February 25/09 11:10 am - New Women's Elite Mountain Bike Team Launched in B.C.

Posted by Editoress on 02/25/09
 

New Women's Elite Mountain Bike Team Launched in B.C.
Press release

The Local Ride Women's Elite Mountain Bike Team, based in B.C.'s Greater Vancouver Area, are making their debut this season, featuring a roster stacked with talent and poised to contest high-exposure Olympic discipline cross country mountain biking competitions in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

'It's fantastic to support these three incredibly talented women as they take on the world's elite this season,' said Barry Lyster, Local Ride Racing Team Manager and owner of Local Ride Bike Shop in Maple Ridge, the team's title sponsor. 'They are such great role models in the community and I find huge value in sponsoring Canada's future champions.'

For 2009 Local Ride Racing is expanding to include Canadian National Team mountain bike racers Sandra Walter, 28, Jean Ann McKirdy, 24, and Bianca Adolf, 18. They will team up to compete at Canadian and U.S. Cup Series events, as well as selected World Cups, Canada Summer Games, and world-famous provincial events, such as the Test of Metal and BC Bike Race.

'B.C. has some of the best cycling terrain in the world and these three ladies have the good fortune of being able to train here everyday,' said Lyster. 'Their success will definitely help draw attention to the huge cycling and tourism potential we have here.'

Between them, Adolf, McKirdy, and Walter have 20 years of racing experience, 15 years on the National Team, seven World Championships performances, four Canada Cup titles, four National titles, and three Canada Summer Games medals.

After four successful seasons in Europe, racing for the Swiss based X.O-Felt team, Walter is excited to be back on home turf. Her career highlights include second in the four-day 2008 La Ruta de los Conquistadores, fourth overall in the 2007 and 2008 Swisspower Cup Series, the 2003 Canada Cup Series title, and eight years on the Canadian National Team. Watch for her to mix it up at the Sea Otter Classic, selected World Cups, Canada Cups, U.S. Series races, and the BC Bike Race.

McKirdy will continue to rip it up with Local Ride Racing after two rewarding cyclocross seasons on the squad, during which she took multiple BC Cup wins. In 2008, she captured the Canada Cup Mountain Bike Series title, and two top 20 World Cup finishes. In 2009 she aims to improve on her World Cup results, and vie for the podium in the Canada Cup and U.S. Series.

After only two seasons of racing and an impressive 2008 season, which saw her finishing sixth at the Junior World Championships, Adolf is proud to join Local Ride Racing for her debut in the elite category. She will focus primarily on Canada Cups and winning a medal at the Canada Summer Games, but watch out for her at some U.S. Series and other international events as well.

The Local Ride Elite Women's XC MTB Team are racing on custom Canadian frames, hand built by Xprezo Cycles, in Bromont, Quebec. Haywood Securities and Fab-All Manufacturing are the team's presenting sponsors. The racers are outfitted with MET helmets, Time shoes, pedals, gloves and saddles, Tifosi eyewear, and Gore Ride-On cables. Other sponsors include Sugoi Clothing, Kicking Horse Coffee, and Nature's Sunshine Supplements.

All of the teams under the Local Ride Racing umbrella (men's road, women's road, associate, junior, and mountain bike) will kick off their season with an exciting launch party on April 3, at the Shark Club in Vancouver, B.C., featuring Fully Loaded performing live. Tickets will be available March 1. Stay tuned to the team's blog and localride.ca for details.

About the Local Ride Elite Women's MTB XC Team

The Local Ride Elite Women's MTB XC Team is composed of three talented women, who compete in the Olympic cross country mountain bike discipline: Bianca Adolf, 18, Jean Ann McKirdy, 24, and Sandra Walter, 28. The riders are based on the mountain biking destination of Burke Mountain in Coquitlam, B.C., giving the riders the advantage of being able to train together on some of the best cycling terrain in the world. The team is managed by Barry Lyster, owner of Local Ride Bike Shop in Maple Ridge, B.C.

The goal of Local Ride Elite Women's Mountain Bike Team beyond winning races, is development. All three racers are at different stages in their careers, with varying levels of experience. The more senior members recognize the importance of mentorship in helping younger athletes develop into champions.

Roster
Bianca Adolf
Jean Ann McKirdy
Sandra Walter

Sponsors
Local Ride Bike Shop
Xprezo Bicycles
Haywood Securities
Fab-All Manufacturing
Kicking Horse Coffee
Nature's Sunshine Supplements
SRAM/Avid/Truvativ/Rock Shox
MET Helmets
Tifosi Eyewear
Gore Ride-On Cables
Time
Cycles Lambert
Sugoi Clothing