Tackling the mountain together

From snowy cross-country skiing trails to rocky mountain bike courses, sisters Kate and Mia Sawatsky have tackled it all together.

Although skiing is still the sport they consider their main focus, the multi-talented athletes have carried a childhood passion for mountain biking to their second Canada Games, competing this week in St. John’s.

From Altona, Kate, 17, and Mia, 20, grew up with biking all around them. Their parents were passionate cyclists, and with cousins involved in the sport too, the sisters naturally followed the same path.

“Biking was probably one of the first sports we did because we could do it with our family,” said Mia. “We didn’t need like a team or to sign up for anything, really, we could just go and do it.”

And even though mountain biking started as a fun family activity, over time, with more training and racing, the sisters only became more invested — and with that came the chance to compete against athletes from across Canada.

Their first opportunity came with the Canada Winter Games in 2023, when they travelled to P.E.I. with Team Manitoba’s cross-country ski team.

“I would say they’re similar, just like you’re pushing yourself so hard in those kinds of sports,” said Kate. “Physically and just being in the right space mentally as well.”

While cross-country skiing and mountain biking are also similar in training hours, endurance, and being individual-focused sports, a major difference is — of course — the terrain.

On Wednesday, Kate and Mia competed in the women’s mountain bike cross-country event, tackling a four-kilometre loop that opened with a rocky hill and steep drop, before winding through rock gardens, roots and a rock slab climb.

“I think the biggest challenge was doing it technically well,” said Mia. “Picking the right line around the rocks and taking the good line around the corner so you keep your momentum and speed, so you’re not having to come out of every corner pushing hard on the pedals, but having a better line and keeping your momentum. So really being mentally on, and always thinking about what’s coming next and being prepared for that.”

Mia completed all six laps in 1:47:04 to place 11th overall, while Kate finished 20th.

“Being the younger sister, I’ve definitely looked up to Mia as being a role model,” said Kate. “And her just being a little bit better than me has always pushed me to go harder.”

“I think we’ve both given each other a lot of confidence in stuff we do and just telling each other we can do it,” Mia added. “It’s been really special to do it with my sister, which is awesome. We do so many things together, and training for other sports and training for this.”

“When we struggle, we struggle together, and when we do good, we do good together. It feels good to have someone to rely on when things aren’t always going your way.”

It’s not only cross-country skiing and mountain biking that the sisters have excelled in. Mia, a former Manitoba High School Athletic Association Athlete of the Year, and a six-sport athlete in her senior year, currently attends Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, where she is continuing her cross-country skiing career.

Kate, entering Grade 12 at W.C. Miller Collegiate, is following a similar busy sports path, participating in basketball, soccer and volleyball on top of her other sports.

“I think the long hours really add up, and burn you out a bit,” said Kate. “So keeping it interesting with skiing, running, biking really helps a lot.”

The sisters hope to continue making their mark in the sporting world as they chase medals in the relay mountain bike competition on Friday and the short track event on Sunday.

zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca