Mikayla Martin

Martin was born in Squamish, British Columbia on 8 January 1997.[1] Martin began skiing when she was three years old and competed in slalom skiing events as a young adult. She placed sixth at the 2009 provincial championships and qualified for the 2010 BC Winter Games.[2][3] From 2014 to 2017, Martin competed on the alpine ski team for British Columbia.[4] During these years, Martin raced at the Nor-Am Cup predominately in the giant slalom and super G disciplines while also racing in downhill skiing, slalom skiing and alpine combined. Her best results came in 2015, when she had a top-8 finish at the downhill event at Lake Louise and the alpine combined event in Panorama.[5]

Mikayla in the Hot On Your Heels event, Squamish July 2015

Mikayla (Blue Helmet) racing beside friend and teammate Tiana Gairns

In 2017, Martin became a member of the ladies Canadian Ski Cross team for Alpine Canada in the C&D classes.[6] Martin was renominated for Alpine Canada in 2018 and 2019.[7][8] In ski cross, Martin competed in six events during the 2018–19 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup season. Her best results during the world cup were ninth place in Arosa, Switzerland and sixth place during the second day in Innichen, Italy.[9] In championship events, Martin won gold at the 2018 FIS Freestyle Junior World Ski Championships.[10] The following year, Martin reached the small final at the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships 2019. During the race, Martin crashed and received a Did Not Start placing.[11][12] On 1 October 2019, Martin died from an accident riding her mountain bike in Squamish.[13] Outside of skiing, Martin had certifications in scuba diving and motorcycle riding.[14] Following her passing the community of Squamish came together to build an all levels mountain bike trail called Mikis Magic.