By Liz Donahey | Editor-in-Chief at MTB Girls Magazine | June 2026 Issue 19
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.
At its heart, this is a story about connection, the parents who nurtured a young girl’s passion for riding, the brother who inspired her to chase what seemed possible, the coaches who helped transform potential into performance, the friends and competitors who challenge her to grow, and the mountain bike community that continues to help her spread her wings.
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.
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 Tyke Toter 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 her reprocess. 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 coaches, 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.
Lifting Others Along the Way
Perhaps the most inspiring part of Emmy’s story isn’t found in a results sheet. It’s found in the way she gives back.
Last year, she volunteered with Orcutt Kids Bike Club, where she got her start helping younger riders develop confidence and skills on their bikes. Since then, she has continued to support young cyclists. In addition, she spends time riding with and encouraging another young girl who is just beginning her mountain biking journey. Through this mentorship, she helps build confidence while fostering a love for the sport.
For Emmy, these moments matter. She remembers what it felt like to be the younger rider looking up to someone else. Now she has become that person for others.
The same support she received from her family, coaches, and community is now being passed forward. Every time she encourages a beginner, shares advice, or helps a younger rider believe in themselves, she strengthens the future of the sport. Those moments may never earn medals or trophies. But they may become some of her most important accomplishments – the strongest communities are built by people who reach back and help others climb.
Taking Flight
Today, Emmy’s goals continue to grow. She dreams of racing professionally, She hopes to compete at the highest levels of mountain biking and one day earn a place among the sport’s elite athletes.
She talks excitedly about national championships, UCI racing, and even the possibility of wearing a Red Bull helmet someday. Those are big dreams.
But Emmy has never been afraid of aiming high. At 14 years old, Emerson Ross has already achieved more than many young riders ever imagined. Yet what makes her story special isn’t simply how high she might go. It’s the way she recognizes every person who helped her get there, and her determination to do the same for others. With every race, every jump, every lesson learned, and every young rider she encourages, Emmy continues her ascent.
Emerson is taking flight. And as she climbs higher, she is making sure others can rise with her.
