Limitlass Legacy: Kate Breeden’s Journey From Rider to Coach

Limitlass is proud to have been championing female riders since our debut in 2022. Together with our presetening partner Endura, we launched the Limitlass Legacy project, designed to offer professional development opportunities for women in mountain biking.

As part of this initiative, we collaborated with Endura to support Kate Breeden on her journey into coaching. We caught up with Kate, who gained her coaching qualifications through the project, to chat about her journey and the impact of the initiative.

Coach Kate at Limitlass last year

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into mountain biking?

I’m from Wales and started mountain biking sliding down techy Welsh natural trails on my Dad’s old 26” Specialized, around 10 years ago. I was surrounded by biking chat when my wee brother started racing downhill, then started riding more regularly myself when I got my Nukeproof in 2019. I was so lucky to live in Llangollen with fun trails from the door and great folk to bike with. Moving to Aberdeenshire in 2021 amplified my love of biking – so many amazing trails and such a vibrant community of people encouraging and developing mountain biking! I re-trained as an Outdoor Instructor, then met Anna on a Ride Out coaching day – she inspired me to have more confidence in my biking.

You attended Limitlass in 2022 as a participant and returned to the event as a qualified mountain bike coach in 2023 thanks to the Limitlass Legacy project. Can you tell us more about that?
It hadn’t even crossed my mind that I could come back as a coach! The project is designed to create opportunity for women to lead in mountain biking. Limitlass describe it as a way of supporting and encouraging women who are capable but doubt they’re ready to take that next step. I was encouraged and supported to train as a coach, receiving mentorship throughout the year and shadowing coaching sessions. I learnt so much and it gave me such a confidence boost. Limitlass then gave me my first opportunity to coach solo – I was so nervous but absolutely loved it.

What did training for your coaching qualification involve?

I learnt so much from shadowing Ride Out Trail Days and Deeside MTB rides. I’m an over-preparer so also spent ages researching, watching videos and speaking to people – finding inspiration and different ways to coach. I practiced specific skills like wheelies, manuals, rear wheel lifts – things I’d never focused on before but which really built my understanding of riding and brought my own riding on heaps! Having been a teacher and outdoor instructor I’m interested in how people learn and develop skills, so it’s been great enhancing that with tips from other coaches, guides and courses.

Kate’s first session as an official Limitlass coach!

What was your experience of coaching at Limitlass like? How did the dynamic of the event change for you going from participant to coach?

I was so nervous beforehand! I guess it’s common to feel imposter syndrome – ‘what if I’m not good enough’! But once I was coaching, I LOVED it. It’s just such a supportive atmosphere, the groups I coached were lovely, and Anna, Fee and Katie were so encouraging. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to start my coaching career. Limitlass has an amazing feel and one of the best things is being in the festival field soaking up the positive vibes, interesting workshops, meeting fab people and making new friends! Being busier as a coach, I missed that – but still found time to enjoy a river dip, sauna and the inspiring talks! I was absolutely buzzing from working with the fabulous riders in my groups, chatting to other coaches, and on a high from the positive energy that surrounds Limitlass.

Can you tell us what Limitlass was like for those who haven’t experienced it? What were some of the highlights?

It’s such a lovely relaxed atmosphere – everyone camps (or van-camps) in the festival field. There’s a cosy bell tent where everyone hangs out, with yoga in the mornings, film night, and live music in the evening with tasty drinks and food stalls – so much fun chatting and dancing the night away. So many smiles and laughs at the morning group warm up, then there’s coaching sessions, guided rides, and workshops you can sign up to. It just feels like a chilled, encouraging place to meet people, have fun, learn, and enjoy biking! I feel like everyone leaves the weekend on a high – stoked to ride bikes! It’s so special.

Kate with one of her coaching groups at Limitlass 2023

What advice would you give to other women who aspire to become coaches or further their involvement in mountain biking?

Go for it! Chat to people who inspire you, ask how they got into it, or shadow them. Book yourself onto a qualification that starts you in the direction you want to go – it can feel scary, take that first step and commit! If funding is a barrier, look into bursaries (there’s some support out there) or volunteering opportunities that build your experience. Try to look beyond your self-doubt (we all feel it, right?) to where you’d love to be. I try to remember encouraging things people say or positive feedback I get to log as counter-evidence for when I’m doubting myself. I suppose it’s easy to focus on reasons not to; take that first step and believe you can! We need more women in mountain biking.

Reflecting on your journey, do you think you would have pursued coaching qualifications without the support from the Limitlass Legacy project? How crucial was this support in helping you develop as a coach?

The Limitlass team’s faith in me and support from the Project absolutely propelled me forward on my coaching journey! I’ve always loved the outdoors, am passionate about mountain biking and had done some guiding, so I may have considered pursuing coaching further down the line, but there’s no way I’d have had the confidence to put myself forward as a coach now (potentially ever) without Limitlass believing that I could and supporting me through the qualification. Limitlass then gave me the opportunity to coach in such an encouraging environment – I enjoyed it so much and it’s inspired me to want to coach more and undertake further training to keep improving as a coach. The legacy project kickstarted it all – I’m so grateful.

Happy rider and happy coach!

In what ways do you think initiatives like the Limitlass Legacy project contribute to the overall development of women in mountain biking?

They’re so important. Representation matters – if you see people you can relate to doing something, you’re way more likely to imagine/try doing it yourself. Seeing women coach, guide, ride, race, run workshops, mechanic, organise a festival – it’s inspiring! I feel like women frequently underestimate their ability, doubt themselves, or don’t put themselves forward, so having a project that spots potential and nourishes and supports its growth is massive. Having women you respect and admire to learn from, but who also believe you can do it and push you forward – makes a world of difference. I notice that female mountain bikers are often a minority out on the trails, at most outdoor leadership courses I’ve been the only woman, and I find myself looking for examples of female leaders in mountain biking. Actively creating opportunities and encouraging and supporting women to grow is crucial for boosting more women into biking and leadership!

Limitlass coaches

Limitlass 2024 will be held from 9th-11th August 2024 in Dunkeld. Tickets on sale now!