Jen Gadoua
Ontario Adaptive Mountain Biking - Intro Riding Weekend | Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Jen Gadoua is a Doctor of Audiology and an adaptive bike rider/instructor living in Kitchener-Waterloo region. Until the age of 41, you could find Jen trail running, adventure racing, hiking, or exploring around the world. These adventures came to an abrupt halt following a spinal cord injury in 2021. In the fall of 2022 Jen attended a women's adaptive mountain biking camp in Canmore, AB empowering her to get back outside and connect with a supportive group of riders. Since then, Jen and her friends have been dreaming up ways to get other people with disabilities outdoors on bikes.
About the Project
Ontario Adaptive Mountain Biking (aMTB) riders have until recently been travelling to get coaching and riding practice in AB and BC where the sport is more established. This project seeks to create an adaptive mountain biking weekend retreat for new riders.
This creates inclusion and community between riders, but also with the members of the trail systems they ride. It activates public space by people with disabilities being shown being active in the outdoors. This will also bring awareness to accessibility of the chosen venues. Civic engagement will be improved by recruiting support riders and sponsors.