I first heard from Kjersten back in 2005, when she was 14 years old. She’s a cross country & downhill racer from Victoria B.C.

“I started racing XC here on the island at the age of 13, in the women’s beginner class, which was an open age group category. I ended up on the podium with a 3rd for the overall season. [In 2005] I wanted to race downhill so my parents said that I would have to continue to race XC to maintain my endurance & cardio. I agreed to this and this is where my pink bike comes in. My sponsor ‘Joe Warde’ owner of North Park bikes here in Victoria was able to get a great deal on a slightly used Banshee Chaparral downhill bike. My Nana & Papa agreed to buy this bike for me as a Christmas present, and my dad had a friend of his completely strip the frame down and had it custom painted pink for me !! I was taken down to the shop and Joe had it all put together for me and I couldn’t believe my eyes.

“So then the season started in Feb. 05 and I was known as the girl with the ‘Pink Banshee’ I raced in every XC & DH race here in the Island series as well as a unbelievable trip to Sandpoint, Idaho for the NORBA at Schweitzer Mountain, where I raced Jr Expert XC & beginner downhill. I met the most awesome female & male pro riders who thought my Banshee was awesome , and also told me that it was great that I was racing ‘old school’ doing both XC & DH. I finished the season with a 1st place podium in XC & DH for beginner women.” Here are some more great photos from Kjersten:

Port Alberni Railway Gap with a Tweak

2005 Rocky Mountain RMX R3 2007 Canadian Nationals Mount Washington

2005 Rocky Mountain RMX R3 2007 Provincials Mount Washington (The day before Nationals)