A Decade of Paying It Forward: Inside the 10th Annual LA NIÑA Charity Ride
What began as a simple idea rooted in community has grown into one of the most meaningful grassroots events in the mountain riding world. This year marked the 10th Annual LA NIÑA Charity Ride, a milestone that felt less like a finish line and more like a powerful reminder of what can happen when passion, generosity, and shared purpose come together in the mountains.
For founder and organizer Nadine Overwater, the decade mark landed with a mix of disbelief and gratitude.
“This year was a pretty special one. I think that putting this event on the last few years has become a bit of an expectation for me, I don’t really think about it, I just do it. But this year I really felt the love from everyone and how much it is appreciated to create an avenue to get a large crew of folks together in the mountains.”
That appreciation came through in every aspect of the event: from the energy on the mountain to the packed pub afterward, and most notably, in the generosity of the participants. In a single day, the LA NIÑA Charity Ride raised $20,984.76, a number that still leaves Overwater shaking her head.
“It blows my mind how generous everyone is,” she says. “A huge part of this event is seeing how much we can collectively raise in one day.”
A Turning Point Year
Leading into the ride, Overwater had openly shared that this could be the final LA NIÑA Charity Ride. After years of organizing, fundraising, coordinating guides, sponsors, and logistics, the workload had begun to weigh heavy. But something shifted this year.
“It was the turnout, the energy, and the community that changed my perspective,” she explains. “Everyone was so fired up, both on the mountain and afterward. In reality, this event must go on.”
While the future format may evolve – possibly running every two years instead of annually, or bringing more people on board to help distribute the workload – the conclusion was clear.
“THE SHOW MUST GO ON.”
Why These Causes Matter
Each year, the LA NIÑA Charity Ride supports smaller, often underfunded programs which is a deliberate choice rooted in Overwater’s understanding of how difficult it is to keep essential services afloat.
This year’s beneficiaries, Better at Home and Men’s Mental Health Access, were selected for their role in preventing isolation and supporting people who may not otherwise have access to help.
“These two in particular were important to me because they play a key role in helping to prevent isolation for people who need it – and we as mountain people are extremely lucky to have a community and a passion and a means to do it. The original mandate of the Charity Ride was ‘pay it forward’ and I feel like by selecting charities like this we are staying within the motivation behind it.”
A Community That Refuses to Let Go
The overall vibe of this year’s ride was unmistakable. From participants and guides to professional riders traveling from afar and sponsors stepping up in big ways, the message was consistent: LA NIÑA matters.
“This year was exceptional I have to say. I am not sure if it was because I was potentially calling it the last one, but regardless, nobody wanted to see this event go away from the participants to the guides to the pros who travel far and wide as well as all the sponsors who were overly generous this year.”
What stood out most to Overwater was how naturally the support came together.
“It was almost like I didn’t even have to ask for help – it was a given. This meant a lot to me to see how appreciated it is, even when I know we are in a bit of an economic downturn.”
Looking back over ten years, it’s the human connections that stand out the most.
One moment in particular encapsulated everything LA NIÑA represents. During interviews this year, Overwater spoke with two participants who had been attending the ride for seven or eight years. They first met after being grouped together during the event and have since become close friends and regular riding partners.
“That actually puts a little tear in my eye,” she admits.
Another full-circle story comes from Mason Kenyon, who attended the event seven years ago alongside his father, Trevor. Today, Mason has stepped into a leadership role, tailguiding for the ride over the past two years.
“Hearing and sharing these stories – this is what it’s all about.”
The Legacy Moving Forward
If LA NIÑA continues, and all signs point to yes, Overwater hopes its legacy remains rooted in connection, education, and shared respect for the mountains.
“To me the most important thing is bringing riders together in a safe atmosphere – a big one is the value in having a certified guide manage your group for the day and realize the benefit of that.”
Equally important is the sense of equality the event creates within the mountain environment.
“The other is bringing the pros and registrants together in the mountain environment, whether it is someone you have looked up to for years and admired or a new face to you. There are no barriers, we are all in the mountains for similar reasons and for pure love of the sport. This is important to me and this is the legacy.”
After ten years, the LA NIÑA Charity Ride has become far more than a fundraiser. It’s a living example of what a community can build, and sustain, when the goal is bigger than any one person.
And in the mountains surrounding Revelstoke, that legacy is still very much alive.
*all photos by photographer: Aaron Leyland
