Sharing mountain biking with kids in Peru
By Vanessa Stark, a Pemberton BC-based artist and rider. Photos by Robin O’Neil.
“On October 2nd, 2018, I found myself standing on a stage at Huama Institucion Educativa 50161, a small rural school nestled high in the Sacred Valley of Peru. At 3,000 meters above sea level, surrounded by the towering peaks of the Andes, I looked out at a sea of wide-eyed children wrapped in vibrant hand-woven blankets, their faces full of curiosity and excitement.
I was there with nine other mountain bike-obsessed women from Whistler, Squamish, and Pemberton, B.C., all of us deep into an unforgettable eight-day riding adventure with Big Mountain Bike Adventures and their incredible Peruvian guides—brothers Nico and Chente Chirinos Pastor.
But that day wasn’t just about riding. We were there for something bigger.
A School Visit That Changed Everything
Our fourth day of riding started with a shuttle to 4,184m (13,727ft), followed by a fun, flowing descent packed with switchbacks, big views, and even a baby donkey blocking the trail (no joke!). We dropped straight into the village of Huama, bikes in hand, ready to surprise the local school kids with something special.
Thirteen brand-new bikes and helmets were lined up in the schoolyard—donated through Big Mountain Bike Adventures’ collaboration with Pinkbike.com’s Share the Ride charity. These bikes were to be shared by all the students through their school’s physical education program.
As we stepped onto the stage, we were met with hand-drawn signs saying, “Welcome Girls,” “Thank You Big Mountain,” and my personal favourite: “We Want Ride.” The energy in the air was electric.
From Hostility to Harmony
Just two years earlier, mountain bikers weren’t welcome in this village. Nico and Chente had been yelled at, even pelted with rocks while riding here. Instead of giving up, they met with village leaders, listened, and came up with a solution.
They helped build a dedicated bike trail and arranged for a small fee to be paid to the village for every guided group that rides there. The result? A new friendship between locals and riders—and a shining example of how mountain biking can bring communities together.
A Girl, a Bike, and a Big Shift
The most moving moment of the day? When a young girl in a brightly embroidered skirt stepped forward to be the first to try a bike.
In rural Sacred Valley culture, girls are often raised to be quiet and reserved. Riding bikes just isn’t something they’re encouraged to do. But something shifted that day—maybe seeing ten adventurous women on bikes gave her the confidence to try, or maybe it was just the bike’s magical pull.
Either way, once she took that first spin, there was no stopping the others. One by one, kids climbed on the bikes, figuring out how to pedal—some backwards at first, all with huge smiles on their faces. The laughter, joy, and sheer stoke in that schoolyard were contagious.
None of us left that school with dry eyes.
A Feast, a Farewell, and a Future
The villagers thanked us with a traditional feast of roasted cuy (guinea pig), maize, lima beans, and potatoes—an incredibly generous offering from a community that had so little, and yet gave so much.
Nico and Chente continue to stay connected to the school and its bike program. While not everyone in the local riding scene is on board yet, it’s clear the seed has been planted. Future Big Mountain Bike Adventures groups will keep the momentum going, delivering bikes and building relationships.
As we pedaled away from Huama that afternoon—buzzing with emotion and high-altitude endorphins—I looked back to see 100 kids waving goodbye, joy beaming from their faces. And as we ripped down the rest of that incredible trail, that same joy was written all over ours.”
