My Passion With Sarah-Louise Walker

Mountain biking combines two of my passions – keeping fit and adrenaline sports. I’m still relatively new to the sport, catching the bug from my husband around 18 months ago, but it has rapidly become a great passion.

Almost every weekend my family and I get on our bikes and explore West Yorkshire. Predominately, we focus on the family trails and six-mile tracks but if we’re feeling particularly adventurous we’ll throw in a few jumps too to get the heart racing.

After working long hours during the week, I relish the opportunity to jump on the bike. My job as a sales director can be stressful at times, so peddling furiously through muddy trails and throwing myself over jumps is an extremely effective stress relief. After a few hours on the bike I feel energised and focused. It can also be pretty conducive to creative thinking. In fact, I think I’ve come up with some of my best ideas on the bike.

I am a real people’s person. It’s an important quality for anyone working in sales and I really enjoy building relationships and engaging with people. However, the time that I spend indulging in my passion is time for me and my family.

One of the great things about the sport is that it’s an interest the whole family can enjoy. My husband first introduced me to mountain biking and our son has since developed a love for it. I treasure this quality time with my family. We are not only keeping fit and healthy but importantly, we’re doing something together.

Mountain biking requires a certain level of focus and tenacity. As I become more experienced my routes are becoming more adventurous, combining dirt jumps that require a certain level of technical ability. It’s important you have focus in order to prevent serious injury. I’m well aware of the risk but I do believe it’s important to take risks in all aspects of your life.

I also take some reassurance from the fact that the equipment required provides a certain level of protection. It is vital equipment but it can rapidly turn into an expensive passion. Some bikes can cost almost the same as a small car. Some people might balk at the idea of spending so much money on a bike but I would argue that it is money well spent if it supports your passion. More and more women are getting involved in mountain biking.

Traditionally, I think it has been viewed as a male dominated sport. In this respect there are some similarities between mountain biking and the gaming industry. Although Alea Leeds is primarily a conference and entertainment venue, it is also a casino and traditionally, the gaming industry has also been a largely male environment. In my experience there is a shift towards women in both areas and I’m pleased to be part of this change.