If you ride in the Southeast, chances are someone’s asked you, “Hey, do you know Maya?”
Whether you’ve met her in person or spotted her on our website or social media, Maya has been a Cognative MTB Ambassador for the past four years, and we’re proud to have her representing the brand. What might surprise you is that she only picked up mountain biking a few years ago. Her story is one of grit, growth, and unstoppable passion—and now, she’s on the verge of something truly special. Keep reading to learn how you can help her chase this next big dream.
My name is Maya. People call me Maya "Papaya" endearingly. I was born in the heart of the Caribbean, in Puerto Rico—a place filled with rhythm, resilience, and deep-rooted strength. But life, as it does, took me on a wild ride of its own. In 2017, after Hurricane María devastated our island, I moved to the United States with a suitcase full of uncertainty and hope. I didn’t know it then, but my journey toward discovering true confidence and power was just beginning.
Finding Freedom on Two Wheels
January 2020. The world had begun to shut down. Silence filled the streets, and isolation crept into every corner of daily life. But amidst all that fear, I found a bike. A mountain bike. And with it, a freedom I hadn’t known I needed.
Just weeks into riding, I fractured my wrist. It would’ve made sense to stop—to wait, to rest, to quit even. But something in me refused to settle. I strapped on a wrist brace, tightened my grip, and kept riding. Every trail became a statement. Every drop, every climb, every muddy turn whispered a message to myself: You are strong. You belong here. You've got this.
The Girl Who Showed Up
Later that year, a friend saw something in me I hadn’t yet fully embraced—potential. He began training me to build speed, push limits, and go faster. I signed up for my first-ever cross-country (XC) race in the Coconut Cup Series, riding my heavy 35-pound trail bike—a Trek Fuel EX 5. No expectations. Just heart.
I came in second.
So I raced again.
Second again.
That’s when I realized: I wasn’t just showing up—I was becoming. I bought a lighter, faster bike—the 2017 Specialized Epic World Cup—and threw myself fully into training. I raced the Florida State Championship Series. Seven races. Five wins. A permanent spot on the podium.
I became the 2020 Florida State Champion in the Women’s Base category.
Racing, Jumping, Flying
Since then, I haven’t looked back. From XC to endurance to freeriding and Enduro—if it’s on two wheels, I’m in. In 2021, I won the Florida Endurance Series. In 2022, I shifted gears to freeriding, winning multiple jump jams and flying through the air with joy. In 2023, I became the overall champion in the Arkansas Enduro Series for the E-Bike Women’s Category. And in 2024, I took 1st place in the Red Bull Whip Off at the Gravity National Championships.
Each event, each race, each ride was more than a competition—it was a lesson in self-belief.
Confidence Is Learned on the Trail
To the young girls and women reading this: I want you to know something deeply true—confidence isn’t something you're born with. It’s something you build. Just like muscle. Just like skill. It’s shaped every time you choose to show up for yourself. Every time you fall and get back up. Every time you push through fear and doubt.
Mountain biking gave me a voice when I felt silent. It gave me control when life was chaotic. It gave me strength when I felt weak. It taught me that the only limit that exists is the one we place on ourselves.
You Belong Here Too
Even when I was just starting out, riding ragged over the trails, fellow women riders and young girls would stop me to say they follow me on Instagram—and that I’d inspired them to start riding or get back on the bike.
I’ve heard heartwarming stories of female riders overcoming not just fear on the trail, but gaining confidence in other aspects of their lives—work, relationships, and community. That’s become my most powerful fuel: becoming a better example of how far we can go.
I Need Your Help to Make a Dream Happen
Just like so many of the brave women who’ve asked me for help with their riding technique, I’m now asking you for something I rarely do—but right now, I feel compelled.
I’ve been invited to two major women’s freeride events this July and August—one of which is sponsored by Red Bull. These are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to ride alongside some of the best women in freeride. But more than that, they’re my biggest opportunity yet to represent the progress we’ve made as a riding community. This is my chance to show fellow women riders that we can aim high—and hit those marks. But I need your help covering the costs.
As a woman born in Puerto Rico who only started riding five years ago, this is a huge milestone for me. And when I say me, I mean us—every woman and girl who’s ever stopped me on the trail to say something kind, unknowingly giving me the encouragement I needed to keep going.
I want to show up, ride hard, and help pave the way for more women in freeride.
Let’s Ride!
This sport changed my life. It gave me purpose, community, identity, and joy. And I want to help prove it can do the same for you.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re not brave enough, strong enough, or just not enough... get on a bike and hit the trail. Ride with fire and fearlessness. Because on a bike, you don’t have to be the fastest or the best—you just have to be you: persistent and authentically you.
Mountain biking isn’t just for adrenaline junkies or pro athletes—it’s for you. It’s for every woman who wants to reclaim her confidence, redefine her limits, and ride into the woman she’s meant to be.
So let’s ride. Not to compete. Not to win. But to prove to ourselves, every day on the trail, that we are strong, capable, and free to ride unapologetically.
If you can help, I’ve started a GoFundMe to raise $3,500, which will cover travel logistics, registration fees, and food for both events. I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t truly need support right now. If you can contribute—even a small amount—or share the link with someone who might be able to help, I’ll be beyond grateful.
*GoFundMe is closed, thanks for helping Maya meet her goal!