Today we’d like to introduce you to Meagen Dennis.
Hi Meagen, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Dirt Series Mountain Bike Camps started in 2001 with the idea of getting more women on bikes. Since this time, it has grown across North America to be the largest, women-focused mountain bike skills program in the US and CAN. We have over 44 events, and a team of nearly 100 amazing coaches – who come from diverse life and riding backgrounds to support the growth and development of women in mountain biking – from beginner to advanced and everyone in between.
I got involved in Dirt Series as a new mountain biking rider about 13 years ago, and from that time until 2020, I was a participant, volunteer, coach and then camp manager. In 2020, I purchased 1/2 of Dirt Series, and in 2021 I purchased the balance – reviving and revisioning the organization to scale and grow even further than it did up to this point – with the goal to get even more women on bikes!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the major obstacles and challenges have obviously arisen in the last few years, as a result of COVID 19. With a dramatic growth plan, and jurisdictional closures, health risks and travel fears – we struggled greatly as a program to operate during this time.
As things have been opening up, and everyone purchased a bike over the last 2.5 years, we are seeing renewed interest in group activities, and travel-oriented activities – both of which we fit into categorically, and we are getting more women out, and on bikes to build their confidence and skills!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I purchased Dirt Series after coming from an accounting / real estate development career. I grew up in an entrepreneurial family, and knew that I would one day operate my own business. In the last few years of my “big kid” career, I focused heavily on supporting small businesses with their administrative, organizational and financial needs – and assisted small businesses in digitizing and scaling to utilize new technologies to simplify their operational needs.
These same skills were completely transferable to my purchase of Dirt Series, and the growth and scaling I have been working tirelessly on within this organization. I am extremely proud of my capacity for resilience and change – identifying risks in our market and industry as a whole and pivoting when needed to support our consumers, organizational needs, or general operational needs!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think we will continue to see more women feel confident in sports – and get involved in more programs like ours. For so long, “risky” sports like mountain biking seemed a far cry for most women, both from equipment and educational opportunities – but as the industry continues to promote and grow women’s cycling products, more women are coming to the table excited to participate!
I think we will see some changes in the way people travel in the next few years, and general comfort with group gatherings change. Smaller “boutique” events, with affordable prices and high-quality service offerings are becoming more and more demanded – and we are well set up to keep offering this service/style to our consumers.
Pricing:
- $395 – Fall 2 Day Camps / $495 Summer 2 Day Camps
- $645 – Bike Park Camps (Lift Ticket Incl)
- $350 – First Timers Bike Park Camp (Lift Ticket Incl)
- $195 – Youth Girls (11-17) Fall Camps
- $295 – Youth Girls (11-17) Summer Camps
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dirtseries.com
- Instagram: @dirtseries
- Facebook: @dirtseries
- Youtube: Dirt Series
