Who is
Katy Winton?
AUTHENTIC RESILIENT vibrant DRIVEN EMPOWERING
Katy Winton is a force on two wheels – a true embodiment of resilience and adventure. With multiple EWS podiums and ranked 3rd in the world in both 2017 and 2018, Katy’s racing career has had its share of standout moments. What truly sets her apart, however, is her ability to share the real, honest side of the journey – the highs and the lows. Whether on the bike or behind the camera, she’s built a career by showing the true story, embracing the grit, the struggles, and the victories that come with it. Her authenticity is what resonates most with her audience, and it's why people continue to engage with her content, whether she is racing or not.Known for her bubbly personality and infectious energy, Katy gives 110% in everything she does, whether it’s pushing herself on the bike or inspiring the mountain biking community with real, raw content. It’s this genuine approach to racing and life that’s shaped her career – one that may not have always been smooth sailing, but was deeply loved and incredibly meaningful every step of the way.From her early days on XC bikes to her evolution in Enduro racing since 2013, Katy’s love for pushing her limits has only grown. Off the bike, she’s a creative spirit with a passion for painting, hiking, running, and public speaking, with a special focus on advocating for dyslexia. Always exploring, always inspiring – Katy is a multi-faceted personality who loves embracing the full adventure that life has to offer.FAST FACTS
NAME: Katy Winton
AGE: 31
FROM: Peebles, Scotland
CURRENT LOCATION: Queenstown, NZ.
PROFESSION: Professional Mountain Biker | Media Personality | Content Creator | Mountain Bike Coach & Guide
FAVOURITE RIDING LOCATION: Queenstown, NZ or Whistler, Canada.
LIKES: Being at the top of a hill; pushing limits; painting; exploring the world by bike or foot; horses; family and a good loud laugh with friends.
DISLIKES: Raw tomatoes - they’re the devils fruit.
THE STORY SO FAR
Hello friends, I hope you’re sitting comfortably, this is my story so far, from the beginning.
From a young age, I was obsessed with wheels. From the brick trolly that helped me learn to walk, to scooters, to prams, to being introduced to bikes by my dad, a keen cyclist himself. Weekends quickly became spent mountain biking at the 7stanes trail centres across Scotland, rain or shine… or snow. My brother and I loved those rides, especially when they ended with hot chocolate and cake! As a kid, I was competitive and driven, so once I hit 11, I was deemed ‘old enough to take losing’ and took on my first Cross Country race – and I was hooked.
I loved the speed, going as fast as I could up and down the hills. We didn’t have much money growing up, but I was lucky to get the support of The Hub in the Forest, a local bike shop, owned by legends of the sport Emma Guy and Tracy Brunger who helped me get my first proper bike and continued to support me throughout my teen racing years.
As I raced all over Scotland, I got a taste of winning and I liked it. At 13, I joined the Scottish Talent Team, and the goal of going to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014 was born. I then progressed to racing around the UK, winning National titles and being selected for the British Talent Team and the Olympic Development Program for XC racing. This opened up opportunities to race some junior XCO World Cups and World Championships in 2011.
In 2012, I had some standout results across multiple disciplines, including medals in U23 British XC champs, Scottish XC, Road Racing, and Downhill championships. But despite my hard work, I hadn’t hit the big goals I was aiming for, and my training wasn’t bringing the results I’d worked so hard for.
By 2013, frustrated and with minimal improvements in power testing it became evident I’d been overtraining. I found myself at an all time low and on the brink of quitting the sport I loved so much. It was absolutely devastating – especially since the qualification for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games was that year.
But sometimes, life’s brutality has a way of redirecting you.
2013, was also the year the Enduro World Series (EWS) was launched. Enduro was all about riding up hills and racing down multiple downhill stages as fast as possible, on a full-suspension bike - it seemed to be exactly what I loved about riding bikes, on a bike that was a lot more fun than my XC hardtail!
I was in Italy for the first-ever EWS, learning how to ride a full suspension bike on those fast, rocky trails. I crashed more times than I could count, but I was thriving. In love with the big days exploring new areas and riding downhills fast. For the first time I wasn’t nervous stood on the start line, instead, in that moment, I knew that I’d never wanted to be good at anything more than this. And from that moment on I set out on a mission for world domination.
I had never wanted to be good at anything more than this.
From there, I went on to progress up the ranks. Getting sign by Trek Factory Racing in 2016 was a dream come true and we shared five years together: scoring my first podiums and stage wins amounting to two years ranked 3rd in the world.
In 2020 covid struck, I had been on the form of my life coming into that season and it broke my heart as with many athletes not to get to race a full season. At the end of 2020, my time with Trek came to an end. It was an incredibly stressful time with limited options I created my own race program Moxie XI in collaboration with SRAM, Nukeproof, Troy Lee Designs and my grandparents!!! I launched ‘Keeping Up With Katy’ that year too - a youtube series to document the journey.
It was a year that tested everything, it took a lot of people in the background to keep me on track and, on reflection, it’s the season I’m most proud of.
In 2022 I signed for GT Factory Team, a return to a factory setup with the support I needed to perform. Unfortunately, lacking the rest I needed after an extremely stressful 2021 I burned out. It was the most debilitating, alone and misunderstood I’ve ever felt. GT supported me to take time off, and I came back at the end of the season. Over the years, I’ve recovered from concussion, weathered covid shut down and came back from burnout and in 2023 I was on track to return to my best…
…when GT had to disbanded their team toward the end of the 2023 season. The bike industry was on it’s knees and I found myself with no feasible opportunities to continue racing.
Still on a quest to become the best bike rider I can be, I set out on a mission to put myself in the best places on the planet to continue that progression.
I’ve learned that I’m not just hungry for results;
I’m driven by the curiosity of what I’m truly capable of.
Racing has taught me so much – not just about the sport, but about myself.
I’ve learned that I’m not just hungry for results; I’m driven by the curiosity of what I’m truly capable of.
If I go all in, if I give everything, what’s possible? Because at the root of it all: I believe we’re all capable of more than we realise – we’re just bound by our perceived limitations. That’s why I’m documenting my journey, not for myself, but to inspire others to step out of their comfort zones, try new things, and be curious about their own potential.
So, while racing may not be my number one priority right now as I focus on developing new skills in media, content creation, public speaking, and coaching, there’s one mission that runs through everything I do.
In that moment I knew:
AUTHENTIC RESILIENT vibrant DRIVEN EMPOWERING
Contact us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!