BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

One year ago we reported on Aneela McKenna’s tireless campaign to boost diversity and minority representation across mountain biking; we catch up with the progress so far

- Julia Hobson

Just over a year ago we introduced Aneela McKenna in our Trailblazers series. We learnt how this extraordinary Scottish Asian rider was focusing her own lived experience into educating and enabling the people, brands and organisations that make up the mountain bike industry, on how to create a space more welcoming for all. One that celebrates greater diversity, proactively encourages participation and creates more opportunities for those who hadn’t felt like they were represented in the sport previously. One year on seemed like a good time to catch up with Aneela and check in on what has been happening around this complex issue since we last spoke.

In early 2021 the mountain bike world was at somewhat of a turning point, with opportunities beginning to open up for difficult conversations around why there was such a lack of diversity in our sport. The difference this year is that more of us are now having those conversations, and more often too. We are discussing and debating, learning and listening, and from Aneela’s experience, individuals and brands are reaching out for help to understand the internal biases that exist within our cultures and organisations, and working towards creating more open and inclusive spaces.