Author: fiona.spotswood

The FIAS team is in the process of running our ‘roadshow workshops’ with our consortium of partners – British Cycling, Forestry England, Welsh Cycling, Scottish Cycling and Forestry England. The workshops are designed to initiate conversations about how the four strategic areas in the Framework can inform, shape and transform the work of these partner organisations and further transform mountain bike culture towards gender inclusivity. We are lucky to have excellent support from all our partners, and their energy will enable us to build on existing work and accelerate change. Our first roadshow was with Forestry England at their annual Cycle Network Meeting, held in the Forest of Dean. “We could have talked through FIAS for two days, let alone two hours”, admitted one of the workshop delegates. We agree!

Fi Spotswood presenting research findings to Forestry England

Our Welsh Cycling partnership is led by Robbie George, Director of Development and Participation. He has an ambitious plans for cultural transformation in mountain biking in Wales. Working with Robbie, we are embedding the FIAS Framework into plans for MBWales, a national programme designed to

• Develop, maintain and grow a sustainable network of diverse mountain biking trails suitable for all levels of rider.
• Foster an inclusive, vibrant mountain biking community through events, workshops, and skill-building programs.
• Promote eco-friendly practices such as regenerative trails to and work with industry partners to ensure the preservation of our cherished outdoor environment.
• Boost tourism and economic growth in local communities by attracting mountain biking enthusiasts and supporting cycle friendly tourist infrastructure.
• Campaign on behalf of the sector to improve trail access and investment (both public & private) in MTB in Wales.

The FIAS Team will be working with Welsh Cycling to build inclusive mountain biking into MBWales, starting with the MBWales Gathering on 10th May. On LinkedIn, Robbie writes:

“We’re kickstarting discussions on the 10th May @ The Lodge, Staylittle (thanks Phill Stasiw for hosting), in the heart of Powys, and pleased to be welcoming Fiona Spotswood Maria Moxey Martin Hurcombe to work through the #FIAS Framework to ensure we embed considerations about leadership, culture, representation and inclusion throughout our work moving forward.

“Looking forward to engaging with partners from MB Wales Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales BikePark Wales Plas y Brenin Revolution Bike Park Trash Free Trails Pedal MTB and more to get the wheels turning and build on the excellent work already achieved to date”.

He adds, “If you are a sector leader in Wales sign up via the link” Developing MTB in Wales – are you in? (office.com).

We are so excited to work with Robbie and the team at Welsh Cycling and we can’t wait to continue the roadshow workshops over the next few months.

Fi writes:

Thank you so much Sue Anstiss MBE for coming to Bristol to share your wonderful film with us. We enjoyed our ‘Game On’ day.

We welcomed wonderful academic colleagues to Bristol in the morning for a symposium discussing all things gender inequality and sport. Huge thanks to Jessica Francombe-Webb, Sheree Bekker, Luke Jones, Mike O Mahoney, Jean Williams, Kath Woodward and Katie Liston for joining me and Martin Hurcombe for a wonderfully thought provoking morning.

In the afternoon we welcomed school students from Clifton High School, colleagues at the University of Bristol Business School and across the university, students and members of the Womens Sport Collective to Bristol to share Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women’s Sport.

We had a fascinating panel discussion afterwards, featuring Sue Anstiss MBE of course, but also Aneela McKenna (Mòr Diversity), Aoife Glass, Zoe Woodman and Professor Jean Williams.

The audience questions were fascinating, and we touched on grassroots sport, brand influence, activism, authenticity and much more. Thanks to all involved in a wonderful day celebrating, discussing and imagining the trajectory of women’s sport.

Through my research into gender inequality in action sports, and Project FIAS (Fostering Inclusive Action Sports) I spend a lot of time thinking about Red Bull’s grip on mountain biking. The Hardline, and other events, are what people outside the sport know of mountain biking. Cyclists tell me they “couldn’t do mountain biking”, that it’s extreme, dangerous and crazy. There’s a bit of that, for sure, but the real value lies for many of us lies in time away from the rush of traffic, surrounded by trees and trails, alone with your thoughts or sharing some laughs and connecting with others. The coffee is often as important as the ‘shred’. More so. So, Red Bull events pose a problem, but they’re also a real opportunity to showcase what humans are capable of – the intense jumps, huge drops, incredible feats of skill and bravery. They are undeniably thrilling to watch. And all sports need heroes.

But…

Due to their elevated prominence in the representation of action sports, gender inequality in Red Bull events takes on even more prominence. This year, Red Bull cancelled Formation, a version of the Rampage free ride event supposed to help women build up to taking part in the main, competitive event. The Rampage co-founder commented that “while women aren’t prohibited from competing, there simply hadn’t been a woman who can ride the Rampage terrain the way the men can”. This feels lazy and defeatest, failing to recognise the way progression in sport happens – not overnight and not by accident, but with opportunity, leadership, exposure and patience.

The article here is written by Jess Holland and describes how another Red Bull event, the Hardline, has put in place a mechanism to support women to build up to participating. It’s crazily difficult, including a 17 metre gap jump that track designer Dan Atherton describes as having “zero room for error”. The initiative was pushed by Tahnée Seagrave to allow women from different mtb disciplines the chance to support each other and level up to the challenge of Hardline. Seagrave is a professional rider, but describes in the article the “frustrations of being a female rider growing up with fewer role models and less sense of possibility than male peers”. But by bringing women together to learn, support, and focus on their riding (and jumping), without feeling minoritised, then magic happens. Progression happens. The gaps are jumped, and past demons are vanquished.

Our research from Project FIAS is cited in this article. Although we are focusing on the more relaxed end of the mountain biking continuum, many of the same themes arise: women progress faster, enjoy mountain biking far more, and are more likely to stay in the sport, when they are supported by other women. They feel less on edge. Women only groups are cropping up all over the UK and they foster a sense of non-competitive support, belonging and validity. Project FIAS is currently developing a framework that will inform the work of organisations in a position to strengthen and support women in mountain biking, and to make sure that the rise of women-led, women-only groups leads to integration and cultural transformation, not just segregation. We have to recognise women’s experiences and barriers in engaging with action sports – and work to overcome them. It’s not enough to push the door open and expect them (as Seagrave describes it) to join a “man’s world”.