Possibly true, but you only have to look at how much faster some strength training can make you to realise why men are so much faster in DH. Its a strength game when it comes to speed, and men win all day long there..

Possibly a slight factor. But many people take up new sports as adults, esspecially extreme sports.

I ride all the time with my girl friend. We have grown in the sport together, admittedly fuelled by my passion, but I would say she's not that far behind me now in excitement and love for all things mtb. I think girls riding together is a pretty awesome thing really. Unfortnatly the reality is that particularly for DH girls are often slower than guys, and the nature of long tracks means they either get left behind (even if only to the bottom of a run), or the guy holds back to stay at her pace. In the above mentioned sports like surfing, there is room for the male natural athletisism, without it separating them from females. Also I really can't dismiss that for many many girls, the combination of mud, pain, injurys, scars and being scared shitless is all a bit much for them to get used to, it really takes some persevering to build early skill and fitness in this sport, for men this is mostly overcome by natural aggressive and competitive tendencies. I hope ive not sounded too sexist, I would love to see more girls riding and enjoying the sport.

wow, good effort! looks painful

Oh man. I had the idea for those 'wingtip' bar extenderes two years ago. Wish I was an engineer/had any money to follow something like that through :'(