Meet Bailey Goldstone
This year, Over And Out, implemented Mountain Biking feature into our enduro and woods event - a goal we’ve had since day 1! We’re excited to bring more cross-exposure for women who ride moto to MTB and vice-versa, because these sports go totally hand-in-hand for developing technique, staying fit and being able to trade off sports based on time of year, weather, and what terrain is available.
We’re equally excited for our very first #fastfriends interview in the MTB space, with Fox MTB sponsored athlete, Bailey Goldstone! Read on to learn more about Bailey and her love of Downhill MTB!
Bailey Goldstone, 19, Squamish BC, Canada @baileygoldstone
HOW DID YOU GET INTO MOUNTAIN BIKING?
Growing up in Squamish, my parents got me into as many outdoor sports as possible, but mountain biking is what really stuck! I've been riding since I was about 2 years old, and started racing BMX when I was 7.
Around age 11, I decided I wanted to try racing Downhill MTB as thats what my brother was into. My first major downhill race was Canadian Nationals in 2016, and I just fell in love with the sport.
I love Downhill over Trail because I can go faster and hit bigger features on my downhill bike, and I also to prefer taking a chairlift up rather than pedaling. I tend to ride more Trail when training in the winter when the Downhill bike park is closed. There’s a great mix of trails in Squamish!
WHEN DID YOU START COMPETING, AND WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST RACES LIKE?
My first races were more for fun rather than trying to win, and I fell in love with the sport that way. Then I started to take racing more seriously in 2017 and actually started training for it. Most of the races that I went to I was either the only girl in my category, or I was bumped up into the older girls category.
Since then, I’ve been extremely lucky to be given the opportunity to race on an international level, and racing has taken me across Canada, the USA, over to Europe and even to New Zealand.
I had a pretty successful year so far, with two podiums and a top 10 at Canadian Nationals in my first year of elite, along with being invited to Dark Horse Invitational and Crankworx BC!
Unfortunately there was no racing for me in 2020 because of Covid, but I was very successful in 2019 in the Junior category. I won 8 races in a row, including wins in Downhill and Dual Slalom at Sea Otter Classic, and medals at Crankworx Innsbruck, Crankworx Whistler, and National Champs.
I am most proud of being selected to represent for the DH World Championships in 2019, although I unfortunately had a crash and did not finish.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES IN THE WORLD TO RIDE, AND WHY?
I went to New Zealand in 2018, and immediately fell in love. I found it to be a tropical version of home, and it’s just a beautiful country with world class riding. Europe is a close second, there is so much riding to explore, great food and everything is so close together.
WHERE OVER AND OUT STARTED (IN THE NORTHEAST US) PUBLIC LAND IS NEARLY NON-EXISTENT.
PRESERVING, PROTECTING AND CREATING ACCESS TO TRAILS AND NATURAL RESOURCES IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
WE KNOW YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE OUTDOORS AS WELL...
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST POWERFUL ADVICE FOR THOSE OF US ENJOYING THESE OUTDOOR SPORTS?
I definitely think the Leave No Trace initiative is the most important way trail users can show that we can sustainably use terrain for outdoor activities. By leaving terrain in better shape than we found it, packing out what we pack in, creating sustainable trails, staying on pre-existing trails instead of cutting corners and being respectful of others and everything around us, authorities would be much more willing to let us continue to use areas for trails, and we’d all have better riding experiences.
WE BELIEVE OFF-ROAD MOTO AND MTB GO HAND-IN-HAND FOR TRAINING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT. DO YOU ALSO RIDE MOTO?
I haven't ridden very much moto in the past, but its a goal of mine to take it up this off-season for cross training because of how many skills and techniques cross over from MTB to Moto.
Position, balance, terrain awareness, timing and coordination are the biggest skills that translate across both sports in my opinion, and as MTB tends to be a slower speed you can really practice these skills to get a base, so when you transfer to a faster speed you already have some practice.
I’m looking forward to getting into the gym and on the moto this winter for hard training!
IF YOU COULD LEND ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO ANY GIRL TRYING MTB OR LOOKING TO EXCEL AT THE SPORT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Ride as much as you can, in as many different places as possible, with as many different people. Terrain varies so much from place to place, and just by riding in different areas you can pick up so many skills; and, everyone has their own way of riding, so you can really feed off of other people.
But bottom line, keep it fun!