Before there were podiums, there was passion – a passion that never faded, only evolved. Lorraine Blancher’s legacy began on the mountain bike race circuit, where she reached the top of the podium. Today, her impact runs deeper than race results. Still riding strong, she dedicates herself to coaching and mentoring women, building skills, confidence, and a culture of responsible riding in the Columbia Valley.

Izzy Lynch’s competitive edge was forged on race-courses as a child, but when her parents bought a backcountry lodge, her path shifted from gates to big powder. She traded start lists for wide-open terrain, carving a life rooted in freeskiing, hiking, and storytelling. Calling Revelstoke home, she continues to explore the mountains and partners with her sister to capture the spirit of backcountry life on film. For both women, it’s no longer about winning. It’s about empowering others to find their own strength on the trail and in the mountains within the Birthplace of Adventure.

LORRAINE BLANCHER

Lorraine is a true force in the mountain biking world. A former Canadian National Downhill Champion, Masters World Champion and Crankworx Whip Off World Champion, her love for riding has taken her from the podium to some of the most inspiring trails on the planet. 

After a successful racing career, Lorraine shifted her focus to sharing her passion with others. As a guide and coach, she’s played a key role in women’s mountain biking camps and retreats, helping riders build confidence, skills, and a deeper connection to the sport.  

Today, Lorraine is a cornerstone of the Columbia Valley mountain biking community. From trail and infrastructure development to her marketing involvement with Bike Toby Creek Adventures and Toby Creek Adventures, her work continues to shape the region’s riding future.  

Whether she’s riding, coaching, or exploring remote trails in search of adventure, Lorraine is driven by a genuine desire to grow the sport – especially for women, while championing sustainable, responsible mountain biking. Her impact is felt on the trails and in the community that rides them. 

“We’re all very fortunate to play (and live) in such an incredible place. When surrounded by distant peaks, I’m in constant awe. I feel incredibly small and lucky”, shares Lorraine. “I feel grateful to be here, experiencing nature in its majestic form”.

IZZY LYNCH

Izzy began skiing at the age of two in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. While her early focus was on ski racing, her backcountry experiences at the family-owned Amiskwi Lodge, near Yoho National Park, fostered a lasting passion for backcountry and freeride skiing.  

Over the years, Izzy evolved from the race course to the intensity of big-mountain powder skiing. Since relocating to Revelstoke in 2008, she has become a defining force in the outdoor industry – blending elite backcountry expertise, coaching, motherhood, and filmmaking into a legacy that’s as dynamic and powerful as the terrain she skis.

Her collaborative efforts with athletes and volunteers are exemplified by co-founding the Live It! Love It! Foundation, which supports individuals with physical and mental challenges in accessing outdoor adventures.  And, from 2018-2021 was the Program Director for POW Canada, where she played a key role in mobilizing the outdoor and the ski community around climate action. 

“Living in the mountains with trails out my back door and a ski hill so close by, makes work-life balance a lot easier, I can get out for a trail run or quick ski before work. Being in touch with nature daily fuels my creativity and motivation.  My love for nature definitely shows up in my floral designs (owner of Left Field Floral)”, shares Izzy. 

Building on valuable past experience – Izzy and her sister Zoya founded their own successful venture, Lynch Sisters Film. Together with their family, they produced the acclaimed short documentary, Kindred, which powerfully chronicles the journey of her parents becoming backcountry lodge owners. While, their film Motherload celebrates passing down a passion for mountain adventures to the next generation.  

“As a parent – it feels like there is a real village mentality in our community, the people, programs, and infrastructure in place allow our kids to grow and learn in a community that is supportive, engaging and enriching in so many ways. It is amazing! As a business owner – it feels like our community genuinely supports local, everyone is cheering each other on”, adds Izzy. 

Cover photo of Lorraine Blancher, mountain biking at Toby Creek Adventures, photo by Marty Clemens.