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NEW HIGH SCHOOL MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM FORMS IN MORGAN HILL
Bike Therapy organizes a local team for Morgan Hill and Gilroy students
MORGAN HILL, Ca. (February 5, 2019) – High school-aged students in the Morgan Hill and Gilroy area now have another choice in competitive sports with the newly-formed South County Composite Mountain Bike Team, a member of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). The South County Composite already has a dozen high school students signed up, and as many volunteer coaches and ride leaders. As a composite, the team is comprised of full-time students from more than one school in the area and all qualified riders are invited. This is a no-cut sport, so more students are encouraged to join the team to participate as adventure riders or competitive racing.
Training, which began Thursday, January 31st, includes strength-training on Tuesday afternoons and rides on Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings. The season runs February through May and consists of five races throughout Northern California, and a state championship.
Doug Hall, founder and co-owner at Bike Therapy in Morgan Hill, has created this team with the ultimate goal of offering a positive opportunity for kids to gain personal growth through physical effort and competition. “I have wanted to get more kids involved in the NorCal Cycling League for six years, since I watched “Singletrack High,” a documentary about this amazing organization. Cycling is such a big part of this area’s culture, and the league focuses on inspiring excitement about cycling and reaching students who might otherwise not have those competitive opportunities.”
The team’s head coach, Kristi Garrison, was also looking for a way to grow the sport of mountain biking in the area. "As a former High School Athletic Director, teacher, coach, and Division 1 athlete, I intend to utilize my combination of experience in the educational and athletic fields, and combine that with my passion to get as many boys and girls (and adults too!) riding bikes as possible. This is going to be an incredibly fun, educational, and empowering team and activity - I can't wait to get started!” Several teachers and staff from Sobrato and Live Oak High Schools will join Kristi in coaching and leading rides.
Excitement about the new NICA team has brought involvement from around the region: players in the bike industry and high-tech, educators, and the Gilroy Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Council (BPAC). In addition to the team director and head coach, the team has several certified coaches.
Morgan Hill-based Specialized Bicycles is helping to sponsor NICA through their Specialized Foundation. “We are excited to see the local community rally together to make this new NICA team form, especially this program, starting in our backyard and an extension of the Riding for Focus programs we have already started in local schools,” said Ted Theocheung, CEO of The Specialized Foundation. “The Specialized Foundation is delighted to help support and advance youth ridership and progression. From our Riding for Focus middle school cycling programs, we are inspired to build a lifelong passion for cycling for this next generation of riders. NICA high school mountain biking is an excellent program for this rider progression and working with NICA national and the NorCal league we support the generation of this new NICA team formation.”
Part of the Specialized Foundation’s involvement with South County Composite is assisting with fundraising tools and supporting funds to raise funds for start-up expenses, team equipment and scholarships. A link to donate can be found on the team’s web site, http://www.southcountymtb.org. South County Composite can also be found on Facebook and Instagram (@southcountymtb).
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About Bike Therapy: Bike Therapy is a full-service bicycle retail store dedicated to helping people of all ages enjoy the activity of cycling, from finding the right bike and accessories to enjoying the pedaling experience. We aim for a first-class customer experience every time people walk in the store, and offer weekly rides and events to bring the community together and help people find other like-minded cyclists. Clinics and kids’ activities support many local groups focused on raising the next generation of riders. Bike Therapy’s website is www.ridemorganhill.com.
About The Specialized Foundation: The Specialized Foundation uses cycling as a tool for children to achieve academic, health, and social success. Through investments in primary scientific medical research and school-based cycling programs, our mission is to increase accessibility to cycling to aid youth in personal development and education. The Specialized Foundation’s website is www.specializedfoundation.org.
About The NorCal High School Cycling League: Organized in 2001, the NorCal High School Cycling League fulfills NICA’s mission at the regional level, improving the lives of teens and positively impacting communities by providing a high quality, safe and fun interscholastic program based on the principles of strong body, strong mind, strong character, equality and inclusivity. The NorCal League trains and educates teams and coaches in their communities, with the goal of positive experiences for all student-athletes, regardless of ability level. The league’s website is: www.norcalmtb.org.
For more information: www.southcountymtb.org
Contact:
Doug Hall
Team Director
415.640.9574
doug@biketherapy.bike
