A programme aimed at getting girls and women into BMX racing is returning next month.
Kimberley Hunter from the Mountain Raiders BMX Club runs a non-profit group for women and girls called the Ruby Project.
“We run free full day and part day sessions at our club for women and girls of all ages and abilities,” says Hunter.
“We spend time at our BMX club then go in vans over the Woodhill Mountain Bike Park to do some mountain biking in the forest there.
“We have had huge success. We rely entirely on funding and sponsorship, and we’ve received two rounds of funding from Sport Auckland and have had hundreds of girls come through our programme.”
The programme has doubled the number of female members in the club.
“Now we have whole families racing BMX as a result of their daughters/sisters/mothers attending the Ruby Project,” says Hunter.
“Our last session saw Olympic silver medallist Sarah Walker attend to coach, and with the BMX World Cup coming to Rotorua next year, we are hoping to see some famous international riders at our events too.
“We have our next clinic coming up in December which involves two days of riding and an overnight camp.
“We have huge plans for the years ahead, and we can’t wait to get even more girls on bikes.”
For more information, contact Kimberley Hunter on therubyproject@mtrbmx.co.nz.
