It’s officially mountain bike season, which means Erica Tingey and her band of PMBIA-certified coaches (Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association) are preparing for a busy summer of clinics guiding women of all skill levels through her program, aptly titled Women in the Mountains. 
A former professional mountain bike racer turned entrepreneur, she started competing nationally as a pro within 13 months of her first race, which she won by eight minutes. She raced professionally from 2010 to 2017, winning two Masters National Championship titles. This summer, Women in the Mountains—a business that began as a single weekend event—will celebrate its eighth season, bringing a predominantly male sport to the women of Utah from April through September. 

For those brand-new to the sport, all that’s needed is a foundational understanding of how to balance and pedal a bike. For experienced riders, Women in the Mountains clinics include Intermediate Cornering; Technical Rock Riding; and Intro to Jumps, Drops, and Air.  Arriving at a clinic for the first time is something of a journey into the unknown. But it quickly reveals itself to be all that Tingey promises, from well-chosen terrain, on both trail and flat road, to her emphasis on safety in everything from the dropper-seat-post she requires to the speed of her drills. There are many moments filled with the “ah-has” and “oh I get its” from new riders gaining both the knowledge and confidence to improve. And as an added boost, there’s a sense of comradery with other riders in the class who cheer you on, whether you’re traversing cones or switchbacks.

“Women are so smart and so good at teaching each other, and I believe it’s powerful to have a woman teaching a woman how to ride mountain bikes.”

—Erica Tingey

All clinics meet between 8:30 and 9 a.m. at various trailheads throughout Park City, and range from three to six hours, with the exception of their multi-day clinics, which operate on consecutive days. Tingey also offers a six-month online course that teaches everything from the in-person clinics, plus personalized support with unlimited video feedback. womeninthemountains.com