Canadian national ski cross racer passes away in mountain bike accident in Squamish

A promising member of Canada’s national ski cross team has passed away following a tragic accident while mountain biking. 22-year-old Mikayla Martin was riding in her home town of Squamish, B.C. when the accident occurred.

Squamish RCMP released the news at the request of Martin’s family on Wednesday, in a joint statement with Squamish Search and Rescue and the BC Coroners Service.

Alpine Canada released a statement mourning the loss of one of its 22-year-old skier. “We wish to express our most sincere condolences to Christine and James, Mikayla’s parents, as well as her entire family and circle of friends,” said Vania Grandi, President and CEO of Alpine Canada. “Mikayla embodied a love of skiing and passion for ski cross that were boundless and words can’t express how sorely she’ll be missed.”

Update: Martin’s family have created the Mikayla Martin Memorial Fund in her honour. The memorial fund will be used to fund a scholarship for “another promising young athlete who displays those same qualities of passion and exuberance and dedication and camaraderie” that made Martin such a vital part of the Squamish and Canadian ski community. The scholarship will be used to help fund equipment, coaching, travel and training. Donations to the Mikayla Martin Memorial Fund can be made through this GoFundMe campaign page.

Martin switched from alpine racing to ski cross following the 2016-17 season and quickly excelled at the new discipline.

In 2018, Martin earned the title of FIS World Junior Champion at a competition in Cardrona, NZL. From there, Martin moved up to race on the World Cup circuit over the 2019 season. There, Martin continued to excel. She earned two top-10 results, including a sixth place at the World Cup in Innichen, Switzerland.

Martin had qualified to represent Canada on the World Cup circuit again in the 2019-20 season. It would have been her first full World Cup season.

In an e-mail statement to The Chief, Mayor Karen Elliott said “In a town that celebrates mountain adventure, we are heartbroken to hear of the loss of this young life, so filled with talent and promise. On behalf of the District of Squamish, I wish to extend our sincere condolences to Mikayla’s family and friends, and to all Squamish locals who will mourn for her in the wake of this tragic outcome.

“The death of Mikayla is a huge loss for the community of Squamish and an immense loss for her family and friends and our thoughts are with them” Sergeant Sascha Banks said in the Squamish RCMP statement. “It can’t be stressed more that adventuring in Squamish comes with inherent risks.  We can only ask that you take that one more risk assessment, one more second to check the geographics, one more look at your equipment, and one more conversation about what the plan is.  We all want people to live doing what they love.”

In addition to her skiing accomplishments, Martin was an experienced mountain biker. As a junior and u17, Martin raced BC Cup downhill races, including several wins. More recently, Martin had continued to race occasionally in enduro events across the province.

Martin had been riding with another rider on the Slhaney Trail system behind Stawamus Chief Provincial Park when the fatal accident occurred.