Western Spirit Cycling AdventuresRising Tides: How the Girls of Downieville Are Changing the Sport
Each year, the iconic Downieville Classic brings together mountain bikers from around the globe, but in recent years it has become a powerful platform for women and girl racers—thanks to a collective shift in attitude, purposeful initiatives by the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS), and a force of inspiring athletes carving new paths.
Building a More Inclusive Start Line
In 2025, Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) launched a significant Women’s Initiative designed to make Downieville more accessible and welcoming for women. They offered fully comped entries for All-Mountain Pro women, along with additional Racer’s Choice entries that included group camping to build community and support.
Another big move: separate women’s wave starts in both XC and downhill races. This helped minimize stressful overtaking situations and created a safer, more focused race environment. These structural shifts gave women a strong signal: Downieville isn’t just welcoming them—it’s setting them up to succeed.
A Brave New Era
Visibility matters, and Downieville is finally reflecting that truth. Pro women now start with a 10-minute buffer from the men’s field and additional wave spacing to avoid overlap with other categories. This has made the race more competitive and empowering for elite and emerging female athletes alike.
Recent races have showcased the rise of standout female talent, including podium finishes from Alexis Skarda, Katerina Nash, and Sofia Gomez Villafañe who took the pro XC win after a 12-year break. Their presence isn’t just symbolic—it’s transformational. The message is clear: Downieville belongs to women, too.
Beyond the racing, Downieville is a festival fueled by connection. Women-only pre-ride clinics, shared campsites, and joint social media promotion have helped build an atmosphere where female riders feel seen, supported, and celebrated. It’s no longer just about showing up. It’s about showing up together.
Riding for a Greater Cause
These advancements exist within a broader mission. Proceeds from the Downieville Classic support Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, which started the Classic three decades ago as a way to support trail maintenance and still maintains the entire trail network today. Women are playing a key role in that effort, not just as participants but as leaders and trail advocates.
Through SBTS’ Connected Communities vision, it aims to stimulate the economies of rural communities—similar to what has already been achieved in Downieville—by improving trail access and connectivity, and encouraging diverse user types to explore and recreate on public lands by linking 15 mountain towns by trails. The race, the riders, and the community are all moving forward—together.
By offering women equal space, fair timing, and real visibility, the Downieville Classic is no longer just a proving ground for skill—it’s a movement built on equity, access, and sisterhood. Every girl who dreams of launching off the river jump now sees a clear path forward. And that’s no accident—SBTS laid the trail.
Why It Matters
This kind of change feeds itself. As more women show up, thrive, and share their stories, the race grows more welcoming. In turn, more female racers are inspired to line up. It’s a cycle of inclusion, empowerment, and evolution.
Downieville’s 27th Classic isn’t just about fast times and steep drops—it’s about making space. For women. For girls. For the future of the sport.
If you’ve raced, volunteered, or stood on the sidelines cheering, you’re already part of this story. And the story keeps getting better. And we’re here to tell it!
Come find MTB Girls Magazine at Downieville! MTB Girls Editor Liz Donahey will be braving her first Downieville racing the All Mountain World Championships and covering the event and interviewing Katerina Nash for the upcoming cover story in the September Issue!
