Moira Love has long been passionate about encouraging women and girls to take up mountain biking and now her persistence and energy have finally paid off with the formation of Gravity Girls SA, a club “committed to creating a safe, supportive and fun community for girls who love to mountain bike”.

Despite existing as a popular Facebook group for 11 years, the club is only a few months old but it has already generating huge interest and in April completed its inaugural multi-disciplinary race series.

Despite their name, the club encompasses all types of mountain biking, not just downhill. Their 2024 race series started with a cross country marathon (XCM) event at Craigburn Farm, followed by a gravity enduro at O’Halloran Hill and a downhill at Fox Creek.

The race series is about giving people the chance to learn and experience different race formats in a really fun environment. And to eliminate any perceived race stress, they have competitive categories but also a ‘just for fun’ division.

“Our primary goal is to bring female mountain bikers together to build a strong community of like-minded bike lovers,” Moira, the club’s founder and president, said. “We are for female mountain bikers aged 10 and up and of any ability. We organise club rides, shuttle days, weekenders, events and races.”

The club, which already boasts 65 members, began last November with a free launch event of guided rides at O’Halloran Hill that attracted more than 100 women and girls to participate.

“It was a huge success, the enthusiasm was amazing,” Moira said. “So many people were stoked with the event it’s something we want to try to replicate every year. We’ve had so much positive feedback about having a club for women.

“MTB is predominantly a male sport so I think women seeing other women participating in it is really important. Having that presence, that example set to women or girls who may be inspired by that is really special. And so is having that time to get away from the pressures of family, work, whatever, and get together as a group of women.”

Gravity Girls SA became affiliated with Auscycling – which supported them with great enthusiasm – in January which gave them the insurance to cover their rides and also the connections and engagement to help the sport continue to grow.

While GGSA is the only one affiliated with Auscycling, the Gravity Girls name is used by groups across Australia and Moira and her team are regularly in contact with their counterparts.

“We have all connected, especially with Western Australia and Tasmania, and down the track we would love to hold a national event,” Moira said.  

If you would like more information or to join GGSA, check out their website at gravitygirlssa.com.au or follow Gravity Girls SA on Facebook or Instagram.