Okanagan Bike and Ski

Best of Summer 2025 😮‍💨

Not a MTB post – but stay with me.

Last summer, my sister and her girls came to visit during one of those classic Okanagan heatwaves — the kind where all you wanted to be is in the lake. Naturally, I wanted to take them to one of my favourite spots: Rattlesnake Island. Such a cool spot!

There was only room for four in the kayaks, so I told them I’d swim there and back — about 8.5 km. My youngest niece looked at me like I was completely nuts. From the beach, the island looked impossibly far and to her 6-year-old mind, it just didn’t compute.

She was pretty cautious back then — nervous about deep water and hesitant to jump from the kayak. I started painting pictures of what it might be like one day to visit her dad’s side of the family in Fiji and explore magical tropical waters with her two sisters and her brother.
Slowly but surely, she opened up (see slide 3 and turn sound on for the BIGGEST inhale 😂). By the end of the week, that same cautious girl was leaping in without hesitation.

Six is such a magical age — imagination is big, but sometimes fears are bigger. She had both… but she also had the courage to grow.

This summer, they came back and like always, I wanted to teach them something new. This year’s challenge? Backflips. Within an hour, all three were flipping backwards and grinning ear to ear.

When it came time to say goodbye, I asked my youngest niece what she was most looking forward to about fall.

She said:

“Swimming lessons… so I can swim around the world like you.”

Oh, my heart ❤️🥺

The reminder? Kids — little ones and grown-ups — are always watching.

We all have the chance to inspire, to spark curiosity, confidence, and courage.

Now she’s joined her big sister in swim lessons, and both are stoked to show me their butterfly stroke next summer. 🏊‍♀️💙

Here’s to being the reason someone believes they can — and to all the beautiful places that belief might take them. Be it on a mountain bike, skis, or out in the middle of a lake. 🌍💫

Trail glitter ✨ season

RossVegas 🤘🏽

Interesting fact: one of the main obstacles for kids progressing their mtb skills is operating the bike's controls - brakes, shifting, and dropper post.
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When working with new riders, this is a key area I focus on, whether they're 8 or 80!

1. Can they reach the brake levers with one finger? Single-finger braking is ideal for better steering control and grip strength.

2. Can they access the shifters and dropper post levers? If not, they can't shift gears properly and end up being stuck in too hard or easy of a gear.

3. Foot position on flat pedals is also crucial 🔐 - your hands and feet connect you to the bike, and instability here means instability overall!

These are often-overlooked details that seasoned riders take for granted. If you’re unsure, I recommend having a bike mechanic assess and optimize your setup.
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Charlotte's first session involved braking with three fingers 🫣 and only using the back brake. After a chat with her parents and some adjustments, she mastered single-finger braking and smooth, gradual braking in the second session. Now, this 9-year-old is tackling dark blue trails like a pro!!

Friday reminder: visualize your success 🧠
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See it. Feel it. Do it!

Hey friends! I’m passionate about getting more women and girls on bikes—especially out on the trails. Mountain biking has the power to build confidence, strength, and community, and I believe that everyone deserves a place in this sport.

Representation matters, and when we see more diverse riders, we open the door for others to feel welcome too. This is more than just riding—it’s about creating space, breaking barriers, and riding forward together.

If this resonates with you, be sure to check out the full-length video in the link below—this mission matters and you can be part of the movement.

Thank you Stirl and Rae Media Haus and Mountain Biking BC for including me in this project.

https://youtu.be/pxihToRRmw4?si=Nmx3qJS2b6fcMnA4

Changemakers - Kelowna, BC KELOWNA - Emanuela Bandol ' More Women On Bikes'Emanuela is a fierce character who is passionate about getting more women on bikes. Whether teaching a beginn...