Scholarship for Women’s Bike Weekend at Sky Tavern

Last year, I showed up to Women’s Bike Weekend at Sky Tavern with one goal: figure out if I was doing anything right on my bike.

While I could hang with friends on most trails, I was at the point in my mountain biking journey where I wanted real instruction from certified coaches, not just the quick pointers from from other riders mid trail (that always seem to contradict). Because while I've been riding a bike since I was 5 years old, who knows if any of what I was doing on trail was kosher, efficient or not damaging to my posture/bones/etc (getting older, you feel those things more). My intention was to get the basics down and to get a solid foundation.

What I found during the Sky Tavern Women's Weekend was much more than I expected. The programming was thoughtful, incredibly well run and the team did a fantastic job of placing riders in small groups based on an in depth questionnaire (which was exceptionally helpful because as women, you almost always downgrade your abilities). The coaches were not only skilled, but genuinely invested in helping each rider progress, cheering us on as we took on small drops and pushed our comfort zones in a controlled environment.

All the participants ate together, laughed, and learned about our bikes/how to handle minor on trail repairs. We camped, did yoga, and spent a weekend off-line, detoxing from the world, progressing on our bicycles. While I'm in the lucky situation to have a lady gang to ride with on the regular, it was enlightening to hear stories of so many women who only ride with their partners or men, and to watch them find joy in their riding- biking for themselves, not just with a "chasing/keeping up" mentality.

In just 2 days at camp, I found more confidence, more control, and a totally different relationship with my bike, and so much inspiration from new friends. I now feel in control of my bike, not like I'm just "along for the ride" wherever my bike goes. I had found "play" on the trail - taking on obstacles with stoke, not just "holding on for survival".

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At Gear Hut, our mission is rooted in accessibility. We believe more people should be able to experience the outdoors without cost or lack of knowledge standing in the way. That means breaking down barriers to entry: from the cost of gear to access to quality education and instruction. While Gear Hut works every day to reduce the financial burden of equipment, we’re especially excited to take that a step further this year.

Thanks to YOU, through supporting our Non-Profit Partnership Program, shopping our 10% of sales days, and donating gear to be consigned under Sky Tavern’s account, we’re able to help break down the financial barrier to education by sponsoring one full scholarship to this year’s Women’s Bike Weekend.

Additionally, we're offering (2) gear scholarships. From gloves to pads, having the right equipment can make a huge difference in both safety and confidence on the trail.

What Gear Hut has Fundraised For:

• (1) Full Entrance Scholarship to Women’s Bike Weekend at Sky Tavern

• (2) $50 Gear Hut Gear Scholarships for runners-up

• Additional shoutout to Loose Program Racing, who is also sponsoring another entry scholarship!

How to Apply:

Complete the GOOGLE FORM HERE.

Application Deadline: May 3rd (end of day)

Award Announcement: May 8

EVENT DETAILS: The Women's MTB Camp Weeked runs from June 20/21 (with a prenight camp out on the 19th). Find more information on the details of the event HERE, along with bike and gear requirements.

If you're seeking out community and growth in your biking, but the cost of this programming seems out of reach, PLEASE APPLY TODAY.

This is about more than just a weekend. It’s about opening the door to confidence, to community, and to joy on the trail. As Reno continues to grow, our goal remains the same: make sure everyone has the chance to be part of the outdoors, regardless of income!