WHAT IS DOWNHILL

Hey I am Katy McGowan and I am 16 years old. I first started riding bikes from the age of 4 and immediately fell in love, I then completed my first race when I was 8, my first mini DH race when I was 9 and I’ve been non stop since! 

What is downhill?

Downhill is described quite simple - get from the top to the bottom as fast as possible. Fastest time wins.

I love DH for the buzz. The feeling of nerves and excitement in the start gate knowing it’s you against the clock is a feeling many will experience! 

What bike/kit do you need?

A downhill bike is not a necessity for racing as I did my first races on an enduro bike! Downhill is an extremely demanding sport that can go wrong at any second so having a full face helmet, body armour, knee pads, elbow pads will help to protect you from any crashes.

How can you get into it? Riding & racing

To get into downhill I’d say try it out in a non race environment. Go to an uplift day and see if it’s your cup of tea! From my experiences Adrenalin Uplift and Dyfi bike park are a must to visit, they have something for everyone! 

The Scottish Downhill Association (SDA) is a perfect race for first timers - a really stress free event and everyone is super friendly!

Words: Katy McGowan