Canberra's Caroline Buchanan has ticked off another first in the mountain biking world by winning the first ever FMB World Tour women's slopestyle event.
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The 31-year-old took out the first event of the 2022 FMB World Tour slopestyle at the Highline Mountain Bike Festival in Victoria.
Slopestyle was only added to the FWB tour for women last month in a historic first, with equality promised in prize money to match the men's division.
The two-time Olympian has been an advocate for women in freeride since making the switch from BMX to mountain biking, and was elated when it was added to the tour.
At the time, she said she hoped it allowed young female riders to know there was a future in slopestyle.
"It will definitely help strip away any limiting beliefs women have, and the platform will bring the exposure, support, pathway, and motivation to push the limits for a purpose," she said.
"Women in freeride over the past two years has been the perfect storm for progression. The inclusion of women onto the FMB world stage alongside the men [is] what the women of today and 10 years from now need."
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It adds another milestone to Buchanan's belt, after she became the first woman in history last year to throw a front-flip on a mountain bike.
Queanbeyan rider Mike Ross also competed, and took out silver in the men's slopestyle event.
Riders will have to wait until May for the next slopestyle event at the Zuri Dirt Contest in Switzerland.
Buchanan will likely be hoping to make history again, by continuing her form and taking out the overall 2022 FMB women's tour champion come December.
Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
