Soaring through the air, however, is not the ultimate attraction of downhill off-road racing, the Adelaide nurse says.

Instead, it’s the camaraderie among fellow female riders that brings Shelly back to competitive international racing, despite the occasional bumps and bruises along the way.

“You definitely get an adrenaline rush coming downhill at speed and hitting the jumps – that’s why we do it,’’ says Shelly, who is racing with the Inside Line Downhill Mountain Bike Club this year.

“But what I love most is the atmosphere – you get a great group of girls together who ride and have fun.’’

Downhill mountain biking is a race against the clock where riders go down mountains and hills at speeds of more than 60km/h.

Riders do a range of tricks and jumps while tackling obstacles, such as trees and step slopes.

RAA is a proud sponsor of the Inside Line Downhill Mountain Bike Club, which has more than 400 members aged from 11 years old and fields between 150 and 200 riders per race.

Shelly, 26, says it would be “awesome’’ to have more girls involved in competitive racing.

“All you need is a decent mountain bike and to get on the Gravity Girls Adelaide Facebook, who organise sessions for any girls who want to race,’’ she says.

“There were definitely a few more female competitors last year and there are lots of different categories for racing.’’

Shelly, 26, says it would be “awesome’’ to have more girls involved in competitive racing.

“All you need is a decent mountain bike and to get on the Gravity Girls Adelaide Facebook, who organise sessions for any girls who want to race,’’ she says.

“There were definitely a few more female competitors last year and there are lots of different categories for racing.’’

Last year she raced in the world downhill championships in Tasmania and New Zealand and has plans to return to compete overseas next year, including races in Portugal and Canada.

“Hopefully I’ll be racing in four rounds of the Enduro World Series next year,’’ she says.

The South Australian Downhill Mountain Bike State Series is held between April and October.