It was just over a year ago that I put the call out for more female friends to ride with. Early March of 2023 this simple question had 70 women replying “ME!” Clearly there was a need for women to ride together, and I asked if anyone could help me organize this project – Cathleen immediately volunteered to help with all things, and a few weeks later, another 70 women+ riders joined.
And just like that, the Shore Sirens were born…
As of today, April 9th 2024, we are now an incredible 266 members – a small army of amazing women+ and non-binary riders wanting to not just mountain bike, but to learn, to grow, to have fun, to connect, and to be a part of this incredible community.
Our Accomplishments To-Date
Started our Discord server, Instagram account and website
Started our Organizing Committee made up of 8 Volunteer Leads
Hosted 25 Group Rides & Socials, plus a Grillz & Skillz event @ Burnaby Skills Park, the Triple Tiara & Sagar Shuttle with Red Truck Beer & Liv Cycling
Held many workshops, including: Strength Training with Kristy Gogolin, Bike Mechanics 101 at Obsession Cycles with Dagny Ivarsdottir (Essential Cycles), MTB Movie night @ Terrex Store, North Shore Search & Rescue MTB Satefy, MTB Mindfulness with Jake Johnstone @ Mind Mountain, Trail History & Movie Night @ Steed Cycles with Betty Birrell, Elladee Brown & Kelli Sherbinin
Participated in 4 Trail Days (Lower Expresso, Water Tower Connector, Richard Juryn X 2)
Hosted the first ever BC Queer & Allies event Oct. 1 2023 with subsequent rides, Oct. 21 2023 & March 16 2024
Started our inaugural Race Team with 8 athletes March 2024, with Adidas/5.10 & Steed Cycles as Main Sponsors
Threw a December Holiday Party!
Began Monthly Socials Feb 2024
Created a logo & visual brand
Created customized stickers, tees and toques
Had our own beer created at North Point Brewery
Secured donations, sponsorships & discounts from Red Truck, Marin Bikes, RideLab, NS Bike Park, 7Mesh, Adidas/5.10, Steed Cycles, Straight & Narrow, Liv Cycling, Endless Cycling, Loamy Lobes, Nomadic Mechanic, Dr. Ashley MacInnes, Wild Eye Brewery & North Point Brewery
Launched our bi-weekly Podcast Paradigm Shift on Spotify
We see the Shore Sirens as a way to create more space for people who haven’t been represented by the industry. We’re already seeing the impact of our community and we want to keep it going (and growing!) so that our, & future generations can have a safe place to shred where we all feel included on the trails.
This all being said, we are on the verge of burning out.
We spend countless hours per week on Sirens events organizing, planning, marketing, meeting with partners and each other, designing, doing outreach and moderating our Discord community and Instagram account. This level of unpaid labour is unsustainable, and we need a new plan to not just continue the Sirens, but to grow into the future. An equally big issue for us is not having insurance for Group Rides or Events.
Which is why Cathleen, myself and fellow Siren & Race Team Manager Gaby Jones have officially registered The Shore Sirens as a Not-For Profit Organization as The Shore Sirens Community Society.
Our Mission
The Shore Sirens is an inclusive and supportive community for women+ and non-binary mountain bikers looking to build skills and connections on and off the trails.
Our Values:
1. Responsible: We acknowledge that we ride and play on unceded stolen lands, and commit to responsibly using our resources to support indigenous-led organizations.
2. Community-focused and Inclusive: We believe that we are stronger together -- all of our events aim to create and strengthen connections between members, and within the larger outdoor community.
3. Accessible: We aim to make mountain biking accessible through a variety of programs including Beginner rides and a Mentorship Program.
4. Taking Up Space: Unapologetically taking up space in a traditionally cis male sport and industry through transformative opportunities for us, and future generations.
What it means for you
As of April 9th 2024, we are shifting to a membership model of organization, allowing us to collect revenue to finally purchase insurance for all of our group rides, events and workshops, and attempt to fairly compensate staff for their/our labour. Like most other sports/mtb clubs, we will be charging an annual fee of $65 for members. These fees will also go towards administration fees including bank accounts, websites, registration costs, accountants, lawyers, and other professional services. Everyone will have until May 1st 2024 to pay their membership dues before being removed from our Discord Community. As we ride and play on stolen, unceded Indigenous lands here on the North Shore, Indigenous riders will be given a free membership for life, as a way to support Indigenous riders getting into, and staying in this sport).
With this new structure, we can commit to providing a safer environment for riders, including
offering our Group Ride Leads and Sweeps First Aid Training discounts and learning opportunities.
3. Membership will include access to all Shore Sirens Group Rides, Events, Workshops, Trail Days &
Activities, as well as the following discounts with Shore Sirens Membership Card:
20% Discount @ Adidas Store, (Kitsilano Location)
20% Discount @ Endless Biking (Adult Programs)
15% Discount @ Wild Eye Brewing
10% Discount @ North Point Brewing
15% Discount @ Nomadic Mechanic (Packages)
4. We will be hosting an Annual General Meeting each year where you, the membership, get to vote, see the breakdown of our costs, and offer guidance on how you would like The Shore Sirens to grow.
Our New Board of Directors
Jessie Curell, President & Executive Director
Cathleen Whitty, Vice-President & Director of Marketing
Gaby Jones, Secretary & Shore Sirens Race Team Manager
As we take this next step into the new chapter of the Sirens, we would love to hear what kinds of events, workshops, rides, whatever you would like to see more of this year. Do you have suggestions on how to improve our programs or events? Ideas for new partnerships or sponsors we should know about? Contact us, and we would love to speak with you.
The Sirens is nothing without each and every one of you – your feedback and ideas will help us make this the best year yet for the Shore Sirens. Thank you all for your continued support – we are so grateful to be with you on this journey.
Jessie, Cathleen, and Gaby
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