Sweet Riders

Behind Sweet Riders

Karey Watanabe, founder and coach of Sweet Riders, was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta and calls Crowsnest Pass, Alberta home these days. Her journey to Crowsnest Pass had a few turns, but well worth where she's at now.

After studying at University of Alberta and University of British Columbia in Vancouver Karey caught the travel bug moving to Japan post an ACL knee repair surgery, due to a University Intramural soccer tournament injury. Her surgeon at the time told her that her soccer career was over and to take up swimming or cycling. Since she was already swim team captain in high school it was time to try something new. She bought a mountain bike and took it to Japan to continue knee rehabilitation. Upon arrival in Japan, she was introduced to the mountain bike scene, and within first year became a sponsored mountain bike rider and never looked back.

Several years later, Canadian racing friends enticed her into getting coaching certifications and thus Sweet Riders was born. Sweet Riders was run in Japan for several years, and after 23 years of living and working there, she decided it was time to move back to Canada. Karey chose The Crowsnest Pass to stay true to her Albertan roots, even though she had many offers to relocate to B.C. Her dream is to help Albertan Youth to become future Mountain Bike World Cup Champions and/or Olympic Medalists!

Services Provided

Sweet Riders offers mountain bike and fat bike instruction and tours to ages 4 and up and to all levels of riders, 4 seasons of the year.

Bring your own bike or free bikes are available for Sweet Riders sessions only. Alplenland Blairmore rents mountain bikes and fat bikes as well.

GIVING BACK

Sweet Riders volunteers to lead the United Riders of Crowsnest ladies weekly group rides and also the weekly youth rides. We love to help our community out by spreading our passion of riding bikes in a fun and safe environment. We also help out on our annual trail maintenance days to keep our trails safe and up to IMBA standards.