Event
Summertime
Publié le Saturday 22 June 2024

This weekend saw the 3rd edition of Girly Ride, the 100% women's downhill mountain bike event at Les Orres Bike Park. With each edition, the number of riders of all levels has risen to over a hundred this year. A weekend that confirms women's growing interest in downhill mountain biking and promotes women's uninhibited riding! Conviviality, shared progress and riding are on the menu for this annual event.

THE GIRLY RIDE : AN INVITATION TO RIDE LIKE A WOMAN

The foundation stone has been laid for the 1st edition of the Girly Ride in 2022. Emmanuelle Tahmazian, Director of the Tourist Office, explains: " This event has been specially designed in Les Orres for women who want to discover or improve their skills in a safe environment: adapted Bike Park trails, secured and maintained by the bike patrol team, as well as professional supervision led by the Horizon mountain bike school, including 4 female instructors ". Conviviality and sharing are also at the heart of this event, allowing each participant to find her place and blossom. As a gift for this edition, a limited edition jersey has been specially designed in collaboration with the artist June Ink x Les Orres x Kenny. It's the unifying element of this community and this event! Thanks to these special moments, women's DH mountain biking is gaining in visibility and popularity, paving the way for even wider participation and new opportunities for passionate mountain bikers.

Emmanuel Huber, National Downhill MTB Technical Advisor at the French Cycling Federation (FFC), who was present at the event, had this to say:

"After more than 30 years in competition, I can see that the number of female riders is increasing every year. The Girly Ride des Orres is in line with this trend, and I'm proud to be able to represent the federation at this event, which brings together so many female riders. I'd like to say to all of them that they shouldn't hesitate to enter the discipline, and that professionals are there to help them progress!"""

RECORD PARTICIPATION

Participation in the Girly Ride has doubled in 3 editions. This confirms not only women's growing interest in the sport, but also the success of the initiative. " 50% of places were taken by storm by participants from previous editions. Word of mouth worked and all places were snapped up quickly. The waiting list got longer. Together with the organizing team, we're planning to open up more places for the next edition ," explains Emmanuelle Tahmazian.
This year, the Girly Ride welcomed a record number of participants, with over 100 women aged between 12 and 62, from beginner to advanced levels, coming from all over France, and even Belgium and Switzerland, to share their passion for mountain biking.

TOP ATHLETES AND AMBASSADORS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS

The event was marked by the presence of a number of VIP guests, including multiple DH world champion Sabrina Jonnier, who is now a mountain bike instructor and consultant on the TV team, and is always keen to promote women's riding in her discipline: " I'm delighted to be taking part in this event, and to be mentoring the Girly Ride participants for the 2nd time in a row. The encounters are always friendly and it's a joy to share my experience and see the girls progress!

Soline Besson, a junior World Cup rider who recently joined the Bike Park des Orres Ambassadors team alongside Pauline, Jérémi and Célian, is also in attendance. Taking part in the Girly Ride is a way for her to share her experience and promote women's mountain biking, accessible to all.

GIRLY RIDE 3RD EDITION: IN FIGURES

  • Full registration 1 month before the event
  • 50% repeat business
  • 100 participants,
  • 10 state-certified instructors
  • 1 evening concert
  • 12 years - 62 years, age range this year

GIRLY RIDE event partners

Thanks to our partners: KENNY, BLUEGRASS, FFC, Ecole de VTT HTT.