Decades in the Gnar: North Vancouver’s Mountain Biking Revolution
In the meandering embrace of North Vancouver’s majestic slopes, a biking legend defies time and terrain. Enter Betty Birrell, a vibrant force of nature who, at the age of 76, masterfully dances her mountain bike over a treacherous wooden ramp. She catches tantalizing air, only to land gracefully on a path she’d ridden countless times—each rise and fall etched into her very soul.
Birrell began her odyssey into the gnarled trails of Vancouver’s North Shore around 1993—a time when the sight of a woman deftly navigating these rugged routes was almost an anomaly. Reflecting on those nascent years, she quips, “lots of gnar, lots of jank, not much suspension.” To the uninitiated, that translates to the heart-pounding reality of steep, jagged terrains on bikes that seem primitive compared to today’s technological marvels.
Now, after decades of solitary rides, she has found camaraderie among the Shore Sirens, a vibrant sisterhood of women and nonbinary riders formed in 2023. Jessie Curell, the dynamic force behind the Shore Sirens, gushingly refers to Birrell as an elite athlete, commending her fierce spirit and ever-present determination. “Betty is the queen of the shore. She is the matriarch,” she declares, a title fit for a woman who has continuously pushed boundaries.
If Birrell wears the crown, then Todd Fiander, famously known as “Digger,” is undeniably the king. With a staggering four decades of trailblazing under his belt, Fiander has sculpted North Vancouver’s trails into a playground celebrated across the globe. Together, he and Birrell symbolize the rugged evolution of mountain biking in the area while shepherding an inclusive future for all riders.
Their paths have intertwined over the years, with Birrell teasing Fiander about a fateful moment captured in one of his “North Shore Extreme” videos—where a spectacular crash overshadowed her triumph at The Monster, a wooden roller-coaster feature he crafted. This was two decades ago, yet the friendly banter continues.
Once, trail construction was taboo, and Fiander faced exile from Mount Fromme—an ordeal prompted by local officials declaring, “the free ride was over.” Yet at 65, he’s now the mastermind behind trails that welcome not just adrenaline junkies but families and novices alike. He eagerly proclaims, “I’ve always wanted more people riding—this is for the young and the community.”
Fueled by a vision of “trails for all, trails forever,” executive director Deanne Côté of the North Shore Mountain Bike Association embodies Fiander’s ideology. The terrain crafted under his watch has birthed a unique North Shore riding culture, paving the way for the sport’s global expansion.
Imagine a realm where gravity defies expectations: steep descents, treacherous rock slabs, glistening roots, and narrow cedar bridges, precariously poised above the ground. Fiander’s signature style—described as “just letting her go”—has become synonymous with exhilarating free-ride adventures. Yet, he acknowledges the need for balance; “We need beginner trails where people can learn to ride and have fun,” he urges.
In a sweeping move towards inclusivity, Fiander has also widened trails for adaptive mountain bikers, signifying a shift in a sport long dominated by adrenaline-seekers. “The North Shore has enough extreme trails,” he insists, mindful of the diverse community he serves.
Birrell, too, embodies this ethos. A former professional windsurfer who conquered some of Hawaii’s biggest waves, she didn’t let age deter her from seeking the thrill of mountain biking. A single mother who took to the sport in her mid-40s, she recalls the bruises and broken bones along her journey. “Mountain biking gave me that sense of freedom, that sense of autonomy,” she reflects—something she feels resonates deeply in today’s mental health conversations.
Yet beneath her fierce exterior lies a nurturing spirit. With the Shore Sirens, Birrell has discovered a community that inspires and uplifts. “I never knew what the word community meant until I met the Shore Sirens,” she once stated, revealing the transformative power of connection in her life.
Curell passionately adds, “She blows all the stereotypes of women in this sport out of the water,” underscoring Birrell’s relentless battle against ageism and preconceived notions. As she blazes trails, she also builds bridges—mentoring fellow riders and creating welcoming spaces for all.
Fiander echoes this sentiment as he contemplates his legacy. “If you build something, you have to take care of it,” he reflects, embodying stewardship over the trails he cherishes. As the birthplace of modern mountain biking, Marin County, California, may have laid the groundwork, but the North Shore redefined the game. “We invented the trail,” Fiander states, with a glint in his eye—a testament to the vibrant spirit of mountain biking that continues to flourish.
In this dance between past and present, Birrell and Fiander lead a charge towards a dazzling, inclusive future that welcomes riders of all backgrounds, ages, and experiences—a true revolution on two wheels.
