A 23-YEAR-OLD elite downhill mountain bike racer has been named as the sixth recipient of the Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture.
Mikayla Parton, from Fort William, was announced as the winner of the award by organisers of the Fort William Mountain Festival.
The award, established in 2015, celebrates adventurous young people, the landscapes they explore and the outdoor pursuits in which they excel.
Parton has risen to the top of the international downhill mountain bike race scene, going from riding her first trail bike in 2015 to placing fifth at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships last year.
She foots the bill for her pro-racing career herself, producing handmade soap and skincare products for The Highland Soap Company. She has also been part of the Nevis Range Ski School team for many years, working as an instructor in the winter months.
Parton said: “I am pretty shocked and very grateful to receive this fantastic award. It’s pretty cool to have my name alongside the likes of Shauna Coxsey [2018].
“It was very unexpected and still is! Thank you so much to the Mountain Festival.”
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