Paving the Way: Shillong’s Anissa Lamare Becomes India’s First Female Downhill Mountain Biker
In the quiet hill city of Shillong, 28-year-old Anissa Lamare has scripted a story that will inspire generations. She is India’s first female downhill mountain biker, a pioneer in one of cycling’s most extreme and male-dominated disciplines. What makes her journey remarkable is not just her skill but the fact that she started in 2015 without professional trails, coaches, or even female competitors in the country.Downhill Mountain Biking: A Sport of Speed and CourageDownhill mountain biking is not for the faint-hearted. The sport involves racing down steep, rugged trails at high speed, often through forests, rocks, and jumps. It demands raw physical strength, precise technical skills, and immense mental endurance. Riders must make split-second decisions to avoid crashes while maintaining high velocity. In India, where the sport is still in its infancy, the challenges are multiplied due to lack of infrastructure and recognition. Lamare had to train on improvised trails, teach herself advanced techniques, and prepare without professional guidance.Breaking Barriers: The Lone Woman RacerLamare’s first taste of competition in India came in 2015, but there was no women’s category. She raced against male riders as the only female participant on the track. Far from being discouraged, this experience toughened her resolve. It also made her realize the bigger fight was not only on trails but also against stereotypes and lack of opportunities for women in adventure sports.Making India Proud on the International StageHer big international breakthrough came in October 2023, when she represented India in the Elite Downhill category at the 28th Asian Continental Mountain Bike Championships in Ponmudi, Kerala. Competing against some of the best riders in Asia, she finished ninth—an impressive debut that signaled India’s arrival on the continental downhill map. She soon followed it up with a silver medal in the Open Women’s category at the Pokhara Enduro Race in Nepal, proving her consistency. Lamare also competed in the EnduroLK race in Sri Lanka and received an invitation to represent Team Al Waal in Oman, highlighting her rising reputation in global mountain biking circuits.Entrepreneurship on Two WheelsAnissa’s story is not just about medals; it is also about building a sustainable ecosystem around mountain biking. In 2021, she co-founded Pedal Compass, an athlete-centric mountain bike shop in Shillong. The venture provides mountain bikes, authentic cycling gear, precision servicing, and even rental e-bikes and e-scooters for tourists exploring the city. By 2023, Lamare took full ownership of Pedal Compass, turning it into a hub for local cycling enthusiasts and a steady source of income that fuels her sporting ambitions. Beyond business, Pedal Compass reflects her deeper vision to create a community for mountain biking in Meghalaya, promote cycling culture, and encourage young girls to enter the sport.A Voice for Women in Adventure SportsLamare’s journey has earned her recognition beyond the cycling community. In 2021, she was featured in Haier India’s national advertisement campaign ‘Perform Big, Silently,’ alongside achievers like mountaineer Arunima Sinha and chess Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli. Her story also found its way into Kopal Goyal’s documentary ‘Project Wild Women,’ which profiled 15 Indian women breaking gender barriers in adventure sports. These platforms amplified her role not just as a competitor but also as a symbol of quiet determination and resilience.What makes Anissa’s journey powerful is the deeply human element behind it. As a former literature student from Shillong, she could have chosen a conventional path, but she opted for one filled with uncertainty and risk. Without financial backing, institutional support, or even proper trails, she built her career and had self-belief. Her decision to balance entrepreneurship with sport shows her determination to be financially independent while chasing her passion. More importantly, her efforts to create biking trails and mentor young girls in the northeast reflect her vision of giving back to the community. She is not just riding for herself; she is riding for the future of Indian mountain biking.A Lone Rider, A Movement in MotionFrom being the only woman on the starting line in Indian races to becoming the country’s first female downhill mountain biker on the international stage, Anissa Lamare has shown that courage can create new paths where none exist. Her medals are important, but her greater legacy lies in paving the way for others. Her journey is a story of silence turned into strength, of grit disguised as grace, and of an individual transforming a personal passion into a community movement. As she continues to race down rugged trails, Anissa Lamare is also steering India’s adventure sports narrative uphill towards recognition, equality, and inspiration.
