In this series we catch up with up those who have ridden their fair share of trails.  On our radar in this episode in a young lady who is making a name for herself on trails across the globe. Meet Jodi MacKinnon...

Jodi started out riding a bike as most kids do, with her brother when she was very little. In those days it was just all fun when the siblings took to their bikes. With Jodi's introduction to the school cycling series, her love for cycling grew in leaps and bounds or perhaps we should say jumps and rolls. As a young girl her first bike may have been an orange y-bike (she doesn't quite remember) but then came a pink princess bike with a basket and tassels (she remembers this well). One two miss a few... or four or five or seven bikes... You'll now find this MTB princess low flying on trails across the country and beyond on a Santa Cruz (her bike of choice). 

I’ve been cycling since I can remember and just never stopped

Jodi's parents both played an important roll in her love for cycling. "My parents used to run together and as soon as I was old enough they put me on a bicycle and I rode while they ran. When I eventually got too quick for them my dad got a bike and we’ve been cycling together ever since." Jodi's dad, Andrew MacKinnon is well known in the cycling community and leads intermediate rides most Saturday's from Shongweni Club.

Jodi is super focussed on her riding and rides at least six times a week. Her training includes a mix of interval training and longer endurance rides. "I also enjoy running and do gym work a few times a week," says Jodi. Being home schooled has helped Jodi get in more training around her school schedule. You'll often find her catching up on school work, even if she's competing in Morocco at the recent African Continental Championships.

When asked about the first race she won she replied, "It was the Wartburg Classic in 2016 I think. As soon as my mom finished her race I ran to her and she looked worried. She had dropped the car keys somewhere along the 20km route and we then had to search for them for 2 hours in heat of over 30 degrees. We didn’t find them and had to go home in my dad’s car to fetch the spare keys. My dad then took our kind neighbour all the way back to Wartburg to drive the car home". 

Most MTB riders will have a story to tell about a ride or two but almost missing the start of a race is not a memory you want repeated too often.  "I nearly missed the start at an XCO in Paarl this year because I didn’t get the updated schedule, but we don’t talk about that," says Jodi with a chuckle.

Keep your eye on this rider. She's already really good at what she does and with the support of family, coaches and friends, Jodi MacKinnon is coming to a podium near you again soon.