High school sports. When you hear that term what do you think? Football, baseball, basketball, track, and volleyball? How about wrestling, tennis, swimming, and lacrosse? Soccer anyone? Well, if some folks out there get their way, you’ll be adding mountain biking to this list….maybe at the top of it, depending on where you live. With there being so many things going on at school, the use of School management system transforms schools into smart schools, as well as monitoring and running events smoothly. It then becomes easier to keep on track with everything that goes on, even the sporting events.
In fact, in Northern California, high school mountain biking is really taking root. Wanting to get into your high schools mountain biking team but you’re not sure which bike to buy? Sites like https://mountainbikereviewer.com/ can help tremendously.
Back in 2001, a man with a vision for a high school mountain bike league started a team at Berkley High. His name is Matt Fritzinger. His team needed competition, and several surrounding high schoolers came to compete in semi-organized teams. Now the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League boasts over two dozen organized high school cycling teams that compete in events, attend skills camps, and learn how cycling can lead to a life-long love for cycling that will benefit their health, raise awareness of their environment, and promote healthy relationships with others.
One of the newest teams formed in the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League is the Trojan High School Mountain Bike Team headed up by Coach Mark Ferry. Coach Ferry sent us the following story detailing the teams beginnings and recent successes. And check this out, out of the 14 riders he has on the Trojan team, 13 are riding 29 inch wheeled bikes. But before we get into that, check out the following story………
TROJAN MOUNTAIN BIKE RACERS WIN MEDALS IN LEAGUE OPENER
First Race for Newly Formed Team
March 8, 2010 – Eleven of the fourteen Oak Ridge High School student athletes participated in the Central Coast Invitational mountain bike race held in Monterey, CA over the weekend, with three Trojans earning medals for their winning efforts in their first-ever interscholastic bike race. Racing as the “Trojans High School Mountain Mountain Bike Composite Team“, which is not officially recognized by Oak Ridge High School, Maren Cosens took 1st place in the Junior Varsity girls division, Cody Kaiser earned 3rd place in the Varsity boys division, and Kyle Beasy grabbed 5th place in the Junior Varsity boys division.
Some members of the Trojan High School Mountain Bike Team (L to R) Parker Eide (sophomore), Brendan Worsley (sophomore), Matt Decker (sophomore), Scott Derksen (assistant coach), Mark Ferry (coach), Maren Cosens (Junior), Amie Ferry (assistant coach), Coach Ferry’s children (McKenzie and Taylor), to the right of Amie is Reid Lionakis (Senior), Doug Cosens (proud father of Maren) photographer: Mark Taylor
This season opening race, which kicked-off the NorCal High School Cycling League’s 9th season, featured nearly 500 racers representing more than 40 high schools across Northern California. It was the first time the Trojan cyclists were able to see how they measured up against other high school racers in the region. It was a big event, with lots of participants and spectators watching on. In order to raise more awareness for the event, the organizers made sure to look into flagpole installation to allow them to display large promotional flags around the site. That would catch people’s attention and spread the word about future events. Flagpoles can be seen from afar, meaning that more people will end up seeing the message on the flag.
“It was a really exciting and fun experience,” said Cosens after beating her field of 32 girls by nearly one minute on the 12 mile, JV cross-country course. “I learned a lot during the race that will help me prepare for the rest of the season.”
Maren Cosens powers her way to a first place in the Junior Varsity Girls division aboard her Fisher Mamba 29″er.(photo:Mark Ferry)
Cosens, who also runs cross country and track for ORHS, had never ridden a mountain bike until early December 2009. She credits her cross-training and coaching for her early season success. “Our coaches have been great,” said Cosens. “They have helped me with my bike skills a lot and they make the club fun.”
Kyle Beasy drops in on his Sette 29″er in the first NorCal High School Cycling League event of 2010.(photo: Wayne Shen)
The Trojans Mountain Bike Club was formed in the Fall of 2009 under the guidance of El Dorado Hills resident, Mark Ferry, who saw the opportunity to involve more youth in a sport he’s been passionate about for more than 25 years. “Our team is really coming along great and Sunday’s race shows we are off to a fantastic start,” said Ferry. “It’s very rewarding to see each of these kids excel in both skill and dedication in such a short period of time. We are hopeful that the high school district will recognize our self-funded mountain bike club in the coming season.”
Scott Folwarkow, father of Freshman racer Dan Folwarkow and JV racer Rick Folwarkow agrees with Ferry. “This was an eye-opening weekend,” said the proud father. “I saw high school teams with 50+ riders. I think that’s more than some football programs. The enthusiasm these kids have for mountain bike racing is contagious; my Freshman son is really excited about the team and being able to race the next few years for his high school.”
The Trojans will be back in action again on March 21st as the second race of the high school series heads to their home track in Granite Bay. The Trojan High School Mountain Bike Team goes into this event as the #1 ranked team in Division 2.
To learn more about the Trojans mountain bike club, go to www.trojanmtbracing.com.
Twenty Nine Inches asked Coach Ferry why so many of his Trojan mountain bikers were riding 29″ers. He had the following answer: ” I think it was two things, myself and one of my assistant coaches (who is fast) Tom Hartman (Stumpjumper 29) ride 29ers and the kids know who is winning and when they see the top racers winning on 29ers their decision is made. Kids are smart and they want every technical advantage they can get.” Coach Ferry rides a Santa Cruz Tall Boy. You can find his thoughts on that bike in our post here.
We can’t help but think that not only will this sort of sport catch on in more places across the nation, but that it will end up being beneficial to these youths health and well being far beyond their high school years. It can’t hurt the prospects for future American mountain bikers to be more competitive internationally either if mountain biking as a sport becomes more prevalent at the high school level. Finally, we will be interested to see how this will affect racing and 29’ers in the years to come, especially if 29″ers prove to be as successful in high school mountain biking as the Trojan High School Mountain Bike Team are showing them to be.
Twenty Nine Inches would like to thank Coach Mark Ferry for contributing to this post. Good luck on the rest of your season! And if you’re interested, check out Things to do in Whistler.
Very cool. There is a local HS team that I run into all the time in my local hills. Those kids are having a blast every time I see them.
Bikes are good for you and kids need all that they can get!
grannygear
I just saw the El Cerrito High School team buzz by my house just a few days ago.. Nice to see… Wish it was around when I was in high school.
I wish mountain bikes existed when I was in high school! 😉
That’s awesome…
Thanks for bringing this article up. I was turned on to mountain biking by a cardio class I took in college. Increasing exposure to the sport is fantastic.
A big concern I would have is this becoming sort a rich kids’ sport because of the intensive equipment requirements and the obvious advantage the lighter, more expensive bikes provide. That’s not really an issue with running, soccer, football, baseball, etc. I’m assuming that at this point the teams are what we use to call “club” sports, so they are school sponsored, but not governed by the state high school sports governing body, in this case the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). I think for mountain biking to expand into a “mainstream” sport run by CIF (or whatever applicable state governming body), there would need to be some fairly restrive technical requirements, ala NASCAR, to ensure competitiveness and keep it accessible to less affluent districts/students. Maybe something like bikes have to be hardtail and weigh no less than 20 lbs to keep less expensive bikes competitive. It would be great if some big companies like Trek and Speciallized stepped in to provide equipment or at least help schools defray the cost of getting teams started. What an incredible oppurtunity to build brand loyalty and gain customers for life. Something like that would probably have to happen for the sport to get beyond the “club” niche and really expand. But it would probably be worth it for the bicycle industry in the long run to really get behind this.
@John B
I understand that Specialized has some support in place for HS teams like this. I don’t know the details, but it is something worth checking into.
I know on the last HS team ride, I showed a small group of them (including a MTB Mag Editor of note) a new local trail. There was this kid on a steel hardtail, geared bike, no sus fork, canti brakes. He was ON IT and giving up very little to anyone.
Very cool to see.
grannygear
@John B.
I agree with your comments on trying to keep the sport more open to all competitors and less about spending cash. With thier parents support, they can ride thier ueber-light, high tech bike when they are not racing; but when racing against kids from across town, or across state, it has to be on a more cost effective ride. Otherwise, you won’t have as much spreading of the sport. It may never get to the really poor districts, but at least it won’t be only in the well off districts. Living and riding in rural South Carolina with it’s educational “corridor of shame,” this is definitely a concern.
Limit the platform to XC and Dual Slalom and I think it would be easier for the industry to get behind this and provide good, solid, age appropriate bikes. Hurry up, too! My son is 9.
@all
Interesting thought…make a singlespeed rigid class. Nothing is cheaper to run and put together. Converting old 26ers with tensioners or Ebay for used Redlines or Karate Monkeys.
Especially if they are coming from ratty old BMX bikes.
Just a thought.
grannygear
This is great to hear! I often wonder why I didn’t get involved in cycling during high school. I’m very happy to hear that this sort of thing is out there, and I hope that the industry supports it (or continues to support it). It’s a great opportunity for everyone involved!
FYI, we have started working on a similar program here in Michigan which I am coordinating. We will be following many of the same rules and guidelines established in the California series’, which is soon to be in Colorado as well. Those are being run under the National Interscholastic Cycling Association and for now we will be independent.
SS’s are expressly prohibited in the league races due to concern of potential knee damage to students. They also have GI restrictions, similar to those found in junior road and track competition at USAC races.
@steveK
Ah, I thought about the knee thing, but I am kinda skeptical about that. Still, lawyers, etc. What is a GI restriction?
grannygear
In junior road racing, gears are limited, for which ever reason. Singlespeed, and a high minimum bike weight would certainly help make the competition low-threshold. A 25lb singlespeed is VERY raceable on all but the most alpine courses. Maintanance, replacing parts, parents will understand. Hey, with some cool sponsors, costs could REALLY be minimized.
A local club to me owns (geared) bikes, dozens, in litle kids sizes. Sign up, and they’ll get you one. They just like to promote the sport that way. This clubs does show up to races with dozens of preteen racers.
Highschool sports of any kind seem to be anglosaxan-specific. I’ve never seen any of it. Gym class, the one class you can skip without problems, yeah.
If the sport of your choice is coached, I kinda envy not having been in such an environment. I only really found out about my competitive talent for cycling at 19.
I was fortunate enough to be involved in a mtb program in Maine(Camden Hills Regional). The program is 10+ years old. 9 state chamionships and a national champion. For those looking for a model look east. I’m tired of hearing about California inventing mtbn’ again.
In reply to some of your comments about the high school program. Cost is an issue but as a high school coach, but I have found it to be similar to other high school sports. Most sports require special individual coaching and the school pays so little nowadays towards the programs. One thing about cycling is that light bikes make kids a little better but having 30 kids riding on the team at all levels, genetics play a far larger role. Specialized and Trek sponsor the Nor Cal League and the teams can get pro deals on bikes which helps tremendously.
As far as single speeds, they are great for riders whose knees have developed but not for kids. I like the 29ers for my riders. They are forgiving and help the kids learn momentum. If you would like additional info on High School racing check out http://www.nationalmtb.org
See you on the trail.
Well, off topic of the original article….but I have to wonder about the knee thing. I have to think about all those kids on BMX bikes and only one gear between them. The difference? Hills? I pedaled up a lot of hills as a kid and so have countless others. Knees are fine (for an old guy).
Well, I don’t want to hijack the article and its good intent. This should be another discussion for another day. Carry on.
grannygear
GT – great article for 29inches. Good break from the norm. Colorado has a blossoming high school MTN Bike league – taking queues from California’s model. Thanks for the refreshing story!
ON the Road, the knee thing is also offered as a reason for limited gears. But those only work on the flats. On a hill, the junior can ride up as agreevice as (s)he likes. Over-loading knees could be easier prevented by forcing kids to use a relatively steep seat position. Thy to mash a steep gear that way, you’ll stand up out of the seat anyway. Steep seat angles work great for me on SS’s. I get to spin the flats more easily, thus select a lighter gear, and ride that up the hills while out of the seat. You can’t prevent a rider from trying hard, gears or no gears. For me, I end up only a few percent slower over a lap, sometimes even faster, on the SS bike. SS is not all about working the big gear. That brings you nothing if you can’t spin a too light gear.
The way the courses are designed could aid in making the races not too testing for the knees, IF AT ALL that is a factor we should wory over anno 2010. If you read around, you’ll hear of singlespeeders getting rid of knee aches after getting rid of their gears.
I don’t get the knee thing. Think of all the other popular high school sports, football, basketball, soccer, etc. Those kids are constantly making direction changes while running, what does that do to their knees? How many knee injuries do you see in high school sports now?
I think its great that high school Mtn biking is picking up some momentum. As pretty much everyone here, I wish it had been around when I was in high school.
Concerning the limiting of bike weight and expense, its just like any other high school sport, some kids have the super nice shoes, and some have the cheap walmart kicks. I personally think you can’t over regulate and limit something like this. Its important that the kids learn at a young age that it isn’t about the bike, its about the rider.
Let the rich kids ride the 6k full sussies with XX and let the less well off kids ride the $600 schwinn. In the end the better rider will still win.