Epic Rides events are dedicated to a person or a group of people who’ve made an invaluable contribution to the sport of mountain biking. Generally, these folks have been in the sport for many years, usually multiple decades, but this year’s event dedication recipient for the 2nd Annual Oz Trails Off-Road, the Women of Oz, have only been established for six months. However, in that time the Women of Oz have grown exponentially, making an enormous positive impact on the local Bentonville community.

Founded in January 2019, the Women of Oz exist to promote women’s mountain biking in Northwest Arkansas by creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for all levels to learn or expand mountain biking skills. The group meets the first Saturday of every month, and after six rides, the Women of Oz have grown from 35 female riders to more than 500. How does a group experience such sudden
growth?