A Mountain Biking Passion

By: Angelina H.

Linda F. is 12 year old girl who lives in Grand Terrace and has a passion for mountain biking. She has been mountain biking for a while now has gotten a lot better with time. After going down her first hill, she has loved it ever since. About two years later she had the balance and skill to ride by herself. When she was younger, her dad was a mountain biker and took Linda out to the mountains and got her to have a passion for mountain biking.

She first started mountain biking when she was five, so it’s been about 8 years since she first started. “I like it because I can feel the wind on my face as I’m going down a huge slope,” said Linda. “When you are about to go down a ledge and looking down, fear overtakes you and you want to go back, but you can’t. Once you go down, it’s like the best feeling yet,” said Linda.

Her dad once took her to a bike park to go off her first jump. Below was a foam pit in case she got it wrong, but it was only her first time. She has gotten so much better since. She pedaled up the jump and stood for a second. “It seemed huge from up there. Mountain biking has been a get away for me and it just takes away stress when your just out there riding,” said Linda.

She was inspired by some female mountain bikers by the names of Emily Batty, Jolanda Neff, Kate Courtny, Tahnee Seagrave, Caroline Buccannan and many other female mountain bikers. She was mostly inspired by her father who was the one to teach and get her into mountain biking.

Besides mountain biking, Linda also has other hobbies: boogie boarding, watching movies, listening to music and playing on her Xbox. She also helps in her church with the soundbooth. She enjoys traveling, and hanging out with friends. Above all, she loves mountain biking.