Episode 11: Emily Horridge, mountain bike guide, downhill Masters world Champion and 40+ athlete

Emily Horridge discovered mountain biking in the 90’s when it was a fresh new sport, and never looked back. She raced as an elite athlete in the downhill world cup for many years, then became a mountain bike guide and now leads adventures in the Alps with evocative names like ‘Temple of Tech’ and ‘Cathedral of Flow’. This year, she’s decided to return to the Downhill World Cup and settle up some unfinished business. 

Emily talks about what mountain biking and mountain bikes were like in the early days of the sport, how her career has progressed and what she’s learned about riding, racing and herself along the way.

She also talks about training and racing as an athlete in her forties, and how she’s been working to get ready for the challenges of the modern Downhill World Series, where racers tackle some of the most technical tracks on record, reaching incredible speeds. 

If you want to follow Emily’s World Cup journey, head over to Instagram and YouTube. Her videos are well worth a watch, particularly if you’re looking to up your skills base as she explains how to do some key techniques such as how to master the drop-off. 

And if you’re interested in her guided mountain bike holidays, her website has everything you need to know. Cathedral of Flow certainly sounds tempting!

Photo by Lucas Chiotti