Fresh off the back of the 2021 Tweed Valley Enduro World Series, Isla Short is bright-eyed, wide-smiled and ready to ride.
Whilst an epic day of racing in particularly Scottish conditions would ordinarily necessitate rest for a professional rider, for Isla, this was the rest! Because rest isn’t always physical, and as a cross-country racer, an off-season impetus of no-pressure fun can be just the tonic to the high-pressure environment of World Cup start lines and structured training.
Moreover, this is where Isla calls home, and exploring its secrets and showcasing its wonders is a deep-seated passion. “I spend so much time abroad”, she says, “but actually my favourite place in the World is Scotland.”
When Isla moved to the Tweed Valley, a whole world of MTB opportunity opened up on her doorstep. It has been part of the formula, the story, and quite literally the landscape of her entire racing career.
Scotland’s Tweed Valley has been home to an impressive number of World-class mountain bikers. It’s famous trail centres and miles of natural tracks are the perfect breeding ground for talent, with hefty hills and technical riding providing a perfect playground to develop fitness and skill.
Darting into dark forest and ploughing through puddles, it’s easy to see that Isla is at home here, and with the grin on her face it is also easy to see the pure love she has for riding a bike. Identifying as a cyclist, and not only a racer, has made her pathway happier and her career feel sustainable. When the process as well as the goals can bring such pleasure, the parameters of success become much greater.
The big goal is to win a World Cup, and Isla knows that enjoying the process is as important as the hard data when it comes to keeping that fire stoked.
“You can still get the best out of yourself even if you’re enjoying it’, Isla says, and her Tweed Valley EWS experience has cemented this.
Press play to hear Isla’s humble, quietly confident take on finding the balance she needs to succeed, and why home is the heart of her story.
