Ladies, let’s get on the bikes!
Is mountain biking a male-dominated sport? Not at all!
Girls Just Want to Have Fun. And Flow.
“Started out chasing the boys – ended up passing them,” writes Valentina “Vali” Höll on her website. And in doing so, she answers straight away the (utterly outdated) question: Is mountain biking actually a sport for girls? You bet! Anyone who follows downhill superstar Valentina “Vali” Höll on Instagram – and is thus one of her roughly 200,000 female followers – will quickly realise that women have not only long since discovered mountain biking for themselves, but are actively shaping the sport. The latest promotional video from Austria’s largest biking region, Saalbach Hinterglemm – Vali’s home – sums up the gender issue with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek humour. In the short film “Vali – Full Throttle Through Idyll”, Austria’s most successful female mountain biker battles long-standing clichés and entrenched prejudices, navigating the world of downhill racing and dirndls.
Women’s Empowerment – Made in Saalbach
Today, she is a six-time world champion, a four-time overall World Championship winner and an 11-time World Cup winner. This makes her a role model for many young women and girls, and an icon for female empowerment on the trails – and beyond.
Yes, girls can mountain bike too – and how!
Next Generation
With Laura Stigger & Co., the next generation is already lining up at the starting line. The Austrian cycling scene simply reflects what has long been an undeniable reality on the international stage: women on bikes are gaining momentum and making their mark. These daring female downhill riders inspire not only through their sporting successes at the very highest level, but also through their attitude. Anyone who follows these fearless ladies on Instagram and other social media platforms is rewarded with professional content that really whets your appetite for mountain biking.
Female cycling influencers
When it comes to fearless female role models who conquer trails with confidence, Martina Wunderle is a must-mention. This passionate mountain bike influencer and photographer captivates her audience with spectacular shots and brilliant travel, trail and tour tips. Together with her travel partner Flo Distl, alias Flowdistl, this dynamic duo provides plenty of cycling inspiration across the Alps – for both men and women.
Where Wild Femininity Lives: Bike Hotels by and for Women
But even outside the world of professional sport, women cyclists are taking the trails by storm. At renowned Mountain Bike Holidays bike hotels, female cyclists confidently lead the way – like-minded women meet to share experiences at exclusive ladies’ bike camps, varied bike and yoga specials encourage them to think outside the box – and Take, for example, the charming Biohotel Rupertus in laid-back Leogang or the cheeky and cheerful Hotel Rössle in the unique Bregenzerwald. Because here, women have a firm grip on the reins – and the handlebars: after all, the women in charge are passionate and qualified bike guides with plenty of heart, a helmet and home advantage.
Are you looking for expertise with a feminine touch and like-minded female cyclists?
Then you’re guaranteed to find what you’re looking for here! The same goes for the charismatic Hotel Innerhofer in the Tauferer Ahrntal, where three strong women from two generations turn a mountain bike holiday in the UNESCO-listed Kronplatz Dolomites region into an unforgettable experience. Girl power on the bike and ‘female flow’ guaranteed.
By the way: at the infamous KronplatzKing MTB Marathon in South Tyrol, the KronplatzQueen is of course also crowned. Don’t stop me now, I’m just having a good time!
So, ladies, slip into your cycling gear and hop on your bikes!
