit well above the treeline and in the alpine, offering sprawling views of the Monashee mountain range. Beginner to expert riders feel at home here with trails designed with both progression and challenge in mind. For female riders, the Big White Women Specific Clinics offer professional instruction with a 1.5 hour morning skill session, followed by a 2.5-hour afternoon guided ride using the lift-accessed terrain at the park. This clinic was held on July 13, 2022, but be sure to check back in early spring 2023 for more women’s camps and sessions at Bike Big White.

KICKING HORSE BIKE PARK

People don’t come to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort to ride the same old thing. They come for the differences, and the resort has plenty—over 3,700 feet of variety. The view from the alpine launch alone is worthy of a trip—with three piercing mountain ranges and the wetlands of the Columbia Valley.

Kicking Horse is offering a Ladies Learn to Downhill weekend August 13-14, 2022. This weekend is all for women who are hitting the bike park for the first or second time. This all-day camp runs from 10 am to 4 pm each day, with breaks for lunch and catching up with your new riding buddies. Maximum five people are booked into the weekend clinic, so book your spot quick.

Women’s nights, clinics, weekends, and camps are offered to anyone who identifies as a woman. These are meant to be inclusive environments for all. The more people riding bikes—no matter who you are—is better for all people who ride bikes.