She survived a rock fall on Mont Blanc, meticulously planned a self-supported bikepacking adventure across remote Argentina, and raced at an elite level on her first go at the Coast to Coast, securing second place in the one-day race. Multisport legend Alison Wilson clearly isn’t afraid of a challenge.
Originally from rural Yorkshire, England, Ali grew up building dens, running around the hills and spending as much time outside as possible. After emigrating to New Zealand, a brief stint in triathlon led her into multisport, trail running and adventure racing.
More than a finish line
Ali doesn’t overthink preparation. Whether she’s racing or heading out on a bikepacking adventure, she trusts what works for her rather than letting outside expectations dictate how she should do things. For racing, that means finding the balance between training enough and not training so much that she forces it or loses the love of it.
Bikepacking is a little less complicated: start riding, get there, and hopefully it gets easier along the way. It’s an attitude that reflects what Ali values in others too. She’s inspired by people who stay true to themselves, work hard, play harder and aren’t driven by the pressures or expectations around them.
Trust the kit, then forget about it
When it comes to gear, good gear should remove distractions rather than create them. It needs to be durable, uncomplicated and designed to do exactly what it says it will do. Most importantly, it needs to become almost invisible: comfortable and efficient enough that you barely notice it until the moment you really need it.
Her testing method is equally straightforward: fill it with the essentials and get outside. Take it down a scree slope, into a river or across a mountain and see what happens.
Despite all her impressive achievements, for Ali, adventure isn’t about collecting results. It’s about dreaming up a mission, figuring out how to make it happen, and having the confidence and skills to go and do it.
