A rising junior mountain bike racer discovers that the greatest
journeys are never traveled alone.
We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Emerson “Emmy” Ross and her mom, Deanna
Ross, for an inspiring conversation about racing, family, resilience, and the community that has
helped shape one of California’s rising junior mountain bike athletes.
What quickly became clear during our conversation was that Emmy’s story isn’t simply about
race results, podium finishes, or ambitious goals. It’s about a young rider who is learning how
high she can fly while remaining deeply connected to the people who have helped her get there.
At just 14 years old, Emerson “Emmy” Ross is taking flight.
Sometimes that feeling comes while soaring over a jump, suspended between takeoff and
landing. Other times it comes while charging down a race course, trusting her preparation,
instincts, and skill. But the kind of flight that defines Emmy’s story reaches far beyond mountain
biking.
It is the story of a young athlete learning how high she can climb while
recognizing every person who helped her get there.
As one of California’s most promising junior racers, Emmy is already making her mark on the
sport. She has earned victories at national-level races, competed against some of the best
young athletes in the country, and set her sights on a future that includes professional racing
and UCI competition.
Yet, what makes her story special isn’t simply how fast she rides or how many podiums she
collects.
It’s the way she understands that success is built together.
Behind every start line, every finish line, and every breakthrough moment stands a family, a
coach, teammates, competitors, mentors, and a community that helped make it possible.
And as Emmy rises, she is already finding ways to help others rise with her.
Finding Her Wings
Long before race numbers and championship aspirations entered the picture, Emmy was simply
a little girl who wanted to ride bikes with her family.
At just two years old, she watched her older brother Brady ride and immediately decided she
wanted to do the same.
“I need to do that,” she remembers thinking.
What followed was not a carefully planned path to competitive racing. It was a family adventure.
One of Emmy’s earliest memories involves riding in an Orange Seat mounted to the front of her
father’s bike. While many children
experienced trails from a distance, Emmy was immersed in
every turn, climb, and descent.
She still remembers riding near Mount Pinos, gripping the handlebars while her dad launched
off drops.
“It was scary,” she says. “But it was so fun.”
Looking back, those moments seem to foreshadow the athlete she would become. Even then,
Emmy wasn’t drawn away from challenges. She was drawn toward them. More importantly, she
wasn’t discovering mountain biking alone.
Her parents created opportunities. Her brother inspired her. Together, they built a foundation of
support that allowed her passion to grow naturally.
Long before podiums entered the picture, the foundation for her success was already taking
shape.
Chasing Possibility
Growing up with an older brother gave Emmy an early benchmark. She wanted to keep up.
Then she wanted to catch him. Then she realized she wasn’t that far behind.
As she continued riding, many of her friends were boys, and that environment pushed her to
become stronger and more confident. Instead of seeing limitations, she saw possibilities. Every
ride became an opportunity to improve. Every challenge became an invitation to grow. That
mindset continues to define her racing today.
Unlike many young athletes who focus exclusively on one discipline, Emmy has embraced both
cross-country and downhill racing. The combination has helped her develop into a uniquely
versatile rider.
Cross-country racing demands discipline, fitness, and mental toughness.
Downhill racing rewards confidence, skill, and courage. Emmy loves both. The physical
challenge of XC pushes her to become stronger, while downhill feeds her adventurous spirit.
“I like the feeling of being scared,” she says with a smile.
It’s a simple statement, but it reveals something important. Most people spend their lives
avoiding fear. Emmy has learned that growth often lives on the other side of it.
Whether she’s racing through technical terrain, navigating steep descents, or launching jumps
that carry her 30 feet through the air, she continues to discover what’s possible when fear
becomes fuel rather than a barrier.
Learning Through Adversity
Every athlete faces moments that test them. For Emmy, one of those moments came last
season when a knee injury forced her off the bike during a critical part of the racing year. For a
rider who loves being on the bike, the experience was difficult.
The weeks away from riding felt much longer than they were. Yet, the setback ultimately
became one of the most important chapters in her development.
Instead of becoming discouraged, Emmy learned how to take care of herself as an athlete.
Stretching, recovery work, foam rolling, mobility exercises, and patience became part of the
process. More importantly, she learned that accepting help is not weakness. Family members,
coaches, and supporters helped her navigate the difficult period and reminded her that nobody
reaches their goals alone.
When asked about the injury and recovery, Emmy answered with confidence, “I think it gave me
more fire to want to push myself harder and do better,” she says.
That perspective transformed adversity into motivation. The injury didn’t stop her ascent. It
simply taught her how to climb smarter.
The Power of Community
When asked what she values most about mountain biking, Emmy’s answer isn’t a race result.
It’s the people. Some of her favorite memories come from the friendships she has built with
other girls in the sport.
“We all have the same drive,” she says.
That shared passion creates a unique connection. The mountain biking community has given
Emmy friendships, confidence, encouragement, and opportunities to grow. It has introduced her
to athletes who inspire her and competitors who push her to improve.
It has also taught her something bigger than racing. Community matters. One of the most
remarkable things about Emmy is how quickly she shifts attention away from herself and toward
the people around her.
She talks about her parents. She talks about her coach. She talks about the riders who inspire
her. She understands that every achievement is connected to a larger support system.
Mountain biking may look like an individual sport, but Emmy knows there is an entire team
behind every rider’s success.
