OC Women’s Spotlight: Isla O Connor

Isla O Connor

How long have you been cycling?

I started riding on a tag-along bike behind my dad when I was about three years old. Then, when I was around five, he sent me down a steep hill without pedals to help me find my balance and I’ve been chasing steep hills ever since.

How did you get into cycling?

My family used to ride together at the Hydrocut, and then my dad took me to Blue Mountain for my first  taste of downhill (DH) riding. 

What cycling club or team do you ride with?

I ride with ZEP Racing out of Whistler B.C., and I am also a member of the Waterloo Cycling Club.

Where is your favourite place to ride your bike?

There are so many great places to choose from, but my favourite DH trails are 1199 in Whistler and a trail called Dead Dog on Mt 7 in British Columbia which is one of the steepest trails in the world! My famous jump spots are the Bike Ranch in Kamloops and my local indoor park, Joyride 150.

What is your favourite discipline?

My interests vary, but right now I mostly race downhill. When I’m not riding DH, I love hitting dirt jumps or riding the pump track. I really just love riding bikes! I’ve also raced track, XC, BMX and the occasional slope style competition.

Who is your favourite cyclist?

My dad, because he introduced me to biking.

What has been your favourite event in 2026?

I really enjoyed racing at the Lake PLacid and Mont-Sainte-Anne DH World Cups in 2025. It was awesome to ride the new track at Lake Placid. I was especially happy to compete because I had broken my collarbone two months earlier and worried I might miss the opportunity. 

What is something you want to see in the future of cycling?

I’d love to see more young Ontario female riders getting into gravity disciplines.