05-Jan-2010

Canadian DH Girls - inside scoop

[ View Canadian DH Girls Gallery ]

Source: Danice Uyesugi

For those of you involved in DH mountain biking, whether it be riding for fun or racing competitively, the names Katrina Strand and Claire Buchar are probably familiar ones. Katrina and Claire, both based out of Whistler BC, have been riding and racing for several years and have been instrumental in encouraging females to join a very male dominated sport. In 2007 they brought to life the first ever Womensworx competition as part of Whistler's Crankworx festival.

Claire, Becca, Miranda, and Micayla having fun on the sidelines
(click image to enlarge)

The two combined forces several years ago and became known as the "Canadian DH Girls", complete with their own website and stickers. Since then the sport has grown and progressed so much that they recently decided to expand their group to six members. Added to the roster are Rebecca McQueen, Miranda Miller, Danice Uyesugi, and Micayla Gatto.

Ian working hard
(click image to enlarge)

January 4^th 2010 marks the official "Grand Opening" of the new site which the girls will be updating on a weekly basis, so check in and check back often to see what they're up to!

Visit the Canadian DH Girls website

Katrina doing her solo shots
(click image to enlarge)

The girls recently had a photo shoot for their new site with photographer Ian Hylands. Ian brings with him over 20 years of photography experience, and for the past 10 years he has been specializing in action and extreme sports photography. He has worked for many companies including Red Bull, Oakley, Maxxis, Fox Racing, and has been published in well known magazines such as Sports Illustrated, Decline, National Geographic Adventure, Bike Magazine, and many others. It was great having a photographer with that much experience and skill. It can't be easy trying to get six girls all to look good in the same photograph, but Ian did that and more - we all had blast and were laughing the whole way through! Here are a few behind the scenes shots from our photo shoot.