The Dirt Maidens Take On Buller!

Photos: Andy Rogers

Generally, when someone is known for their mountain bike racing, it’s usually because they’re good. They’ve been racing for years, they’ve been on the podium many times, and they know how to smash through trails in an incredible way. What no one really sees is how they arrived at that point. One race was once their first, and they probably weren’t very good. It starts somewhere, with a friend suggesting a beginner race, a nervous stomach, and a large box of snacks.

At least, that’s how I’ve started. I can’t guarantee I’ll end up as one of those names, though.

The Dirt Maidens Challenge is a women’s only mountain bike event that has been running for the past three years in the Snowy Mountains in NSW. For the first time this year, the event has made it’s way down to Victoria to Mount Buller.

A friend mentioned this event to our group while we were in Adelaide for the TdU. It sounded like fun, but I wasn’t so sure about taking advice from someone who raced – and won – twenty four hour mountain bike events. Looking into it further once I had arrived back in Melbourne, it did indeed look like a great day; there was the offering of three different race lengths including 7km, 12.5km and 20km, plus a gravity race option, with dinner being included in every race entry. For someone who has never really even considered racing a mountain bike, it didn’t look too intimidating; fancy dress was mentioned, plus all the competitive racers were stuck down at Odyssey on the same day. Previous event pictures from Jindabyne showed many smiling faces and a few fairy wing outfits. This was to be the first event in Victoria – and I do enjoy being at the start of things. It was looking like a chance.

A Facebook group was started. Myself and three friends decided we’d all race. “What’s the worst that could happen?” we said.

In the weeks preceding, some in the group got the nerves. There was talk of pulling out. After riding the course myself, I doubted my abilities. Buller is tough. Tough on the lungs, tough on the brains. But when it came to the day, we were all there, on the start line.

D-Day for the Dirt Maidens

The start list wasn’t huge. About thirty women ended up lining up, all dressed in bright fluoro as per the dress code. Out of the three distance options, most had dropped themselves into either the short or medium courses, which left just six of us in the 20km long course. The race was on. I’d heard about getting a good position at the start, which is what I tried to do, which unexpectedly had me enter the single track first. I pushed myself hard, around the tight, uphill track at the start of the course. Pretty much entirely popped at the top, I eased back a bit, letting the air back into my lungs on the more flowing sections. It was all a flash of green and corners and the occasional photographer, until a friend I’d also convinced to race came past me on a fireroad at the half-way point, and went on for the win.

Afterwards we found out we’d both taken a wrong turn, so neither of us really won, but it didn’t even matter at that point. Dinner was served to all the entrants, and we ate together while occasionally accepting prizes for stand-out moments through the race. The sun set slowly over the mountains in the background, and we chatted away into the evening. Spirits were high – everyone loved their race. Finishing places didn’t even enter the conversation, but outfits definitely had a mention. If events like this continue to exist, I can guarantee there’ll be a change for the better reflected in the numbers of female entries to more serious events in the future. All it takes is a bit of fun to get a taste for something great.

For more information about the Dirt Maidens and upcoming events, head to www.DirtMaidens.com. And if you want to experience the radness that is Mt Buller, head to bike.mtbuller.com.au for trail maps and further information about this incredible alpine playground.