News
New Washington Student Mountain Bike League For Middle and High School Students
October 29, 2012
Evergreen MTB Alliance
Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance’s new youth league to launch in November with a focus not just on bike riding and racing, but also leadership skills and environmental stewardship.
Seattle, WA – The non-profit Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance has recently hired Lisa Miller, former Executive Director of the Washington High School Cycling League, as Executive Director of their new Washington Student Mountain Bike League. Unlike many youth mountain biking leagues, which cater solely to high school aged children, the Evergreen League will also be open to middle school students.
The new league will officially launch its 2013 season with a coaching conference currently scheduled for early December 2012, team practices beginning in January, a student leadership summit in February, and a series of races next March through May. More events for summer and fall 2013 are to be announced. League registration opens December 3rd.
While the league will hold races, competitions are just one component, and kids do not have to race to participate in the league and join in on rides. A large part of the focus will be on building leadership skills and helping older participants become mentors to the younger members; as well as empowering the kids to take ownership, and be stewards of, the trails, forests and environment.
In two years, the NICA sponsored Washington High School Cycling League had grown to 22 teams representing 44 different high schools – showing a clear demand for this type of activity in an era when extracurricular programs are regularly being cut from school budgets. “I’m really excited about the opportunity that joining with Evergreen provides to expand the league to middle schools, and get younger kids started riding mountain bikes,” states Miller. “Cycling teaches all of us that goal setting, persistence and tackling one mile at a time can lead to unimaginable achievements – a great lesson to learn at a young age.”
“Evergreen has seen tremendous growth in our kids mountain bike classes, and with the uncertain future of the NICA league in Washington, we saw a need to offer young riders more opportunities to participate in the sport,” states Evergreen’s Executive Director, Glenn Glover. “Additionally, the stewardship component of the new league is a perfect fit with the work we already do; after all, you’re never too young to learn the value of giving back.”
Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance currently offers classes for youth and adults, and has been a major participant in the annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day event, which saw more than 180 children participate this year. The organization also engages in advocacy work; and in 2011 donated more than 7000 volunteer hours to maintain trails around the state.
For more information about the Evergreen Washington Student League visit washingtonleague.org
For more information about Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance visit evergreenmtb.org
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About
Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance
Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance is Washington State’s largest mountain bike organization, with more than 8,000 followers, and is dedicated to trail maintenance and building, advocacy and education. Created in 1989 as a nonprofit, grassroots solution to local trail networks closing to riders, Evergreen has since grown to become a trusted partner with public land managers across the state, contributing more than 7,000 hours of volunteer labor in the past year alone. The organization is internationally known for creating both Colonnade and Duthie Hill mountain bike parks.
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