Just as high school mountain biking leagues are gearing up across the country, an elementary school in Lake Placid, NY will become one of the first to offer a mountain bike program for 3rd through 5th graders. The school’s PE teacher, Matt Young, has been working with others to write up grant proposals and create an MTB curriculum in time for a spring launch.
The school will purchase 21 bikes from Rocky Mountain Bicycles and local bike shops are offering discounted helmets and safety equipment for the program. The class will last 3 weeks and will take advantage of the beginner mountain bike trails around the Lake Placid area.
By now we all know the benefits to mountain biking: it’s good exercise, it teaches confidence, and it’s a great way to stay fit and active. With programs like this and IMBA’s “Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day,” the sport should continue to grow and become even more accessible. Who knows, maybe this elementary school program will inspire kids to get their parents into mountain biking!
