Bex Baraona & Martha Gill Announce Details for New Female MTB Festival in 2019

Jan 30, 2019 at 8:47

by Gowaan Gals

Who are Gowaan Gals?

Bex Baraona and Martha Gill, we're best mates sharing our love for bikes whilst racing the Enduro World Series. We initially created our Instagram page after being told we were like a double act, always having a laugh and being silly on and off the bike. Our aim is to inspire others to tickle outside their comfort zone, not worry about failure, and just get stuck in!

Bex, 25 - Photo Nikklas Wallner

Favourite day of the week: Fail Friday
Go-to dish: Salmon, avo & eggs on sourdough toast
Most memorable f*#k up: Whilst researching visa advice, I thought we were diplomats so wouldn't need one to travel to Mongolia.
Best idea: To fly to Malaysia instead.

Martha, 21 - Photo Duncan Philpott

Favourite day of the week: Wheelie Wednesday
Best dish: Halloumi stir fry
Most memorable f*#k up: When I thought I could do whip offs at Crankworx - click here for crash reel.
Favourite colour: Somewhere in between orange pink and red.

Since creating the Instagram account we have only received positive feedback, and Gowaan Gals has rapidly grown. In 2018 we released a line of merchandise, went on a surprise trip to Malaysia, and announced the Gowaan Gals MTB Festival in 2019!

About the festival...

Why? Inspiring and encouraging women and girls to pick up their bikes and have fun is what we want to do. So what better way than to create a female-focussed event?!

Where? Farmer John’s MTB Park, Marple, in the North West of England.

When? 6th - 8th September 2019.

What? There’ll be plenty of activities to get stuck in to, including an airbag, pumptrack, dual slalom friendly race, workshops and Q&A sessions, food & drink, Saturday night live DJ, as well as private access to the trails for the whole weekend! There will be camping on site and an optional glamping upgrade to furnished bell tents.

Who? There are 3 types of tickets: Rider, Spectator, and U16 Passes. The Rider and U16 Passes are available to females only and allow full access to the festival and everything that is happening. The Spectator Pass is for anyone who wishes to simply spectate and is available for guys and gals, parents, partners, family, children… whoever wants to join in on the fun!

For more information about the festival, T&C’s, or to buy a ticket visit our website here.

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28 Comments

makdthed (Feb 12, 2019 at 0:33)

These girls are awesome - follow their insta and YouTube - their Dropped In Malaysia vids are awesome - these aint professionally shot and edited, just sheer bike love and enthusiasm, fun and pure adventure.

fatduke FL (Feb 12, 2019 at 7:42)

They really need to do a @downtimepodcast together.

downtimepodcast (Feb 12, 2019 at 9:15)

@fatduke: episode 23 bro... check it out!

fatduke FL (Feb 12, 2019 at 9:32)

@downtimepodcast: Cheers fella.

JOHN8LAZE (Feb 12, 2019 at 6:55)

Gowaan girls, I might blag my Mrs along to this see of it can fire her desire to ride up some

fatduke FL (Feb 12, 2019 at 0:11)

Is Winton like a special guest on gowaan insta.

klerric (May 5, 2019 at 23:16)

very cool.

Below threshold threads are hidden

4 12

jaame (Feb 12, 2019 at 0:19)

Only open to females is discrimination. Is this legal?

14 0

makdthed (Feb 12, 2019 at 0:35)

nah! - you can go along and watch and spectate - just not compete - so it's cool- you can be there and take a protest banner with you too - win win ... now, I need to go to my local swimming baths and protest at the OAP only swim sessions - these old gits is breaking da law man!!!!!

poah (Feb 12, 2019 at 1:47)

wasn't there some festival recently that got into trouble for only offering female only tickets? This isn't a race remember.

renrut (Feb 12, 2019 at 4:24)

Not sure what harm it does. Female only events are great to encourage women and girls into the sport.

Or would you rather they just stayed away?

dglobulator (Feb 12, 2019 at 5:15)

@jaame Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!

jaame (Feb 12, 2019 at 5:15)

@renrut: I am against all forms of discrimination.

jaame (Feb 12, 2019 at 5:16)

@dglobulator: Sorry, my mistake. I forgot that discrimination against men doesn't count!

b45her (Feb 12, 2019 at 6:52)

white men are the only people on earth that discrimination doesn't apply to, you can do pretty much whatever you want to them and its OK. should have worded it that its discriminating against ethnic minority males by not allowing them to enter then the entire internet would have your back.

dglobulator (Feb 12, 2019 at 7:15)

@jaame: My other half is so intimidated by the thugs in the gym that she wouldn't go if there wasn't a womens only weights room. Plenty of women would shy away from a MTB event that was male/testosterone dominated. This seems as if it is aimed at easing that to encourage more women and girls to compete and that is why it doesn't matter if men are excluded. Not everything is as cut and dry and can be covered by the one 'no-one is to be excluded' rule! It's easier, but not always right.

JOHN8LAZE (Feb 12, 2019 at 7:51)

@b45her: You can still go and watch. Will you be doing or you just intending to play the victim card that you can't enter the friendly race? We have it pretty easy mate, give the girls a chance at something on their own or show up and cheer them on there are plenty of other events that you have the run of

km79 (Feb 12, 2019 at 8:05)

Wear a dress and call yourself Jane, you'll get in no questions.

poah (Feb 12, 2019 at 10:24)

@dglobulator: She should go to another gym or make a complaint then.

b45her (Feb 12, 2019 at 10:43)

@JOHN8LAZE: no victim in me whatsoever, i do plenty of racing and know plenty of girl racers, none of whom say they are intimidated by the large percentage of men at normal open to all races. my point is not about this event but about society in general at the moment.

fatduke FL (Feb 12, 2019 at 13:26)

Would you be happier it there was a Male equivalent like there are 2 versions of the fox hunt.

b45her (Feb 12, 2019 at 19:01)

@fatduke: you are virtue signaling so hard you are totally missing my point.

fatduke FL (Feb 12, 2019 at 22:51)

@b45her: dude I'm 37 I have no idea what virtue signalling is. I'm also ginger so don't start with the discrimination malarkey you people with your fancy dark or blonde hair can't complain about nowt.

jaame (Feb 12, 2019 at 23:48)

@fatduke: someone who doesn't understand English might not know what breathing is but it doesn't mean they're not doing it.

dglobulator (Feb 13, 2019 at 2:02)

@jaame: ??????

jaame (Feb 13, 2019 at 2:04)

@dglobulator: He has no idea what virtue signalling is. I don't know either. But the fact you don't know what something is does not mean you are not doing it.

fatduke FL (Feb 13, 2019 at 2:16)

I think there's a certain type of person who looks to be offended or complain just for the sake of it. Is this virtue signalling?

dglobulator (Feb 13, 2019 at 2:55)

@fatduke: Yes that's it, or one version of it at least.
@jamme: right, got it!