Women’s mountain biking is booming with ladies specific events popping up all over the place – we went along to the inaugural Maidenduro event at Innerleithen, Scotland, to check out the crazy atmosphere!

Air Maiden is a mountain bike coaching and events business run by women for women with fantastic results, not just counted in attendance but in smiles and the exponential growth in confidence of participants. It’s hopefully something that we will start seeing more and more of as event organisers tune into the growing number of women in mountain biking looking for welcoming events where they can learn without feeling an iota of pressure.

If you go down to the woods today you are in for a very big surprise - you’ll find 70 women preparing for the biggest race of the season, the 2016 Air Maiden Enduro.
If you go down to the woods today you are in for a very big surprise – you’ll find 70 women preparing for the biggest race of the season, the 2016 Air Maiden Enduro.

Lynne Armstrong, the brains behind Air Maiden, is a born and bred Scottish lass who spent a good few years ripping up the trails in Whistler and came back with some big ideas. She saw the level of skill out there and wanted to help the much newer womens’ scene in the UK to grow to the same level. It can be harder to find the big lines at home than it is in Canada but we have our own gold here and it’s pushing the skill level sky high.

Air Maiden has been attracting riders from all over the UK to the Scottish Borders to take part in women’s coaching and freeride events and they’re always full to bursting, proving that women are grabbing the opportunities to push their riding skills and not just try to keep up with the boys.

Riders check out the views before getting stuck into practice, with a mix of ages and abilities the race offered a great confidence boost for everyone.
Riders check out the views before getting stuck into practice, with a mix of ages and abilities the race offered a great confidence boost for everyone.

Whereas many women’s events might have stuck to trail centre type tracks, Air Maiden wanted to get some real riding into the race – not even a little bit of manicured trail in this race. The event was held on the more ‘off-piste’ trails at Innerleithen, a place known for it’s tricky trails even before you head off the beaten track.

Full face helmets optional but a sensible choice on the slick and technical trails. Local rider Cat Topham has her concentration face firmly applied.
Full face helmets optional but a sensible choice on the slick and technical trails. Local rider Cat Topham has her concentration face firmly applied.

The day of the event was a typical summer day, except that it wasn’t raining, excited and nervous riders amassed at race registration outside the Innerleithen golf club. The morning was set aside for practice on the three designated trails, all of which were a good haul up the hill in the muggy heat. With plenty of chat with friends old and new, the first climb at least, flew by as everyone headed upwards to find if the recently dry trails had been affected by the deluge of rain earlier in the week.

The pine forests of Forestry Commission Scotland’s Caberston forest absorbed the riders and spat them out at the bottom smiling and ready to go again.
The pine forests of Forestry Commission Scotland’s Caberston forest absorbed the riders and spat them out at the bottom smiling and ready to go again.

A skills coach had been placed on each of the trails to offer as much or as little help as riders wanted. With advice on line choice and body position lots of ladies rode off more confident than they’d arrived and ready to attack the next stage. Those with strong legs chose to complete a full loop of all the stages covering around 810m of climbing in 16 km – others tactically chose to practice the toughest stage and refuel with coffee and sandwiches before the afternoon’s race.

Riders at the end of stage 3 were met with rapturous applause and the friendliest welcome
Riders at the end of stage 3 were met with rapturous applause and the friendliest welcome

After a lunch break, the ladies, who had ranked themselves as either beginners or experienced riders, headed up the hill with nerves jangling for the trails ahead, much reassurance was bandied around, everyone was being challenged. Those that wanted to ride competitively got to the front of the group to take advantage of the empty trails and those that were more relaxed found somewhere in the pack that they felt comfortable. With 30 second intervals between riders, most people had plenty of time to get down the track without much pressure.

And done - last dib out. No finer outfit can be found than a high-viz camouflage combo - marshal high jinx firmly encouraged!!
And done – last dib out. No finer outfit can be found than a high-viz camouflage combo – marshal high jinx firmly encouraged!!

You’ll never find a more friendly race than a ladies only one, all support and encouragement and polite overtaking. Once the organisers have recovered from their post-event party hangovers I’m sure that there will be a 2017 race schemed so, whether you’re just finding your racing legs or you’re an experienced shredder look out for it, oh, and bring your man to help marshal.

What a fantastic day. I can’t explain how impressed I was with all the riders who were terrified and intimidated by Repeat Offender (stage 2) but rode it anyway and all had smiles on their faces when I saw then at the end. Huge respect to you all. – Rob Young, fabulous marshal

Riders compare race times and stories or trees and roots jumping out in front of them - race day bants!
Riders compare race times and stories or trees and roots jumping out in front of them – race day bants!
No post-ride coffee and cake at the Airmaiden Enduro - straight in with the Tempest Brewery beer.
No post-ride coffee and cake at the Air Maiden Enduro – straight in with the Tempest Brewery beer.

The race was run with the kind support of Innerleithen Golf Club, Forestry Commission Scotland and all the kind sponsors –
Flare ClothingFlotec SuspensionElevation Cycles Go-Where Scotland

Fastest lady of the day went to Go Where Scotland coach Janey Kennedy who smashed down the trails in a killer 9.18mins
Fastest lady of the day went to Go Where Scotland coach Janey Kennedy who smashed down the trails in a killer 9.18mins

Everyone who took part was a winner but, some people were faster winners that others – and here are their lovely faces.

Enduro Babies (U21) - 1st - Melody Fife (, 2nd - Amber Young, 3rd - Emily Dods
Enduro Babies (U21) – 1st – Melody Fife (, 2nd – Amber Young, 3rd – Emily Dods
Enduro Cougars (over 30) - 1st - Emma Neale, 2nd - Cat Topham, 3rd - Neisha Sanderson
Enduro Cougars (over 30) – 1st – Emma Neale, 2nd – Cat Topham, 3rd – Neisha Sanderson
Enduro Virgins (3 or less enduros) 1st - Nicki Moore, 2nd - Jenny Aungier, 3rd - Charle Hall
Enduro Virgins (3 or less enduros) 1st – Nicki Moore, 2nd – Jenny Aungier, 3rd – Charle Hall
Enduro Whores (4 or more enduros) - 1st - Janey Kennedy, 2nd - Suzy Watson, 3rd Rosie Holdsworth
Enduro Whores (4 or more enduros) – 1st – Janey Kennedy, 2nd – Suzy Watson, 3rd Rosie Holdsworth
A good job well done - Congrats to Lynne on a fab event
A good job well done – Congrats to Lynne on a fab event

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