Who is Skirts in the Dirt?
Women helping women get into cycling! Skirts in the Dirt exists because of our volunteers, our participants, and our supportive and amazing local community!
Thanks to all of the folks who dedicate their time working on the trail, volunteering at other bike events, to our sponsors, and to all of our friends who have helped to make our race a success! We’ve come a long way since our first race at Cannonsburg Ski Area, and Skirts in the Dirt has turned into so much more than we had hoped when we first began this wild ride.
We are incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such a vibrant group of mountain biking fanatics and we love seeing how our community continues to evolve and grow.
2013: the inaugural year! The first ever Skirts in the Dirt came to fruition because of these four riding buddies! Jill Martindale, Denise Peterson, Julie Whalen, and Sarah Jaromin.
Congrats 2019 Michigan mountain biking hall of fame inductees
Jill Martindale & Julie Whalen - Promotions | Race Directors 2014 - 2020
Megan Doerr - Racing (Beth Collins shown accepting Megan’s award - while she raced with the pros at Iceman!)
Tom White - Trail Building and Dennis Murphy - Advocacy
Thank you so much to all of the people who nominated us to be inducted into the hall of fame! It really meant so much to be acknowledged for all of the hard work, early mornings, and effort that is put in to Skirts in the Dirt. One of our favorite things in the whole world is seeing all of the friendships, high-fives, and encouraging moments that happen on race day, and knowing that Skirts in the Dirt means something to our participants really brings us so much joy. Thank you for riding with us! - Jill and Julie.
Race COURSE Director Jill Martindale
About Jill:
”My name is Jill Martindale and I have always loved bikes! I remember the day I learned to ride a bike - my brothers had taken off on a bike ride around our neighborhood and I was worried that I would be left behind. I hopped on my pink Huffy and took off after them! I was afraid that I would crash but the thrill of chasing after them overrode that fear. We did a lot of family bike rides to get ice cream growing up, and naturally we began to ride a little more each time. My dad took us on a ride from Richmond, Michigan to Lakes of the North campground up near Gaylord, Michigan, while my mom drove SAG, and it was one of the most fun family vacations we had ever been on! When I moved out to Grand Rapids to attend GVSU, I got a cruiser bike to commute on, and I began joining my friends on evening cruises around the city. After graduating, I got a job at the Ada Bike Shop (now Grand Rapids Bicycle Company) and it was there that I fell in love with the bicycle industry and with racing my bike. I got into mountain biking and gravel riding, and then fat biking during the winter months on snow! Riding became a lifestyle for me - I met my partner working at Grand Rapids Bicycle Company (he still works there) and I now work at Velocity USA, a bicycle rim manufacturer based here in Grand Rapids. I still love riding my bike from campsite to campsite, cruising around town with friends, and supporting the cycling community here in West Michigan! We have some incredibly amazing folks who ride in this town and they all inspire me to keep pedaling. I consider myself very fortunate to have found this amazing group of friends, coworkers, and family. I've come a long way since riding to get ice cream with my family! I represent Salsa Cycles, an adventure bicycle brand, and 45nrth, a winter gear and apparel brand, and I have been so lucky to have been able to do races and events around the US - including racing up in Alaska on the historic Iditarod Trail for the Iditarod Trail Invitational! I rode my bike from outside of Anchorage to Nome and was the first woman to be named co-champion. It has been such an honor to be involved with Skirts in the Dirt and to meet such incredible humans through the biking community. I feel very fortunate to be working with Maria to bring so many great folk together through Skirts in the Dirt!”
Planning committee - Laura salik
Laura loves riding year round! Laura is a member of the Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters. She zips though the trails and you will be left in her dust! She also makes the best salsa ever! She joined the planning committee in 2022 and we are lucky to have her! Laura loves organization and making things happen so she is perfect to have planning Skirts in the Dirt!
planning committee - allison downs
Allison knows her way around bikes. Often disassembling them and improving upon her bikes to fit her just right! She is responsible for many “new bike days” among the LMBSisters! Allison is also a member of Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters and is a regular on our weekly rides. She loves to help at biking events so watch for her next time you’re racing.
Race Director Maria Carrillo-Diekema
About Maria:
”Hey! I’m Maria and I love mountain biking! Although my husband introduced me to mountain biking about 6 years ago, it was Jill Martindale who turned it into a passion. She sold me my first bike when she worked at GRBC and told me about the women’s weekly group rides. My first race ever was Skirts in the Dirt. I had so much fun that I kept coming back and now I organize it! Dreams do come true! In 2020 I founded an all-women’s mountain bike group called Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters. I saw a need for it in the Holland/Zeeland area and it was important for me to find a way to fill that gap. Since then, the club has grown so much. I love introducing women to mountain biking! I love watching their skills grow and them gaining confidence. To see my LMBSisters enter races, doing long gravel rides and bikepacking; it makes my heart so happy. I have the goodest boi in the world named Miles. He is a rescue beagle mix and if we talk you won’t go away without seeing a picture or two or three. I love laid back fun group rides and will join any chance I get. If your ride takes you to tacos or ice cream, I’m there!”
OUR ORGANIZER - Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters
Founded in 2020, Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters (LMBS) is a local not-for-profit organization that promotes women in biking by putting on skills clinics, weekly (year-round) rides, organizes camp & rides, and promotes, joins and offers support at other biking events like Barry Roubaix, local gravel & mtb races, 906 Adventure races, Fargo Sub48 9 (bikepacking), etc. LMBS won the “Club of the Year” award in 2023 from the League of Michigan Cyclists for promoting access and enhancing the lives of women.
LMBS would not be in existence today if it were not for the inspiration of Jill Martindale and the Skirts in the Dirt race event.
Planning committee - Erin Chillag
Erin is nursing instructor when she is not lifting, running, doing duathlons or riding bikes. Erin became an official Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sister really quick after she found our club this year. We grabbed on to her, she grabbed on to us, and we never let go! She started biking with a Fat Bike and now thanks to the LMBSisters, she owns a variety of bikes (he-he!). Erin loves all rescue animals and volunteers at Second Chance Cats of WM.
Planning committee - Pam Schutter
Pam is a fast rolling, hill climbing machine! She loves to get involved in all things bike! You will see her regularly across the biking scene. She loves to help out at events! Riding and volunteering are her jam! Pam is a member of the Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters and we absolutely love having her! When she is away - it is noticeable! Her son Aaron owns Main Street Bicycle Company in Zeeland.
planning committee/volunteer coordinator - alana kooi
Alana is a super speedy rider both in mountain biking and gravel! You will regularly see her on the podium around Michigan. She is part of the Michigan Gravel Race Series (MGRS). Alana is a member of the Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters. She makes us laugh her witty sense of humor. Alana is a teacher by day but recently got a promotion - because well, she does so many great things. If you volunteer for Skirts in the Dirt you will be hearing from her.
Although Skirts in the Dirt is assisted by a large group of volunteers; it is the LMBS Planning Committee (Maria, Laura, Pam, Allison, Erin and Alana) and Jill who spearhead most of the event planning, organizing, course-marking, brain-storming, and logistics. None of these women get paid to host Skirts in the Dirt and none of them would want to - it’s about cultivating a community, watching the Michigan ridership grow, raising awareness of the local mountain biking chapters, and inspiring more people to ride their bikes and to find adventure on their backyard trails!
All proceeds from Skirts in the Dirt get put back into the local community by promoting the sport (through the Lakeshore Mountain Biking Sisters), maintaining our local trails (through donation to Wahlfield Park), and donations to new trail builds (Jamestown Trail).