A Vancouver Island filmmaker hopes her documentary Seniors who Shred will inspire people to stay active in their later years.

The film features eight mountain bike riders, ranging from 74 years old to 92 years old, and shows them in action at the Laburnum Bike Trails in Qualicum Beach and the HammerFest trail network in nearby Errington.

B次元官网网址淚 just really wanted to inspire other people, especially seniors, of the importance of staying healthy and active in their senior years,B次元官网网址� said Judy Richardson. B次元官网网址淛ust because you get older, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean to stop playing.B次元官网网址�

Richardson knew some of the riders from the Arrowsmith Cycling Club, while others she met out riding the trails from time to time.

B次元官网网址淲henever I was mountain biking, lots of times IB次元官网网址檇 run into senior riders B次元官网网址� and they were so good and they inspired me so much,B次元官网网址� Richardson said.

She noticed many of the senior mountain bikers had not slowed down over the years, and asked them what kept them going.

B次元官网网址淭hey choose to do it because itB次元官网网址檚 a social thing. They have the club, they go riding together and theyB次元官网网址檝e been riding for a few years now, so they just keep it up,B次元官网网址� Richardson said.

Roy Kregosky, 76, loves mountain biking because it forces him to concentrate 100 per cent on what he is doing.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e just so focused when youB次元官网网址檙e out there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to stay focused because if youB次元官网网址檙e not, youB次元官网网址檙e going to hit that next rock, or hit that next slippery root.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE:

HeB次元官网网址檚 been a serious mountain biker for approximately 25 years, and enjoys the HammerFest network of trails. Both the cardiovascular challenge of riding up hill and the thrill of returning back down keep him coming back to the trails.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still enjoying it as much as I ever did,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f anything, as a senior IB次元官网网址檓 even more involved than I was when I first started out.B次元官网网址�

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Richardson watched a lot of YouTube videos and thought it would be fun to record her bike rides, which she did once she received a GoPro camera for Christmas.

She took a five-day Empowered Filmmaker Masterclass and made a short film about mountain biking. Afterwards she was approved for an amateur filmmaker grant through Telus Storyhive.

Making the documentary was a challenge, Richardson said, and she learned a lot about the technical aspects of her camera.

She had help from her son and nephew, while her partner assisted with the drone shots.

Richardson wanted to highlight the importance of social connection, spending time outdoors and staying active for seniors.

Kregosky said he feels confident on his bike and does not plan on stopping any time soon.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 planning on riding a mountain bike until I no longer can,B次元官网网址� he said.

The documentary, which features riders from Qualicum Beach, Errington and Parksville, was completed earlier this month and will premiere on TELUS Optic TV in late January.