Taylor Gidney: Advocacy in Backcountry Safety

Taylor Gidney, affectionately known as “Mama Gids,” is a vital part of the Valemount, BC, riding community and a passionate advocate for backcountry safety and longevity. As the founder of the “Forever 29” initiative and the “Mama Gids Gives Back” project, Taylor has committed her career to ensuring that the 'Lineage of the Line' emphasizes not just the ability to ride the steepest slopes, but also the importance of education to ensure safe returns home each night.

Taylor’s influence effectively bridges high-performance mountain riding with community riding initiatives focused on safety. Her mission is both straightforward and impactful: to break down barriers to education. Through her efforts, she provides financial support for women and youth to access professional avalanche training, making safety a standard rather than a luxury.

Valemount, BC is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, offering various opportunities for avalanche training and promoting backcountry safety through community riding initiatives.

For Taylor, the backcountry is a family-friendly gathering place that emphasizes backcountry safety. This is best exemplified by her annual 'Forever 29' event at Allan Creek. While many events focus on speed or airtime, Taylor’s gathering highlights community riding initiatives, skill-building drills, and avalanche training, along with beacon searches and youth engagement. She believes that a rider’s 'lineage' begins in childhood, where safety habits are formed long before the first big 'send.'

"We aren't just riding sleds; we are building a community of guardians through our community riding initiatives. Every time we break down a financial barrier for a rider to get their avalanche training, we are protecting the future of this sport and enhancing backcountry safety." — Taylor 'Mama Gids' Gidney

The Safety Benchmark: As a leader in avalanche training and backcountry safety, Taylor brings a specialized lens to the "Respect" pillar. She isn't looking for the rider who takes the most risk; she is looking for the rider who demonstrates calculated decision-making and prepared leadership. The Family Advocate: Taylor understands the "Lineage" mission better than anyone. Her work with children’s avalanche drills makes her the ideal judge for the Throttle Starters (10–13) and Line Sharpeners (14–17) brackets, reinforcing community riding initiatives. Breaking Barriers: Just as she does with "Mama Gids Gives Back," Taylor is looking for the "underdog"—the rider who shows technical grit and a willingness to learn, regardless of their gear or background.