We all remember our first time on a mountain bike. I remember mine clearly as I survived my partner’s determination in trying to turn his significant other (me) into a mountain biker. It was a beautiful sunny day while vacationing on the highlands of Cusco, Peru. I wore his extra large, men specific, badass gear that looked more like an improvised NASA suit on me. The so-called beginners trail felt like Half Iron man. I was completely covered with mud, could no longer feel my butt and fingers, and had countless bruises on my legs. To sum up, I couldn’t walk for a week after that ride. An unforgettable experience that ended up with me buying a bike. Winner choice was a Santa Cruz Bronson. Dating the elite national downhill champion I had no other option: Either I started riding or I wouldn’t see him at all.

It’s racing time!
It’s racing time!

In no time, I found myself buying body armor because downhill was risky, an open face helmet because going uphill was hot, all kinds of short and jerseys for all kinds of trails, riding shoes, goggles, gloves that had to match my uniforms, hydration pack, appliances to make my bike lighter and all these extra random items that just seem so indispensable until you get the bill. I then downloaded STRAVA and wanted to be queen of every mountain. I even started printing articles on hairstyles for helmets and became expert on braided Ponytails. Months later I bought an airplane ticket for my first Enduro race in Chile. Who was I trying to fool? I was in love (obsessed) with mountain biking.

Nice weather conditions: Muddy but sunny!
Nice weather conditions: Muddy but sunny!

No pain, no gain

Coming from a downhill background, we started training hard for liaison stages. I was somewhat familiar with speed and had some technical ability at my side for timed downhill sections (not really) but with Enduro I realised it would be more of a pedal to the medal challenge for me.


Getting ready for my first enduro competition
Getting ready for my first enduro competition

During weekdays training sessions began 5:00am. I would climb and descend a small but steep hill near home. Saturdays were reserved for longer trails to develop endurance and Sundays were fun days meaning pure downhill rides. Along exercising, I started a healthy diet with protein supplements to gain weight and build muscle.

Lovely Sarita Donoso, part of the Montenbaik crew
Lovely Sarita Donoso, part of the Montenbaik crew

After a month on a steady routine I had adopted a completely new lifestyle. Waking up at night and going to bed at daytime was completely normal. My bedroom became a bicycle warehouse. I was the family nutritionist and my friends thought of me as a grandma. Sometimes it all felt a tiny bit senseless, but most of the time it was OK. I just kept convincing myself I was doing the greatest act of kindness for my partner. 

Rider Carolina Riadi, member of the Liv Giant Chile team
Rider Carolina Riadi, member of the Liv Giant Chile team

#endurofemino 

Truth is I was not alone: there were 22 other women racing in my category and as the competition date came closer I became more and more curious about them. I contacted Sarita Donoso, part of the championship organization. She is a local female rider with cross-country experience. A great host, she guided me through the event basics and shared the story behind the female cycling community in Chile. They are a very friendly group managing a FB page called Enduro Femenino that has gotten almost 400 members. From this platform they plan rides, workshops and yard sales, share tips and photos, and overall wish to promote woman participation in Enduro.

Rider Meli Beckman leaving the pits
Rider Meli Beckman leaving the pits

I came with the idea of preparing a small survey so I could better know them and their relation to cycling. Results revealed most started mountain biking thanks to their partners and among top reasons they ride were: it connects them to nature, improves fitness and they enjoy adventure and adrenaline.

An epic day ahead of us
An epic day ahead of us

There is something very special in the sense of community and I personally find this one of the highlights of experimenting Enduro. In search for advice I also wrote to three top ranked female riders of the EWS and to my amasement received instant detailed feedback from them. (You know who you are, massive thank you!). I realised this form of mountain biking encourages healthy competition; it’s a lot more about sharing and having fun.

Race day

Competition took place at a bike park situated inside the private nature reserve El Durazno. Near springtime landscape is beautiful with endless green hills that have a city view of Santiago. Training sessions were canceled because of bad weather conditions. I had to quickly accept the fact I would ride trails for the first time during the race and they would most probably be muddy.

Liason stage one
Liason stage one


I was registered in the category Damas Light that had three stages between liaison and downhill sections and a total distance of 22 kilometers. As I waited on the pits for my turn to leave I did a final review of my checklist. I had a GPS watch so I could keep track of my performance and consume energy strategically along the way. I had bars, gels and gummies to power up my riding and calculated drinking 600ml of fluids per hour. I was carrying as well my elbow protectors, goggles and full-face helmet.

Rider Laura Sosa
Rider Laura Sosa

I was very much exited but managed to pedal smoothly to a point we were even chatting among girls on our way up during liaison stage. I learnt some of them were organised in teams; some traveled from far to race; some were dedicating full time to cycling and even one of them was the first Latin-American woman racing Dakar in a motorcycle. Once at the top we gathered together, ate a bit, stretched and cheered up riders leaving down the hill.

Rider Flavia Canepa
Rider Flavia Canepa

At the beginning of my first special stage, I accidentally took a deviation from the race trail crushing a tree and breaking my rear brake. Unfortunately this section of the course was not marked and a few riders before me went this way as well. I resumed riding but I would slip off the road on every corner. I was so lucky that my shifter got stuck and I could no longer change gears. Uphill sections became a nightmare!

Rider Catalina Ramos
Rider Catalina Ramos

As if God heard my prayers I crossed paths with my partner right after. He stared at me and asked: what the hell happened to you? I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. We hugged and it was time for me to leave again. Quitting was not an option so I simply carried on trying to have fun while providing great wipeout material for photographers.

Rider Josefina Gardulski, 1st place in Damas Light category
Rider Josefina Gardulski, 1st place in Damas Light category

Adversity turned out to be pure motivation and after more than four hours riding, I had achieved my goal by crossing the finish line. Female participants impressed me during the race and overall I found Chileans to be very complete riders. Like all of them I was extremely tired, but most important, extremely happy.

El Durazno Bike Park
El Durazno Bike Park
Back home. Stay tuned for more women’s enduro adventures!
Back home. Stay tuned for more women’s enduro adventures!

Text: Diana Samardzich | Photos: Diego Del Rio, Rodrigo Morales & Claudio Santana



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