13 year old Vancouver resident Piper Allman takes on the world’s largest mountain biking event – Crankworx.

>>> How to get paid to ride (without winning a race!)

This video titled “How to become a pro mountain biker” is part 5-point-plan and part life-story (or story so far at least).

Magnificently bearded Zack Allman has two kids. A boy and a girl. They both ride mountain bikes. But the girl – Piper – has big dreams. She dreams of becoming a professional mountain biker. This is her story.

A couple of years ago, Piper’s brother made a video of her riding her bike and posted it online. Chromag pro rider Claire Bouchard saw the vid and got in touch with Piper & Co.

Piper is now affiliated with Chris Kovarik’s race team.

How does she get on at the races? Podium? Crashed out? Victory? Mid-pack mechanical?

You’ll have to watch the vid.

Crankworx press release

Follow 13-year-old Sooke, B.C. resident Piper Allman on her quest to become a pro mountain bike athlete.

“Everybody is there, so you get to ride with all your friends, and the pros are everywhere… Watching the events, and seeing all the different types of riding there is, it’s really cool,” says Allman, whose eight-minute video, “Inside Crankworx: How to Become A Pro Mountain Biker”, culminates in two Crankworx medals.

Piper was born just as the Crankworx festival took flight, is a rising talent whose story shows how the right inspiration can launch a career.

Professional racer Claire Buchar, who runs the development team, Kovarik Racing, with her partner and fellow racer Chris Kovarik, provides motivation and support for the young rider, based on her successful career as a UCI World Championship medalist and national team member.

“I learn a ton from them,” says Allman, who admits going pro has been on the agenda since she was eight years old.

Allman started by following her father and brother out on rides, getting a push to the top of the hill and following her bliss down. She connected with Buchar after her short edit, Dream Chaser, came across Buchar’s desk, and is now pushing for the finish line on that goal to ride professionally. This year, she hit the podium twice at Crankworx, competing in the Canadian Open DH presented by iXS and Fox Air DH, and all while learning the ticket to success is all about knowing how to have fun.

“Mountain biking is more than a sport, it’s more of like a lifestyle. It’s just you and your bike and you don’t really need much else to do it,” says Allman.