Amaia Maritxalar
(pronouced “Am-I-A Marie-ch-a-lar)

Amaia doesn’t bike, yet. She loves walking in the local hills though. Amaia is a local Basque girl who grew up in San Sebastian before moving to Scotland for a few years. Amaia is the main guide when we head to the towns in search of the best pintxos or sidre!

We are told that she has a good head for figures and is the brains behind the business side of things. Amaia isn’t directly involved in the day to day biking but helps organising accomodation, day trips and dining where her local knowledge and connections mean that we get the best deals possible.

Amaia can often be found hanging around the beach bars telling anyone who will listen that Basque vegetables are the best vegetables in the world.

Doug

Doug has been biking for as long as he can remember, which admittedly is no more that two or three weeks. Doug met Amaia in a seedy club in Edinburgh and fell for her Basque charms.

Doug is the main guide for BasqueMTB and he holds a SMBLA mountain bike leader guiding qualification and has been riding XC and DH around Scotland for years so will ensure that no matter what your level you are properly looked after and kept excited!  He can also offer hints, tips or some coaching to help you get the most out of the challenging local terrain. Doug rides a white Hustler for XC days but will often bring his white STD out for the DH trails and big mountain adventures.

When not biking he can be found climbing or hanging around the beach bars telling anyone who will listen that the surf is too small for him to get his board out and that he’s waiting for the 100 year wave!

BasqueMTB was formed in 2006 when Doug came to visit Amaia’s family in the Basque country and saw the lush green mountains and the wild atlantic sea. The next summer was spent visiting here and exploring the local hills on bike with the help of some local friends and family. It quickly became clear that this was an area with a very special wild beauty and some fantastic mountain biking. Late in 2008 we both moved here and set up the business while developing our extensive trail network and in 2009 we started offering holidays.

If you’d like to know more about us then check out our (slightly tongue in cheek) profiles!