Written by Brett SHARE TWEET

Summer 2018 Audiobooks For Families

Audiobooks For Families: Moving along, we certainly hope you will be spending a lot of time in the car this summer with your family as you add to your book of mountain biking adventures. Need more suggestions on audiobooks for road trips with kids? Take a look at some other MTB with Kid Audiobook Suggestions

What audiobooks have you enjoyed with your kids? Please leave a comment below.

Fantastic Mr. Fox – written and read by Roald Dahl

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO SAMPLE

Author Roald Dahl himself narrated his tale of clever Mr. Fox, whose escapades were turned into a movie by Wes Anderson. In order to keep his wife and children fed, Mr. Fox comes up with a plan. This plan involves complicated raids on a series of local farms owned by three men named Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. The farmers aren’t exactly smart or nice. Thus it is no surprise when they trace Mr. Fox back to his burrow (under a local tree) and begin to dig up his home in order to get rid of the “menace” once and for all.

As you can imagine, chaos ensues. Mr. Fox teams up with his neighbors, a number of other displaced animals, in order to get their revenge. The audio version of Fantastic Mr. Fox runs for one hour, making it the perfect thing to listen to on shorter car trips. Although the book is designed for kids aged nine through 13, any child who’s seen the movie may be interested in the original version. Both adults and children will get a kick out of Mr. Fox’s antics.

To Kill A Mockingbird read by Sissy Spacek

To Kill A Mockingbird – Written by Harper Lee and read by Sissy Spacek

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO SAMPLE

Heads up on this one. Just in case you’re not familiar with this book, it contains strong language, violence, and explicit material. We are listening to this as a family with our 14 year old and 11 year old. This tale of the south in the 1930s follows the narrator, a six-year-old girl nicknamed Scout (real name Jean Louise Finch). Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer appointed to defend an African American man accused of a crime. Harper Lee was inspired to write the book based on her own experiences growing up in a small town in Alabama during the same time frame.

Although Scout and her brother, Jem, and new friend, Dill, spend the summer coming up with theories about their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley. The lighter story is undercut with information on the trial and race relations during the time of Jim Crow in the south. This audiobook, which spans 12 hours, is read by Sissy Spacek. Her southern drawl is a perfect complement to the tale. Although To Kill A Mockingbird is on many school’s reading lists and is designed for older children, the young narrator may draw in the interests of younger children.

Peter And The Starcatchers read by Jim Dale

Peter And The Starcatchers – written by Ridley Pearson, Dave Barry and read by Jim Dale

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO SAMPLE

Peter and the Starcatchers is written by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry. This story takes place prior to the events of Peter Pan. Thanks to the many movie adaptations, most children are familiar with the story. Characters include the boy who didn’t want to grow up, his pirate nemesis, and his friend, Tinkerbelle. Peter and the Starcatchers contains adventures, told from a slightly different point of view.

In this tale, Peter is marooned on an island with his newfound accomplice Molly. They try to protect an important treasure from roving bands of thieves of pirates. The treasure is highly sought after, as it consists of “starstuff,” not the typical gold and jewels found in similar tales. This audiobook version of the story is almost 9 hours long and narrated by Jim Dale. Your children – who are probably already aware of Peter Pan – will be thrilled to hear his origin tale. Plus, there are three additional sequels to this book, so if it’s a hit, you can add those to your car trip list.

Inkheart – written Cornelia Funke and read by Lynn Redgrave

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO SAMPLE

A visit from an unusual stranger starts off this tale of a 12-year-old girl getting swept up on an exciting adventure. Unbeknownst to the protagonist, Meggie, her father, Mo, who she knows only as a bookbinder, is a Silvertongue. This means that he can make fictional characters emerge from books. The unusual stranger, known as Dustfinger, is actually from a book called Inkheart (yes, the same name as the book itself, creating an interesting parallel) that Mo read to Meggie.

As the story goes on, Meggie finds out more about her father’s amazing ability from him. As it turns out, whenever a character comes out of a book, something must go back in. And their trip is interrupted by Capricorn, who has a sinister plan. As they try to stop Capricorn, both you and your children will recognize some of the characters that appear, thanks to Mo’s ability. Inkheart, written by Cornelia Funke, is designed for children aged eight and up who love a good fantasy tale. Lynn Redgrave narrates the 15-hour long audiobook.

The True Blue Scouts Of Sugar Man Swamp read by Lyle Lovett

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp – written by Kathi Appelt and read by Lyle Lovett

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO SAMPLE

Lyle Lovett narrates the audio version of The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp. Kathi Appelt, a Newbery Award nominee and National Book Award finalist wrote the book. The book stars two raccoons named Bingo and J’miah. The raccoons are the newest members of a group called the Official Sugar Man Swamp Scouts. The Sugar Man himself has been asleep for over 40 years, although rumors of his love for sugar cane spurred his name and the aforementioned scouting group.

The group is normally tasked with taking care of the swamp, keeping things in line for all of the animals who live in it. This changes when a human named Jaeger Stitch decides that he wants to use the swamp for his own purposes and turn it into an alligator-wrestling theme park. It seems as though the best to defend the swamp from him (and a group of feral hogs who also cause trouble) would be to wake up the Sugar Man. The audiobook version of The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp is almost six hours long and is designed for kids aged eight to 12.

Written by Brett SHARE TWEET

The Outlaw Bike Team

Tyson Henrie is a tall, soft-spoken guy who enjoys the best Utah’s outdoors has to offer. During the winter months, he’s on skis coaching at Utah’s Sundance Resort. But as soon as the trails dry out, he’s riding mountain bikes with a group of young girls and boys as the head coach of the Outlaw Bike Team. The Outlaw Bike Team is a kids’ mountain biking team for young riders aged 7 to 18. The name of the game for these groms is gravity-based riding which focuses on the following disciplines of mountain biking: all-mountain, enduro, downhill, dirt jumping and freeride.

Based along the southern end Wasatch Front in the Utah Valley area, the group consists of three separate age/skill levels – MegaShredders, MegaSenders, and the competition team.

Three young mountain bikers near Virgin, Utah. — Luke Mallen, Alex Mallen, and Finley Kirschenmann scope a landing at the old Red Bull Rampage site near Virgin, Utah. Photo by JB Liautard.

By teaching riders the proper techniques for body positioning, braking, and cornering, members of the Outlaw team build a foundation of skills upon which advanced techniques can be applied. Riders on the team who can execute the basics with proficiency are encouraged to increase their skill sets and move on to racing where the trails become technical due to features such as the grade of slope, table and gap jumps, ladders and bridges, rock gardens, and switchback turns.

Dillon Flinders hucks a double on A Line in the Whistler Bike Park — Outlaw's Dillon Flinders tilts the Whistler Bike Park sideways as he streaks down A Line.

Dillon Flinders freeriding in Virgin, Utah — Southern Utah is a frequent destination for this pack of young mountain bikers. Photo by Steven Lloyd.

One thing that makes Outlaw Bike Team notable is the fact that the coaches are experienced, competitive mountain bikers themselves. This provides them with the perspective for guiding the kids. However, sometimes the coaches’ own competitions take a backseat. Tyson says, “With so many kids it’s really hard for me to race. I’m too competitive. So if I can’t give it everything – it’s not worth it for me. It’s tough for me to get my training in with all the kids.”

Mountain biker Finley Kirchenmann takes flight above the Wasatch Front — Outlaw team rider Finley Kirchenmann launches across a gap near Provo, Utah. Photo by Tyson Henrie.

The Outlaw Bike Team’s Three Different Levels Of Mountain Biking

The Outlaw Bike Team consists of three different levels of riders. The first of them, the MegaShredders, consists of kids aged 7 and up. Kids on this level don’t need to have a full suspension bike, but in order to race, they do need to have a USA Cycling License and a full complement of gear. According to Tyson, “We have multiple, various levels of the team. So for the younger, less experienced kids, it’s not a requirement to compete. If they want to, it’s available.”

The next level up, MegaSenders, is the intermediate group. This team has built upon the mountain biking fundamentals needed in order to move up a level and begin competing. Members of this team (which is also for kids age seven on up) need to adhere to the same regulations and licensing requirements as the MegaShredders. Fall training at this level is available for riders who want to continue to enhance their skills.

As the kids move up through the team levels, the main goal is safety and confidence. Tyson tells us, “Just focusing on those basics have helped them a lot. I’ve noticed the kids are much more comfortable in the air – and they get that part. But for them to ride a technical trail, fast, is a whole different story. That just goes back to the basics of getting them solid in the fundamentals so they can feel comfortable riding anything. My job is to hold them back slightly without letting them know that I’m holding them back so they can slow it down a little bit and be perfect, and then they can add the speed later on.”

Finally, there’s the competition team. This is the team’s highest level. It’s for kids aged nine and up, all of whom must have graduated from MegaShredders and show that they have advanced mountain biking skills. Members of this team need to have a full suspension bike and train often.

Although actual mountain bike training for the competition team lasts from March to November, many of the kids train year round. Outlaw has created an additional training program for them that consists of weight lifting and running. In addition to being a skilled coach in mountain biking and skiing, Tyson also has years of experience with coaching kids in the gym. “The kids can join our training program. They pretty much go year round. We create better athletes that way.”

Alex Mallen rides near Virgin, Utah — Alex Mallen steps up near Virgin, Utah. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Dillon Flinders - Virgin, Utah — Utah has been home to the Red Bull Rampage freeride event since its inception. Here is Dillon Flinders getting sky-high at the original venue. Photo by Tyson Henrie.

The Outlaw Bike Team At The 2018 Sea Otter Classic

You can read coach Henrie’s blog article about his team’s adventures at the 2018 Sea Otter Classic here. All the riders who traveled from Utah and raced earned valuable experience at one of the country’s largest mountain biking events.

Developing Friendships Through Teamwork

One of the most important parts of coaching the Outlaw Bike Team’s competition level is the teamwork that develops between the kids. “A lot of them will work really hard to help out their teammates and bring them along. It’s been really cool to see. They have upped their game because they love the sport so much and they enjoy being a part of it. But they’ve also learned that they can do what they previously didn’t think they could do,” said Tyson.

Parent Involvement

Many of the parents of Outlaw Bike Team’s riders are very involved in the sport. Some of them are experienced mountain bikers themselves. “The parents are a huge part of the team. Biking is a great opportunity for the parents to be involved. A lot of times the dads ride with us. Unless I ask them not to! They are extremely supportive. For something like this, with how young the kids are, it’s almost mandatory that they are around or close by. Just in case something happens – you know, if the bike breaks, the kid gets hurt, or something happens – the parents are there to support that,” stated the coach.

Outlaw rider Jesse Hoopes at Colorado's Trestle Bike Park

The Best Way To “Follow” These Kids Is On Instagram

Let’s be realistic – these kids are fast. The best and safest way to “keep up” is to follow them through their social media accounts.

A mountain biker irons out something sketchy in the Provo foothills — Matt Gallard irons out something sketchy in the Provo foothills. Photo by Tyson Henrie.

Team Sponsorships

Sponsors are what keep the Outlaw Bike Team running. Some of them include Commencal Bikes, Level 9 Sports, 2nd Tracks, Demon United, Leatt neck braces, Fox Suspension, Kenda, and 6D Helmets. Of them, Commencal Bikes is the main sponsor. Coach Tyson tells us, “Recently, five of our athletes – Dylan Flinders, Fred LaRiviere, Finley Kirschenmann, along with Luke and Alex Mallen, were named to Commencal’s Junior Cartel program. That means they get a lot of support from Commencal, and then they gotta show up at races and perform as well. And on top of that, they support the rest of the team with bike maintenance at the big events we go to.”

Future Plans

In the immediate future, all three of Outlaw Bike Team’s levels will be competing in the sport. There are some big plans in place for the Competition team. “We’re hoping to get Dillon [Flinders] to World Junior Champs. Some kids are going to the Pro GRTs and we’re going to Whistler For 3 weeks. Lots of good plans. That’s our ultimate goal – to provide whatever level of coaching and riding is needed for kids in Utah. If they want to go to the World Cup, then hopefully we can provide that base for them to get there,” said Tyson.

Written by Brett SHARE TWEET

Here’s To The Mountain Biking Moms

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who have taken the time to teach their kids how to ride bikes and enjoy the trails. Over the last few days, we have reached out to a few moms around the world to see if they would like to share some of the reasons why they enjoy mountain biking with their little ones. Here’s what they said.

Ina De Smet, United Kingdom

Instagram: @trailrippers | YouTube: Trailrippers

I used to be a Teacher/Musician, now I’m “Mountain Bike Mum”

Coming from Belgium, a country where everybody cycles everywhere from a young age, I was keen for my children to learn to ride a bike too. It came as no surprise that they cycled independently when they were around 4.5 years old but once they rode confidently I had a bit of a shock. Neither of my boys was interested in family rides along the country lanes where we lived in Norfolk, United Kingdom. All they wanted to do was whizz along the single track paths when we walked our dog, launch themselves down the steep banks of bomb holes in the woods and fly out of them on the other side. The local skatepark was another favourite for getting wheels off the ground.

Before I knew it I was taking my boys to mountain bike coaching sessions, drove around the country to bike parks for fun sessions and races, enrolled on bike maintenance courses and learned new skills managing their social media accounts documenting their journey. The children’s passion for mountain biking inspired our move 250 miles right across the country from relatively flat Norfolk to the hills and mountains of Wales where their skills have improved in leaps and bounds (quite literally!). It is hard work as a single parent to provide plenty of opportunities for two mountain bike mad boys but the MTB community is full of inspiring and very supportive people. Although watching my children ride steep downhill sections at full speed makes me dread the next trip to Accident & Emergency I feel incredibly blessed to be part of their amazing journey.

Lynn Freichs, Australia

Instagram: @getoutthereaustralia

I love hitting the trails with my son as it provides a chance to have fun little chats about the most random things as we roll along. He is an adventurous little guy and spending time with him riding always puts smiles on our faces. My husband and I met mountain biking so sharing this passion with our son is important to us as parents.

Riding as a family is wonderful and listening to our son screech with excitement while going around berms or over little jumps is just awesome. Parenting has many ups and downs but watching Zachary learn to ride a pedal bike has got to be one of the best moments I’ve ever experienced as a parent. The sense of pride I felt was enormous and unlike any emotion I’ve ever felt.

Mountain biking mother and son in the woods

Julie Julian, USA

Instagram: @jjulian75

As a mom, I want to instill a sense of adventure in my boys and connect as a family outdoors. Riding bikes together brings me joy, creates community, and keeps them away from screens.

Sharing the stoke with my boys means experiencing new trails and exploring all the far away places we can go on two wheels. Sometimes it’s hard, it’s a slower pace, and can take a ton of patience; but overall it’s worth it to see them push themselves. I love to see them progress season to season. My heart spins with joy when they try something new or more challenging and they rock it.

The world needs more moms and kids on bikes. Riding bikes teaches many life skills including, self confidence, control, and perseverance. On the trail lessons that hard work pays off and it’s ok to be uncomfortable will hopefully make them more resilient and happy adults.

Julie's son leads the way on a mountain bike ride

Eva Lepe, Mexico

Instagram: @ameliamtb

Mountain biking has taken my children to know places they had never imagined, has led them to go beyond their limits and learn to respect the Earth.

Liz Mallen, USA

Instagram: @thosemallentwins

I started biking with my boys when they were two-and-a-half. We put them on little 12” bikes with training wheels and off they went – down the sidewalk with us parents awkwardly running behind them. It is the first realization of independence they have as small children – the feeling of being free and going fast! As a mother, it fills your heart with glee and at the same time you feel a little sad to let them go. So I made it a point to learn and grow with them. I wanted to see where two wheels can take us. I watched as there were successes, and failures, as well as our first broken bone.

Biking with my boys is in a new phase now, it’s more like survival. They are amazingly supportive, saying things like “You got this mom!” Or, “It’s not that hard!” Really?

We only have 18 summers and I want to make sure I’m along for this crazy ride during all of them. Biking has brought me closer to my kids. The time we spend analyzing trails, and looking at what may – or may not be a good idea, and just feeling happy.

Having my sons be my biggest cheerleaders. I love this sport and what it has offered me in new friendships, camaraderie, and most of all, I love being able to (sort of) ride with my boys.

Read more about Liz’s boys’ team Outlaw

The Mallen twins on small kids mountain bikes

Liz and the kids riding the lift at a bike park

Written by Chiana SHARE TWEET

Never Having To Say “Just Me” – Why I Joined A NICA Mountain Bike Team

NICA mountain biking - the ups and downs of joining a mountain bike team.

Join a NICA Mountain Bike Team – When a friend talked me and two other girls into joining the East High Mountain Bike Team the summer before my seventh grade year, my dad was overjoyed. When my friend and the other girls gave up on the idea, he made me stick with it. The only kid my age on the team, a boy, was a fast biker, so my dad and I ended up riding way behind everyone else at practice. It was lonely, but at least the fast kids couldn’t see me huffing and puffing. Dad kind of became obsessed with the idea of mountain biking, so every time the family went somewhere, we had to take our bikes with us.

Getting inspired at mountain biking nationals in Mammoth, California.

What Is NICA?

NICA stands for the National Interscholastic Cycling Association. It is the United States’ accredited mountain bike organization where children in grades 7-12 may have the opportunity to join a middle school or high school mountain biking team in their area. Teams go on group rides and compete in races. Visit the link below for more information on how to join a NICA mountain bike team.

NICA Website

National Championships Inspiration

Traveling with the mountain bikes included our family trip to California to visit cousins. On the way, we discovered the MTB national championships were going to be in Mammoth. So we took a detour to catch a day of racing.

At the girls race, we decided to cheer for the two Utah high school girls racing. When their race began, the mass of kids jockeyed for position. One of the Utah girls, Kira Crowell, locked handle bars with another racer, went down and got her leg stuck in her bike. She then got run over by another racer. She was screaming and in a lot of pain.

Standing next to me, my dad was thinking, “Oh no, there’s no way Chiana’s gonna want to race now.” And I was thinking sort of the same thing. But, after the officials pulled Kira to the side and checked on her, she got back on her bike and continued the race. Though she was now several minutes behind the slowest of the racers, she finished the race 8^th out of sixteen! It was inspirational. I got to take a picture with her, and the other Utahn – who finished 2nd. The girls were nice enough to follow me on Instagram and invited me to go riding with them.

Our junior development team at Snowbasin Resort.

A Part of the Team

I was too shy to take them up on the invitation to ride (there’s no way I could keep up). But now I had someone to look for at the races, and some inspiration for preparing for them. Being part of the East High team helped me meet other kids as well. Even though I still practiced at the back of the pack, the other kids on the Jr. Development team starting noticing me. Saying hi to me in school and giving me high-fives. Which coming from 8^th grade boys is pretty cool for a 7^th grade girl. That first year, there were no other girls on the team to race with. But I did end up seeing my best friend from pre-school at one of the races and got to stage with her. When you join a NICA mountain bike team you’ll meet new people and make friends at your school.

The East High Mountain Biking Team

NICA has leagues for several states across the country. The East High MTB team was started in 2012 and is part of the Utah High School Cycling League. This group of riders and coaches know how to have a good time. Follow the East High Mountain Biking Team on Instagram to keep up with the antics.

Racing Challenges

Riding is fun, but racing never gets easy. In my second year, when more kids my age joined, I was no longer the slowest. I even kept up with some of the boys. I had been through two races, but I still I got nervous at the beginning of every race. The first race of my second season was in Vernal. I was frightened because I started in the front row of advanced and intermediate girls. It was an early morning start and when the time came to line up I felt sick to my stomach.

It was the longest five minutes in my life until the horn blew and the race began. In the first 50 feet of the course, a girl cut in front of me and fell off her bike, causing me to brake and fly over my handlebars. I had been warned about slamming my front brakes, but well, you don’t always remember those things in the middle of a race. On the ground, I thought of the moment Kira Crowell went down in her race at Mammoth. So I decided I wanted to finish my race. I wasn’t in much pain, only shock, and luckily no one had run over me. SoI got up and started again. I was hyperventilating because I was so stressed about getting my spot back, so it took a while for me to start going full speed again. I never got back to the front of the line, but I did finish the race, which was the important part.

Jr. Devo to High School Transition

When you move from being a Jr. Devo to a High School racer, your season almost doubles, and so does the fun. This previous season, the coaches put in extra effort to make sure there was a lot of team bonding. Tons more kids joined and it isn’t easy to get to know 35 kids. Instead of just doing practices every couple of days, the coaches organized a lot of adventures as team bonding activities. The first was a cookout/campout. Former team members were invited, and everyone, whether they were experienced riders or not, went for a quick team ride. The uphill was hard, but the downhill was much better because at the end of it, s’mores were waiting for everyone. Some kids even camped out that night.

Roasting marshmallows for s'mores during a team practice.

Some of the East High School mountain bike team at the top of Puke Hill. This is part of the Wasatch Crest Trail.

Adventure and Accomplishment

You might want to join a NICA mountain bike team if you like adventure. The biggest adventure of the preseason was towards the end of the summer. The coaches were confident the team could take on a big ride and we piled in cars and shuttled up to the famous Crest trail. Crest is a twenty plus mile ride that begins close to 10,000 feet. We were all proud that after training all summer, we made it up Puke Hill without puking (though there were some who had to push our bikes). The first few miles of the ride have a lot of climbing and not much oxygen. But all the miles of downhill, through beautiful alpine country makes it worth it. It’s about the best thing you could do with your summer, and not a bad way to way to start your high school year.

East High MTB photo during a ride on the Mid-Mountain Trail near Park City. — East High MTB team after a ride in Park City, Utah.

Ninth grade mountain biking girls. — East High School ninth grade mountain biking girls.

We all support each other

It certainly helps to be confident about a sport. But one of the great things about mountain biking is everyone works at their own pace. We all support each other, whether we’re on the same team or not. At that Vernal race my 8^th grade year, when I was breathing heavy and trying to get my spot back, I was cheered on by one of the senior boys on East. He got up early, for the first race, and was cheering all of us on. This lesson stuck with me.

The first race of this season was nerve-racking, but racing in the morning meant I could get it over with and cheer on everyone else. When we were climbing down the mountain to find a good spot to watch the race at Powder Mountain, four of us found a giant wooden spool. We rolled it to a spot along the course, stood it upright and spent the next 5 hours cheering everyone on through a megaphone one of our teammates had brought. We may have cheered loudest when an East High racer came through, but we made sure to cheer everyone on. I learned that cheering on kids helps the riders a ton. When you join a NICA mountain bike team you’ll be amazed at the support and encouragement you receive.

Hanging out with the East High MTB team following a race in southern Utah. — Hanging out with NICA East High MTB team following a race in southern Utah.

Hanging out playing games at a condo the team rented on a race weekend. — Playing games at a condo the East High MTB team rented on a race weekend.

Team bonding

You might want to join a NICA mountain bike team for the fun times you get to have with friends. As important as team friendships are for when you’re racing, the most fun part of being on a team often comes before or after the races. This year, the high school kids traveled to Moab and Cedar City for two races. These trips were full of hanging out in the hot tub, swimming, and playing ping pong. Of course, we also did some awesome fun rides in red rock country.

We ended the season in Cedar City, the state championships, where we got a team house and spent the weekend together. The first few nights were mellow (we had races, after all), but as the weekend went on, we saw discovered some of our teammate’s true colors. Half the team pulled an all-nighter after the races were done. We made sure not to wake any adults up so we could continue our games. Everybody slept on the way back home, probably dreaming about the fun team bonding the night before.

The best part about being on a mountain biking team is you never have to say “just me” as you pass someone going in the opposite direction. Whether it’s with your parent, other kids, or a coach, you’ve always got someone to help push you up the mountain or yell with joy as you descend.

Interested in how joining a NICA team can affect your life? Check out our interview with Hannah Finchamp, Pro mountain biker and NICA alumna.

Contributing Writer

Chiana is a freshman at East High School in Utah. In addition to mountain biking, she likes to ski (on water and snow) and play on the school’s soccer and basketball teams. Follow the East High MTB Team on Instagram to keep up with this great group of young riders as the 2018 NICA season gets started in Utah. Many thanks to Chiana's father - Shawn Rossiter, for providing the photos.

Written by Brett SHARE TWEET

The Captain Ahab Trail In Moab, Utah

We rode the Captain Ahab Trail for the first time as a family last spring when our kids were 10 and 13. It’s now one of the kids’ Moab favorites. This trail is long and strenuous for many who choose to give it a go. In addition to having the right mountain biking gear, be prepared with ample water and food. For young families it can be a long day of pedaling.

Family Friendly Moab MTB Trails

Moab's Whole Enchilada Trail

Slickrock Trail - Moab, Utah

There are steep, technical ascents/descents; cliff exposure and off-camber traverses. If you want to ride the Captain Ahab Trail with your kids, we strongly suggest having an adult from your clan with strong intermediate skills ride it first. Have fun – be safe. That’s always the mantra.

The entry to the Captain Ahab trail is reached via the Hymasa trail — Get to the Captain Ahab Trail via the Hymasa climb.

Climbing on the Hymasa trail en route to the Captain Ahab trail.

There are several technical descents along the way.

Access the Captain Ahab Trail by via the Hymasa trail. Pedaling up Hymasa can be a doozy. Just when you think you’ve reached the top and you can peek over the cliffs, you have about another 10 minutes of strenuous climbing. We usually regenerate with snacks and cold water before we start the first descent as you need to keep alert for all of the technical challenges this trail presents.

After the initial drop-in, be prepared for an undulating canvas of sandstone. The vistas are nothing less than stunning and the mountain biking is world-class.

The entire loop about 8 miles long. This ride can easily become one of the trails where both you and your kids measure your stamina and technical prowess over the years to come.

Getting To The Captain Ahab Trail

From the south end of Moab, head towards the McDonald’s and zero out your vehicles’s trip meter. Turn right off of Main Street at the McDonald’s and head northwest on Kane Creek Blvd. Stay on Kane Creek Blvd as it curves left and runs parallel to the Colorado River. The paved road will turn to gravel after a bit. Continue on the gravel road. You’ll pass the Kings Bottom Campground; then pass the Kane Creek RV Park. About 5.4 miles from McDonald’s you will arrive at the Amasa Back parking lot on the right side of the road. The parking lot’s coordinates are 38.528501, -109.596631. Park here and pedal up the road for about another half mile. On your right, you will see the start of the Amasa Back trailhead. The Amasa Back trailhead is for motorized off-road vehicles. The sign is pictured above is the start of the Hymasa trail – your access point to the Captain Ahab trail.

Written by Brett SHARE TWEET

Mountain Bike SkyPark At Santa’s Village

Mountain Biking SkyPark At Santa’s Village – At a 5,700 ft. elevation in southern California’s San Bernardino Mountains, you’ll find the revitalized SkyPark At Santa’s Village. Originally opened in 1955, this small renovated winter-themed amusement park features a dozen beautifully crafted mountain biking trails the whole family can enjoy.

Where: 28950 CA-18, Skyforest, CA 92385
When: Open year-round. Check online for exact days and if trails are open due to recent weather conditions
Why: There’s a bike park here among other fun activities.
Who Its’ For: Mountain biking families who want to try something new.
Learn More: www.skyparksantasvillage or call 909.744.9373

During a recent trip to California, our family of four made the 1.25 hour trip from Anaheim to surf the dirt on our mountain bikes at the SkyPark At Santa’s Village. We were also able to experience more of the park’s offerings. The drive up from San Bernardino into the forested mountains was impressive by itself. We ascended over 4,500 feet in the span of just 20 miles on CA 18. Upon arrival you will have to pay your entrance fee(s) and exchange signed liability waivers in return for fabric admission wrist bands. Your daily fee is good for all the park’s activities all day long.

San Bernardino mountains on the way up to SkyPark at Santa's Village

Upon entering the park, you’re immediately transported to the North Pole. Before you lie Santa’s House, St. Nick’s Patio and Grill, as well as the attractions Arrow’s Adventure and Silver Bells Skating Pond (roller skating during warm months). The bike park trails are accessed on the looker’s right of the park after you enter.

Did Someone Say Bike Park!?! Mountain Biking Skypark At Santa’s Village

You get to earn your turns at this bike park. There is not a lift or shuttle. We spent most of our time at the south side of the park so the the trail Row Upline was our main gateway to the downhill trails. The ride up only took about 10 minutes for each lap and it was never too hard for our 11 year-old. There’s even a small skills park with ascending/descending logs, a see-saw, ladder feature, and more technical log features where you can test your chops. Throughout the day we saw younger kids pedaling and doing hike-a-bike up the trail.

Sleigh Ride

We got our first lap down the trail Sleigh Ride, an intermediate flow trail almost a half mile long that ends on Row Upline. From there, we took the intermediate trail Playground and opted-in to the end of the advanced trail, Arrow. Sleigh Ride featured great berms, rollers and few small table top jumps. Playground was very good single track and the lower half of Arrow offered up three rollable cedar plank wood features that were wide and in very good condition.

Young mountain biker riding a see-saw at SkyPark at Santa's Village — A young mountain biker riding a see-saw at SkyPark at Santa's Village.

Arrow

Our next lap started at the top of Arrow. There is a large wooded berm on the right side after you start the trail and it’s followed by two table jumps with wood tops, then a ladder feature with a steep rolldown. We won’t spoil the rest of trail for you, but it’s good. Really good.

Off To Neverland

The mountain bike park’s signature trail is an advanced jump line called Neverland. Be sure you and your kids can ride all the features on Sleigh Ride and Arrow before you take this one on. Neverland is accessed from the top of Row Upline and it’s two-thirds of a mile long. Some of the take offs on the table jumps have sculpted lips to give you extra boost; there is a bridge with a small step-up; and an expertly built step-up/step-down whale tail. Get the speed right to make the jump onto the whale tail.

Again, there’s more on this trail to discover when you have the opportunity to experience this bike park in person. All this being said, I’m just an intermediate rider, but by the end of the day, I was able to do a few of the jumps and features that looked too difficult when we first arrived.

Here’s What The Kids Said About The Bike Park

There was a lot of opportunity for progression in the bike park.
They put a cooler full of ice-cold water at the top of Row Upline. That was really nice later in the day.
I really enjoyed the bridges. And, a lot of the other features weren’t only built well – they were creative.
There’s a lot to do and you’ll never get bored.

What the kids said about riding the SkyPark At Santa's Village bike park

Comet

Comet is another advanced trail in the park. It also starts at the top of Row Upline and heads north. Although it does not feature a gnarly rock garden, this trail has the most steep and technical sections in the bike park. There are tight turns, exposed roots and an elevated ladder feature with a tilted 90º turn. Truth-be-told, I walked a few parts of this one. It was plenty tough. The return route takes you past another skills park and Ladybug Pond.

Reading the tail map and getting ready for the next ride

A couple of wily womp rats railing the berms at SkyPark at Santa's Village

The kids loved the interesting trail features at the bike park

Deck The Halls

We also rode part of the intermediate trail Deck The Halls. This was more of a cross country trail as opposed the to flow trails in the park. After about halfway through, one of my sons and I opted out and connected to the Row Upline trail so we could ride Arrow again.

This mountain biking zone can accommodate riders of all ages and abilities. There is a balance bike trail near the center of the village – bikes and helmets are provided. And, the trails Pipeline Road and Reindeer Return meander along the lower elevations of the bike park. The multi-use trails Pond Road and Fantasy Forest Multi Trail can also accommodate less aggressive mountain bikers.

“The trails were wide enough so you could focus on the features and not just staying on trail like thin singletrack. Almost everything was rollable. The trail designers and builders went out of their way to make the mountain biking trails family-friendly. The pedal up was nice because you could ride side-by-side and still pass or get passed. All the other riders at the park were polite and friendly.” – Mom

You’re Gonna Pedal – And You’re Gonna Like It!

The kids didn’t mind the uphill pedaling at all. Our 11 year-old put in about five laps before heading our to discover the park’s other offerings. Our 14 year old could not get enough of the Neverland trail. When stopping for a quick chat with the bike patroller, I mentioned how much we were enjoying their trails. He told me that they were in the process of building a beginner level mountain bike trail from top-to-bottom with optional advanced features on the sides.

Explore the bike park at your own family’s pace. You’ll have a great time if you do simple out-and-backs on the multi-directional trails or ride all the trails. You’re nestled in a gorgeous forest with dense trees and great dirt. We really lucked out during our visit because it rained quite a bit a couple days before. The ground was tacky, not greasy – and all the man made features were in excellent condition.

The Adventure Center is where you rent gear at SkyPark At Santa's Village.

Full suspension youth mountain bikes are available to rent.

Reasonable mountain bike rental rates help beginners hit the trails — Reasonable mountain bike rental rates can help the bike-less hit the trails .

The on-site bike shop can help save the day if a minor repair is needed.

SkyPark can also rent mountain bikes at very reasonable rates if you cannot bring your own equipment. They also have a small bike shop on site so minor repairs and maintenance can be taken care of during your visit.

When You Visit SkyPark At Santa’s Village, Plan On Spending The Entire Day

Playground at SkyPark At Santa's Village

Certainly, you should get to SkyPark At Santa’s Village as early as you can and plan on staying late. Their days of operation vary, so be sure to call ahead to make sure they are open when you plan your trip. That being said, there’s a lot to do. After a few laps in the bike park, our 11 year old was ready to see if the rest of the park could wear him out. Here is a list of other attractions in the park.

Arrow’s Adventure –

Kids and adults can ride pedal cars along a track of varying terrain. One of our kids said, “The cars were easy to pedal because they were geared. They were fun and fast.”

Blitzen’s Bungee –

The automated bungee/trampoline hybrid system allows jumpers to get a bird’s-eye-view of the adventure park.

Discovery Playscape –

A playground featuring playhouses, an obstacle course, mini zipline swing, and a spider web composed of thick ropes.

Frozen Falls Climbing Tower –

A 30 foot outdoor tower with climbing holds and automated belay system.

Magic Tree Bouldering Room –

Interior bouldering with 12 foot walls suitable for climbers of all abilities. Our youngest told us, “You could climb on the ceiling and the arch in the boulder room. And, the floors were padded.”

North Pole Express Train Ride –

Cruise through the park on an electric powered train with four passenger cars.

Serrano Archery Range –

Do your best to hit a bullseye with real arrows at the archery range

Silver Bells Arena –

Ice skating in the winter and roller skating / roller blading in the warmer months

Strider Balance Bike Trail –

Kids 8 years old and younger can hone their skills on balance bikes on a dirt track. Helmets are required and provided as well.

Zipline –

600 feet long and 30 feet high. Our youngest thought the best part of the zipline was jumping off the landing platform to the ground with the assistance of the automated belay system. At any rate, the staff members managing the zipline were trained with fitting harnesses properly. They communicated via walkie-talkies to ensure fun and safety for each participant. SkyPark’s harnesses looked brand new. Of course, staff made sure guests did not allow the equipment to touch the ground so it could be used properly and safely.

Make Sure Ole Man Hangry Doesn’t Stop By

In addition to all the fun activities at SkyPark, they also have St. Nick’s Patio and Grill. The menu had a wide selection of foods. To list, salads, tacos, sandwiches and burgers just to name a few. St. Nick’s Patio and Grill made it easy to make sure you keep the kids’ energy up with good food. We stayed for lunch and dinner. In truth, we all enjoyed our meals. Equally important, SkyPark also has the Pedal Pub, an on-site watering hole where those of age can enjoy a cocktail, beer or glass of wine.

Add This Destination To Your Nice List

You have many activities to choose from in southern California. However, if you have a mountain biking family who likes try something new, We highly recommend SkyPark At Santa’s Village. As has been noted, it’s a wonderful change of pace from all the expensive, big crowds and big hassle theme parks. Without a doubt, the park was very clean and staff members were always quick to answer questions or offer a polite greeting.

Mountain Biking Skypark at Santa’s Village = Better than Disneyland!?!

Surprisingly, our 11 year old said SkyPark was better than Disneyland. I asked him if this was really true. He said. “Yes. Because I get to choose what I want to do on a lot of things. I can ride the trails I want and go as fast as I want in the bike park. I can choose my route in the bouldering room and it’s up to me if I make a bullseye at the archery range”. Well said, kid.

Similarly, my wife and I really enjoyed being in the woods, in the clean air without hoards of people. Of course the park operates at capacity around Christmas time, but for mountain biking families who enjoy exploring off the beaten path, make sure you put SkyPark At Santa’s Village on your list of places to ride.

We highly recommend mountain biking SkyPark at Santa’s Village families that want a super fun and active day. Check out our Trails and Destinations page for more ideas for family mountain biking adventure.

Written by Traci SHARE TWEET

Boys Bikes VS Girls Bikes – What Is The Difference?

Boys Bikes and Girls Bikes - what is the difference?

Can You Keep A Secret?
We are currently beta-testing our refurbished kids mountain bike database page. It has balance bikes for tots through 29ers for teens and adults. You can filter by bike type, wheel size, bike brand, and cost. Click here and take it for a spin.

Boys Bikes VS Girls Bikes – I came across an interesting/annoying occurrence while researching our kids’ mountain bike database. I noticed that several bike companies are still producing bikes that are specifically labeled “Boys Bikes” or “Girls Bikes”.

These Bikes Fell Into Two Categories

1) The exact same bikes, but different colors. The “girls bikes” include pink, white or purple while the “boys bikes” generally come in a wider variety of darker colors.

2) The “girls bikes” have a lower stand-over (step-over) height.

The colors… really? Aren’t we past labeling gender with colors? Both of my boys love pink and purple. Kids’ bikes should come in a variety of fun colors.

MTB Helmets For Kids

Make sure your kids have proper, well-fitting head protection.

Mountain Bike Helmets For Kids

Knee Pads For Kids

Knee pads are another level of protection for young riders.

MTB Knee Pads for Kids

Hydration Packs For Kids

Is your kid big enough to carry their own water and supplies?

MTB Hydration Packs for Kids

The Lower Step-Over Height on “Girls Bikes”

Here’s a bit of history: The lower stand-over design was introduced in the late 1800s for women riding in long skirts and dresses. A step-through frame allowed women to get on and off a bike without having to lift their legs high over the saddle. It also allowed dress wearing women to ride without the fabric getting caught up on the top tube. Great design decisions for the reality of the time! Luckily our daughters do not have to worry about these old fashioned clothing norms anymore.

Today, most adult bicycle designs are described by frame style, rather than the sex of the rider. Although there are a few companies that make bikes specifically for adult women who can have longer legs, a shorter torso, narrower shoulders, slightly shorter arms and smaller hands than men of the same height. This an idea that relies on sweeping generalizations and a topic for another day. Boys and girls do not display these physical differences until adolescence.

Despite the changes in fashion over time and the fact that boys and girls do not have physical differences requiring different bicycle design, there seems to be an expectation in the kids bike market to have two different designs.

Kids’ Bike Gender Stereotyping Is Unnecessary

A lower stand-over height is the single functional design difference on girls-specific bikes. A low stand-over height an advantage for most young riders (especially beginners) as it is easier to get on and off. Once the child is riding, the difference in the girls’ or boys’ design has zero impact on functionality.

I admire companies that create functional bikes that both boys and girls will want to ride because of the variety of colors and kid appropriate design. Many companies including Specialized, Woom, Stampede, Spawn, Lil’ Shredder, Rocky Mountain, Prevelo, Orbea, Kona, Marin, KHS, Isla, Giant, Flow, Early Rider, Commencal, Cleary, Meekboyz, Frog and Pello are moving away for gender specific labeling.

Riding a bike is about building confidence; and being strong, healthy and free. There is no need for the gender stereotyping that still exists in this market. Check out our kids mountain bike database to help you determine the best mountain bike for your little ripper!

Written by Brett SHARE TWEET

Planada – Planning your Family Mountain Biking Trip to Canada

Planning a Family Mountain Biking Trip to Canada Planada

"PLANADA" MEANS PLANNING FOR CANADA

Planning for a Family Mountain Biking Trip to Canada = Planada: For some families, Planada begins immediately when your family leaves Canada. For many, it’s a long term goal of amassing the money, free time and gear required to give it a go. Here’s what our family has learned with traveling with the kids north of the border.

Save The Money

We started a separate savings account at our bank called “Planada”. Whenever we can, we throw in what we can afford to fund our family mountain biking trip to Canada. We reside in the USA and the exchange rate for the Canadian dollar has been very favorable for us over our last couple of trips. Do your research and try your best to take care of the more expensive items such as accommodations, bike park tickets and ferry tickets when the exchange rates are most favorable. If you play it right, you’ll end up with a few extra bucks.

Schedule Time Off

Our family is fortunate because my wife and I are far enough along in our careers that scheduling time off from work is not a huge issue. I’m a freelance graphic designer and that means that I get to take my work wherever I go. On one trip, I had a lot of work in progress. Getting up at 3:30 in the morning while on vacation and putting in 5 hours of billable time before my wife and kids got up for the day was difficult, but I think most people would make that choice if they could.

Make Your Itinerary

One of our favorite parts of planning the family mountain biking trip to Canada. If you want to wing it- right on. But when we have our time off scheduled, the next step is to decide where we’d like to go and how many nights we’d like to stay at each destination. When it’s feasible, we’ve even gone so far as to plan ahead for each day’s drive time vs. ride time. This is so we can realistically plan which trails we can ride on travel days so we don’t waste time sitting around. It’s always a good day for a pedal and hopping on the bikes after a long drive feels great.

We drive a mini-van when we visit Canada

The Family Truckster

Just like your bike(s), choose the right vehicle for the job. Until just a couple of months ago, our family car was a AWD beige mini-van. We threw on a trailer hitch and a 4-bike tray rack. The back seats folded down and we learned to pack this thing to capacity. Be prepared for maintenance issues along the way. In 2016, the radiator died on Vancouver Island and that really sucked. We had to rent a truck while our car was taken apart at a repair shop in order to maximize the time on the trails. We also learned that our AAA membership was valid for our Canadian excursions.

Accommodations

We try to stay in condos or homes with a full kitchen and washer/dryer as much as possible. To save money, it’s important to book as early as you can. We have had to pay as much as over 20% more for accommodations when we book late. We’ve learned that it’s best to best to book summer Whistler family mountain biking trip to Canada January. VRBO is our go-to online resource for most of our accommodations. You can even find condo owners who offer free nights or discounted accommodations if you book for more than 5 consecutive days.

Kitchen accoutrements are hit, miss, and everything in-between. If you need to bring your favorite slotted spoon or tea kettle, do it.

We have never camped in Canada – yet. Hopefully next summer we can give it a go. Hint: Fernie is on the wish list.

And yeah – we always look for the free breakfast perk when we stay at hotels.

Equipment

Make sure your family’s bikes and equipment is in safe, working order. Nothing is more disappointing than arriving at your destination, ready-to-ride and finding out your brake pads need to be replaced, a dropper needs to be bled, or suspension needs maintenance. Nothing can prevent a determined evil-doer/bike thief, but we do our best to keep the bikes locked up while they’re on the car. Our arsenal includes: a 10-foot cable lock, 4-foot heavy chain lock, and a u-lock.

Some of the additional items we have learned to pack with us include: a floor pump, extra bite valves for the hydration packs, extra chain, extra derailleur, extra brake pads, spare tubes, brake bleed kit, and a bleed kit for dropper posts. Somehow, we’ve even ended up with an extra dropper for 30.9 diameter posts and and a shim so it will fit a 31.6 seat tube.

Medications And First Aid

Be sure to bring all your prescription meds and even some things you think you may need – just in case. In 2013 our youngest got dual ear infections while we were on Vancouver Island. He was only 6 at the time and we arrived at Victoria BC in around 11am. We did a little sight-seeing during the early afternoon but as the day wore on, he told us one of his ears started to feel weird.

We didn’t think this was a big deal until he told us both his ears were hurting. My wife gave him some Childrens’ Tylenol in the early evening and that did not help. The poor kid was complaining of a headache and acting lethargic at dinner. He was in pretty rough shape around 9 at night and my wife decided it was time to get him to a clinic. To summarize, we paid about $40 for the anti-biotics he needed, but the doctor visit was $800.

Our first aid kit is basic, but we have learned to include duct tape, extra large bandages, gauze, moleskin and first aid tape. My wife is even a CPR instructor and trained in basic first aid.

More Planada Packing Tips

Sometimes, when we have just one night in a town or city where we are staying at a hotel, and we’ll be traveling early the next day – we just have one bag of clothes for the entire family. With a mini-van loaded to the brim with gear for 4 people, why unload 4 bags from the car for just a night at a hotel? We will pack a single suitcase for this scenario. For each of our main suitcases, we use the 60L Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bags. Each family member has her/his unique color so we can identify each bag’s owner.

On some trips we need to bring more than one bike per family member and our bike rack only holds four bikes. This means some bikes get packed in the car. When storing bikes in the car we gain a lot of space by removing the pedals from bikes and removing the front wheel. The pedals are zip-tied to the frame so they don’t get separated or misplaced. After the front wheel with a hydraulic brake is off, we are careful to put in a brake pad spreader/bleed blocker. This is so an accidental bump or squeeze of the brake lever doesn’t compress the pistons without a rotor – which could require a brake bleed.

Clear storage containers are used so we can quickly see the contents of a storage bin.

Always be sure to bring packable rain jackets for bike rides- and umbrellas for village strolls.

Passports

From the U.S. Department of State website as of this writing…

“Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. A valid U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens.”

“If you plan to travel to Canada with a minor who is not your own child or for whom you do not have full legal custody, CBSA may require you to present a notarized affidavit of consent from the minor’s parents.”

It can take 4-6 weeks to receive your passport. A $60 fee can be paid for expedited 2-3 week processing. If you show up at an When we had to get new passports for our kids, we went to our county clerk office. All 4 of us were required to be present for the formal application submission.

We make copies of our passports while we travel, too. The copies are stored in a different location than the originals somewhere in our bags or in the car. We leave copies at home, too. This is just-in-case they get lost or stolen.

If you need to get passports for your Americano family, start here.

Crossing The Border From The United States

We normally enter Canada at the Peace Arch Border Crossing between Blaine, Washington and Surrey, BC. As you would expect – Friday through Sunday and holidays can be very crowded. We have had to wait in the queue for up to over an hour due to summer traffic. When traveling very early, late or on a weekday, the wait has been less than 5 minutes.

If you’re in a long line, your family can take turns getting out of the car to stretch stiff legs or use a restroom. When at the booth, the CSBA (Canadian Border Services Agency) Officer will ask you the purpose of your trip, where you are going and how long you will be in the country. A couple of times we have been asked to roll down the windows in the car so our childrens’ identities can be visually confirmed.

Food and Meal Planning

Planning meals for the family during our mountain biking road trips is one of dad’s favorite parts of preparing! Last summer, we even brought our rice steamer (filled with uncooked rice and a bottle of soy sauce) so we could have fried rice one week and stir fry the next week. If you’re a family of omnivores, frozen meats (including bacon and bratwursts) will last for a few days if you start with them frozen in the cooler. Other food and cooking items we have brought from home over the years include: canned black beans, uncooked tortillas, cooking spray and olive oil, eggs. Avocados (let them get soft during the trip). Pancake mix. Frozen tamales. Pasta and canned sauces. Lemons. Salsa. Nuts for snacks and salads. Peanut butter and/or Soy nut butter.

Take advantage of the local fare. On the Blackcomb side of Whistler last summer there was a farmer’s market. Was it a little more expensive than the IGA market? Yes. But it was well worth it. Farm fresh veggies, baked goods and craft prepared foods (packaged, bottled) were available.

If you’re in the Vancouver area for your stay, a trip to Granville Island Public Market is a must. It’s a indoor market featuring everything you need to make a five-star meal at your home away from home. If you’re a foodie, you’ll be in heaven. If you’re just hungry looking for a bite to eat, you’ll be in heaven.

For lunches, we will often bring along sandwiches if we are eating along the trail. If we are riding in an area where the car will be accessible throughout the day, we will pack camping chairs and a cooler.

Last, time your trip right and you will be in Canada when blackberries are ripe. They grow like weeds all over the place. We’ve had our share of fresh blackberries at trailheads, on the side of gas stations, even at a ride zone next to a landfill.

Spending Time In The Car

Books on CD or a music player are how we maintain our sanity in the car on our mountain biking road trips with kids. We are starting to get into podcasts, too. If you are traveling with kids as young as 4 years old, you are in the sweet spot. Roald Dahl, Carl Hiassen, J.K. Rowling, and Eoin Colfer are some of our kids’ favorite authors. Some of the voice actors are quite good as well. Here are some of our audiobook picks to get you started.

There’s an added bonus when everyone is listening to the same story – you get to talk about it with your kids. Often times, one of our kids will pipe up saying he knows what’s going to happen; why something’s happened; or just ask a question. Your kids aren’t going to be trapped in car with you for eternity. Make the most of it by having a discussion about what’s going on in the story.

We always have enough audiobooks to get us through a trip. Your local library is a great resource for these invaluable items.

Kids’ Lessons At The Whistler Bike Park

Whistler Bike Park Lessons for Kids

DFX lessons are one of the best parts of our family mountain biking trip to Canada. At the Whistler Bike Park, kids aged 5-12 or 13-16 can be enrolled in daily lessons. Deals are available when your kids are in lessons for more than 2 days. Lunch is included, too. Over the last couple of years while the kids have been in bike park lessons, mom and dad have explored the Whistler Valley Trails and nearby Pemberton on the trail bikes.

Whistler Bike Park coaches and instructors are trained professionals who know how to make sure your kids have a good time. Your kid will be placed in the proper group based on your child’s riding ability. They’ll ask you if you have been in the bike park before and what trails you’ve been riding. Instructors are allowed to move kids from one group to another if they are either ready for the next level or need to dial it down a bit.

Lesson info

If your kid has her/his own bike for a bike park lesson, the instructors will give it the once over to ensure that it’s safe to ride. They examine the brakes, suspension, steering and drivetrain. They also make sure kids have the proper protection gear and hydration pack. Younger children receive a GPS tracking device called a Flaik. These things are cool because (A) it helps prevent lost kids and (B) you can see the data associated with your kid’s session in the park during their lesson via a web application.

Opportunity for development of new skills!

When your kid is done with her/his lesson for the day, they may receive a report card that states what trails were ridden; what skills were done well and what needs improvement in order to move to the next level. Instructors are keen to chat it up with parents to give you the inside scoop on how the day went.

A lot of the time, kids booked for consecutive daily lessons can get the same instructor. This helps because it gives the instructor the opportunity to have a little history with your kid and improve their riding. Two years ago, our oldest had the same instructor for 3 days in a row. At the end of the session, the instructor told our kid that he progressed quite a bit over the couple of days and they had accomplished all the goals set on the first day. Last, it’s not out of the ordinary for parents to offer a cash gratuity to their kid’s instructors following a lesson.

SGC Camps

For the ultimate kids’ experience in the Whistler Bike Park, consider the Summer Gravity Camps run by Andrew Shandro. Pros from around the world teach kids the finer points of mountain biking over the course of a full week.

If you’d like to learn more about the Whistler Bike Park’s daily lessons, click here. You can also read about our son’s experience with Whistler’s Summer Gravity Camp.

Squamish - Vancouver - Pemberton road sign

Finding The Best Mountain Bike Ride With Your Kids In An Unfamiliar Area

Online apps are fine, but after years of extensive research, we have found that actually communicating without a smartphone – with a real human being, face-to-face is the best! Be a good traveler and visit your temporary local bike shop during your trip. We have made a point to swing by local bike shops in unfamiliar places so we can speak with the locals about the best places to mountain bike with our kids. Everyone, and I mean everyone we have spoken to in a bike shop on a trip has been knowledgable and more than willing to give their opinion about what would be the best ride for us. Tell the bike shop staff how long you’d like to ride, what type of riding you’d like to do, and what level of riding you’d like to do. These wonderful folks will also have up-to-date trail conditions. This is super useful if a recent storm has passed through or a trail is closed for maintenance. While you’re there- pay it forward if you can. Buy a t-shirt with the bike shop logo on it, or a printed map that supports the local trail organization. At the very least, ask to buy a couple of shop stickers for your kids.

Ferry Transportation

Plan ahead and reserve your ferry rides in advance. Ferry rides are a unique aspect of a family mountain biking trip to Canada. We lost half a day of bike riding once because we were unaware we were traveling on BC DAY. Due to additional holiday traffic and a ship in need of repair, we sat in a long queue of cars trying to get from Sechelt to Powell River. To reserve ahead of time, you can call BC Ferries at 888-223-3779 or reserve online at BC Ferries.

Are you going to be taking several ferry rides during your trip? If so, you should consider a BC Ferries Experience Card for discounted fares. You prepay for your Experience Card like a gift card and use your balance as you travel. When you plan all your ferry rides correctly, you will save a measurable amount of money. Not all routes are discounted. Learn more about the BC Ferries Experience Card.

Dem Bears

If you’re used to seeing bears, that’s pretty cool. If not, be prepared. There are bears all over the place and they can be close to residential areas. During one Whistler trip, our family was walking along a paved bike path that backed against a condo complex. And, just like another pedestrian using the trail – a black bear approached from the opposite direction. We were sure keen to get out of its way without causing a ruckus. It strolled right by us and some people enjoying their hot tub. I told them, “If that bear was hungry, you would have been soup”. We wear bear bells on our bikes at home sometimes to gently announce our presence to other bikers and hikers. In Canada, those accessories can serve the purpose they were intended for. If you are considering taking bear spray with you on your trip, please read the latest information from the Canada Border Services Agency website.

Take A Day Off The Bikes Every Once In A While

For a lot of families, not riding on a vacation day may be sacrilege. But, if the kids are tuckered out or you plan on taking a rest day, there’s always plenty to do. When planning your family mountain biking trip to Canada, check out your host town’s tourism website. If you’re on Vancouver Island, consider a vacation from your vacation and take a trip to Tofino. There is hiking and surfing. Vancouver has Stanley Park and Granville Island to explore.

Tide pools on Vancouver Island — Exploring tide pools on Vancouver Island

Written by Becky SHARE TWEET

A Bike-Minded Family Heads Norte

Words by Becky Parker | Photos used with permission from Ty Schmidt | Published on 11/18/17

Inspiring a City of Kids on Bikes

The non-profit organization Norte began shortly after founding members Ty and Johanna Schmidt moved to the Traverse City, Michigan area from southern Arizona. They became motivated when they saw a lot of traffic at school gates, and so few kids on bikes. In a bid to help, they started offering neighborhood families another option – “Drop your kids at our place and they can join us cycling to school.” In no time at all the numbers began to grow. Inspired by the fun they saw the kids having, Johanna and Ty reached out to friends to set up similar bike trains in other neighborhoods. From this, Norte was born.

Visit the Norte Website

What Norte Offers

Norte is governed by a 9-member board and dedicated support team. Between them, they organize 18 bike trains connecting 9 different neighborhoods to 12 Traverse City schools. Expanding far beyond their original plans, Norte now run several different programs. These programs include: Safe Routes to School, Pro Walk/Pro Bike Advocacy, Youth Empowerment, Mountain Bike Clubs and Coaching. They also sponsor events throughout the winter to keep the town cycling year round.

Highlights of These Programs Include

Community events promoting cycling
Cycling club group rides for kids of all ages and experience levels
A mountain bike race team with kit, coaching and race day support
A bike library bringing access to bikes for everyone

Urban bike education – teaching kids to be safe and courteous on the roads
Snack themed rides. Kids love bikes but kids REALLY love snacks!
Girls only rides

“When I moved to Traverse City I noticed that despite there being an incredible network of trails and many race teams, there was nothing really around for kids. I wanted to get kids away from the computer screen and outside exploring.”

Ty Schmidt – Norte

What Does Norte Aim to Achieve?

The core goal the non-profit is to get more kids on bikes. The combined efforts of Norte cover all ages and aspects of bike life. Norte hopes to appeal to, motivate and educate as many people as possible. From teaching the youngsters starting out to ride with the ‘Estrella’ group on balance bikes, to teaching the older kids how to wield a spanner and fix their own set of wheels with ‘The Solucion’ classes.

Norte mountain bike club - girls only ride

A young mountain biker races on the Norte club

The formula is to get kids hooked by showing them what they will gain for themselves thorough riding bikes. The independence, freedom, and above all fun of being active and playing outdoors with friends. Ty spoke about how through running the clubs, he has seen the way bikes build youths’ confidence. Cycling teaches them a grittiness to persevere when they fall or become tired on a longer ride. Since the start of Norte, many kids have progressed from barely being able to ride 4 miles – to now competing in cross-country races of up to 30 miles.

In the town’s recent ‘Iceman’ race saw 5,000 people competing from all round the country. Norte had 60 kids from their teams racing. Fifteen of which were taking part in the 30-mile race.

Norte encourages young riders to bike to school

Ty’s Top Tips for Starting a Venture Like Norte

Though Norte has grown into a thriving club now, it hasn’t always been a smooth ride. Ty wasn’t shy to mention that with what they know now there are many things they would have done differently. He believes that a strong factor in their success has been the way they have branched out to offer many things. With the benefit of hindsight, here are Ty’s 3 top tips to anyone wishing to start a similar venture.

Make friends with like-minded awesome people in your community – You can’t do it all on your own.
Be consistent – set a time that rides will take place and stick to it no matter what. Build a reputation of reliability.
Make the rides all about family time – families are more likely to commit to becoming part of something if it’s an activity everyone gets involved with and enjoys.

Ty’s Top Tips for Starting a Venture Like Norte

Though Norte has grown into a thriving club now, it hasn’t always been a smooth ride. Ty wasn’t shy to mention that with what they know now there are many things they would have done differently. He believes that a strong factor in their success has been the way they have branched out to offer many things. With the benefit of hindsight, here are Ty’s 3 top tips to anyone wishing to start a similar venture.

Make friends with like-minded awesome people in your community – You can’t do it all on your own.
Be consistent – set a time that rides will take place and stick to it no matter what. Build a reputation of reliability.
Make the rides all about family time – families are more likely to commit to becoming part of something if it’s an activity everyone gets involved with and enjoys.

The Future for Norte

While Norte are already seeing impressive numbers of kids at their rides, with up to 100 riders on a Sunday and 30/35 at the after school clubs, Ty aims to see this figure double in the future. He is also always keen to help other communities build their own cycling programs and is looking to produce material that can help with this. There were mentions of a ’10 Ways You Can Do What We Have’ type guide.

In the meantime, if you would like any advice from Ty he is more than happy to help in any way he can. The best way to get involved is through the contact page on their website.

Contact Norte, Ahora!

Norte Would Like to Thank Traverse City for Their Continued Support

Despite only being a small town, Traverse City is a thriving community of outdoorsy people who really embrace the enjoyment of an active life all year round. Ty was full of praise for the way the town has believed in the project from the beginning, rallying behind every new campaign and getting involved in all the events they held. Ty felt confident that given the chance many other cities would also do the same.

Despite Ty’s constant claims during our chat that ‘They aren’t anything special’ it’s quite clear that his enthusiasm for what he does has played a large part in getting this project off the ground. The enjoyment and reward he gets from seeing the kids improve and grow as people is genuine. His sense of pride in what they have achieved is tangible and rightly so. What Norte have done for the kids of, and Traverse city itself, is impressive. I hope other people can see what they’ve done and feel inspired to follow their lead building a healthier future for the next generation.

Becky Parker

Meet the Author

Becky Parker is a Freelance Writer based in the valleys of South Wales, UK. She enjoys all things trail based be it walking, trail running or mountain biking, as long as it involves exploring the mountains, she’s happy. Over the last summer she has dabbled in a touch of enduro racing and has discovered the competitive streak is strong in this one, provided the race tape is leading purely down the hill! Visit Becky’s blog at www.runridewrite.com.

Written by Liz SHARE TWEET

Red Bull Rampage with Kids

HOLD MY JUICE BOX, MOM — WATCH THIS…

Mountain biking groms and their families spend a weekend at 2017’s Red Bull Rampage

GETTING TO THE EVENT

2017 RED BULL RAMPAGE

MTN RANKS FANPAGE

Written by Liz Mallen. Photos by Ted Bell, Dan LaRiviere, Steven Lloyd, Liz Mallen. Published on November 12, 2017. Read all the shout-outs here.

Cam Zink, freeride mountain biker at the 2017 Red Bull Rampage

Freeride mountain biker Cam Zink, one the the many fan-favorites, backflips his bike at the 2017 Red Bull Rampage near Virgin, Utah. Photo by Liz Mallen.

WHAT IS THE RED BULL RAMPAGE?

Red Bull Rampage is an invitation-only freeride mountain bike event hosted just outside of Virgin, Utah. This year, riders on Finals Day consisted of 18 incredibly talented athletes from around the world. Red Bull Rampage is THE mountain biking event to watch. It is the “Superbowl” of freeride mountain bike events.

SHOULD YOU ATTEND RED BULL RAMPAGE WITH KIDS?

Unquestionably, there are many kids who attend the event with their families, dreaming of some day receiving the same invitation to ride with the best. The kids, who at home pour over YouTube videos and Instagram, looking at great ones like Cam Zink, Andreu Lecondeguy, Kurt Sorge and Graham Agassiz for inspiration. What new trick or air are their role models are coming up with? And, will the kids be able to copy it someday?

RED BULL RAMPAGE 2017, GETTING THERE

HAVE TRAILER – WILL TRAVEL

We pulled into the Zion River RV Resort at midnight, Wednesday before the event. With all intentions to have arrived about 8 hours earlier, the whole “I have to work” thing got in the way. So there we were, setting up in the dark…shusshing each other, as to not wake the other campers. I look at my husband and ask, “Do you think they turned the sprinklers off yet?”. Twenty seconds later we hear the familiar “poppshhhhhh” of water. So there we were, setting up in the dark, in the sprinklers.

If you choose to stay at the resort, make your reservations (even without tickets), the minute they release the dates of Rampage, as their spaces reserve quickly. We have stayed here for the past few years as they have a pool, beautiful clean amenities, and just made it easier to be hooked up in the RV with the kids – especially when they were smaller.

They also have a list of fun events happening in the evenings, such as movies, Halloween Bingo and other fun contests for the kids in the clubhouse. A word of warning however, they are very strict on their rules, and asked that the kids not ride their bikes after dark or go in the hot tub if they are under 18. If you, or your kids choose not to abide by the rules, they will ask you to leave.

Testing the Bob trailer. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Carving pumpkins at the Virgin, Utah RV park

A little camp fun! Rampage usually falls around Halloween making it extra special for these kids. Photo by Liz Mallen.

BEING PREPARED TO ATTEND RAMPAGE

YOU NEED TICKETS

At the present time, this is always a small source of anxiety, as in years passed, they sold out online in 5 minutes. The key is to follow all of Red Bull Bike social media channels. Then, be poised and ready the minute (or before the minute) they are released to buy on the chosen date and time. Simultaneously, you will only be able to purchase two tickets at a time, and must match each ticket by name to each family member.

Once you have your ticket confirmation, it is a good idea to actually print them out in case anything were to go awry. A few days before Rampage, the actual tickets are released. As I have said, be sure to print them and have them in hand, as there is no cell service at the gate.

ARRIVING AT THE VENUE

When you finally arrive in Virgin, it is a good idea to pick up your wristbands and any swag you want to purchase the day before the event. This way you are not scrambling at the last minute at 7 am in the morning to get your proverbial stuff together, and out to the venue. Some of the coolest swag sold out this year by Thursday evening!

We were lucky to pull in right as the ticket checker station opened. The kids do miss a few days of school, but as they have become older, we find that Rampage is a good motivation for them.

Red Bull Rampage kids and adults show off their wristbands and swag

The kids and parents showing off their wrist bands and Rampage swag. Photo by Liz Mallen.

MAKE YOUR DAY MORE COMFORTABLE

Actual preparation for the day, does wind up taking a little time and forethought. This event is held at a “primitive” site. Importantly, this means no running water. They actually state in an email with the tickets “NON-ADULT SPECTATORS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED.”

With all of this in mind, here are suggestions which may make your family’s experience better:

Grateful for some shade in the desert! Love our Manta pop-up tent!. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Shade (the designated spectators’ areas are exposed and it can be windy)
Sunscreen
Drinks and water (Camelback provides drinking water refill stations)
Lunch and snacks

A buff for the moon dust
Hats
Binoculars
Solid shoes for riding/climbing
Blanket or easy to ride a bike with or carry chairs

Wet wipes
Basic first aid kit
Extra layers of clothing/rain slicker
Flashlight or headlamp
Drybag with ice (hard case coolers are not allowed)

IT’S OK TO BE A GROUPIE AND DRESS THE PART

Unlike a lot professional sports and events, the athletes strive to be accessible. When attending Red Bull Rampage with kids, bring a marker and items for athletes to sign. In the past, we have brought: hats, posters, race plates, helmets, photos, and magazines. In addition, we put a Sharpie marker on a lanyard so they don’t have to worry about holding on to one more thing as they are billy-goating around the site. If you really want to get into the event – accessorize and bring bells, noisemakers, glitter and costumes! My friend and I remarked one year, as we were perched on the edge of a cliff surveying the madness, that this was the closest to Burning Man we would ever get.

THE RIDE OUT

It is a looonnngg hot day. Red Bull Rampage with kids is not for the weak. The ride out us about 3.5 – 4 miles on a very moon-dusty road, one way. It is a gentle pedal up out there with a few tricky spots here and there. My husband attaches a Bob trailer to his bike and we load in all of our gear, including a small bbq and brats, our drinks, chairs and shade and of course a trash bag. With all the kids, it takes between thirty minutes, and an hour. We usually have someone speedy in the group, they cruise out ahead, and stake down some land for the rest of us.

A group of spectators heads out to the Red Bull Rampage

Headed to to the bike valet at Red Bull Rampage

Photos by Liz Mallen.

RED BULL RAMPAGE 2017, THE BIG SHOW

MOUNTAIN BIKING ON THE WORLD’S BIGGEST STAGE

With a collective deep breath, the first rider of the day, Brett Rheeder took his first run at 10:00 am. I don’t think a person can really understand the physics of what happens in this little area of the desert on this particular day. Until you are able to see it for yourself . Red Bull Rampage is something to put on the bucket list.

Obviously, these men are some of the most incredible athletes in the world. The pure physical and mental strength it takes to perform these maneuvers is mind-blowing. The fact that just after these guys come down, from literally risking their lives, they make it a point to sign and take pics with their smallest of freeride fans, proves their dedication and love for this sport.

Can you name all the pros shown below? Click on each image to show the rider’s name.

Photos by Liz Mallen.

These professional athletes are some of the nicest guys in any sport. I think all the kids were levitating (and maybe some of the dads). This year was the largest year for the Red Bull Rampage with kids, with most of the Outlaw Bike Team present. Additionally, there were ton of other groms running around. For the sport of freeride mountain biking, the future looks promising. The moms had just as much fun, although as we were watching all of this unfold, we could not help think that maybe our kids some day will be the ones in the start gate.

Liz Mallen and her twin boys - Luke and Alex.

Tricia Kirschenmann (Finley's Mom) and Sarah Flinders (Dillon's mom) are all smiles at Rampage!

A MOM’S WORRY NEVER GOES AWAY

I have had the chance to chat with some of the athletes about how their mom’s feel. It seems a lot of them choose not to watch. This year however, Brett Rheeder’s mom was in the audience for the first time. Apparently she had a hard time even watching it live on tv! In addition, I had the chance to talk with Graham Agassiz about how his mom felt. He said she wanted to watch, but he felt better, and less nervous when his family were not there in person. As a mom of kids who are interested in pursuing this sport, I can begin to understand what it is like to watch your child drop backwards and upside-down and over the edge of a 50-foot cliff… on a bike. We are already beginning to experience that feeling, on a smaller scale, for now.

Utah local Logan Binggeli sending it in the middle section of the venue. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Drops for days... where the big kids come to play. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Spectators at the Red Bull Rampage take it all in

The kids watching it all unfold. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Spectators line the edges of the freeriders' lines. Photo by Liz Mallen.

THE RIDERS SHOWED WHY THEY’RE THE BEST FREERIDERS ON THE PLANET

Not surprisingly, as the event played out, you could see that the gloves were off between these heavy hitters in the freeride mountain biking world. The main competitor in the past being the wind, this year, luckily it did not make an appearance allowing the guys to send all of the massive tricks they had planned out for their runs. Additionally, this was the first year there were no catastrophic crashes or injuries. Everyone was happy about that.

PODIUM

Kurt Sorge wound up on the podium in first place for the third time. Throwing down some massive flips, and a smooth run, he earned the top spot with a total score of 92.66 . Proving to the world that he is the one of the best, and can still hold his own after fathering two kids, family man Cam Zink stomped into Second place with a hair raising run down one of the steepest chutes in Rampage history named “The Scar” He then proceeded to back flip off his drop, before the road in the same steep upper section.

An emotional Cam was seen blasting through the finish of his first run into his wife’s arms. Cam’s bike unfortunately got away from him on the second run as he attempted a front flip in the bottom section, leaving that top spot just out of reach and in the hands of Kurt Sorge. Local Utah resident Ethan Nell, threw down and claimed his stake on Rampage 2017, and wound up in third place, solidifying him as a new force, and someone to be reckoned with in the years to come.

Antoine Bizet earned the People’s Choice Award with one of the “flowiest” runs of the day. Commencal team rider Pierre Edouard Ferry earned the McGazza Award for channeling the late Kelly McGarry’s enthusiastic and aggressive style.

RED BULL RAMPAGE WITH KIDS? YES, PLEASE!

If you’re up for some dusty fun and amazing athlete experiences, you should consider it!

VIDEO: KURT SORGE’S 1st PLACE RUN

VIDEO: ANTOINE BIZET, PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Kurt Sorge wins the 2017 Red Bull Rampage

Winner, winner chicken dinner! Kurt Sorge in the top spot on the podium.. Photo by Ted Bell.

Luke on the podium... some day? Photo by Liz Mallen.

WATCH A REPLAY OF THE EVENT!

In the end, it was one of the most successful Red Bull Rampage events to date. You can watch the live replay on Red Bull TV, and see what all the insanity of the biggest event in the sport of freeride mountain biking has to offer. Rampage is part of the Red Bull Signature Series, and will air a highlighted program on NBC Sunday, December 24th. Happy Holidays!

WATCH IT ON RED BULL TV

RED BULL RAMPAGE 2017, FINAL RESULTS


PLACE	RIDER	SCORE
01	Kurt Sorge	92.66
02	Cam Zink	90.33
03	Ethan Nell	90.00
04	Brandon Semenuk	89.66
05	Brett Rheeder	89.33
06	Thomas Genon	89.00
07	Carson Storch	87.66
08	Kyle Strait	87.33
09	Tyler McCaul	87.00
10	Tom van Steenbergen	84.33
11	Andreu Lacondeguy	83.00
12	Antoine Bizet	81.66
13	Darren Berrecloth	81.00
14	Vincent Tupin	78.00
15	Pierre Edouard Ferry	76.33
16	Logan Binggeli	69.66
17	Bas Van Steenbergen	68.66
18	Ryan Howard	67.66

MTN RANKS FANPAGE

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF FREERIDE MOUNTAIN BIKING

The day after Rampage, there’s a lot of excitement and buzz in the air. The kids, fueled by the big show the day before are ready for the chance to go out and mimic their idols at the original Red Bull Rampage site. MtnRanks, a lifestyle clothing company based in Park City, Utah, puts on an event every year called MtnRanks Fanpage. It’s “Freeride for the People!” They bring music, give-aways and cold hard cash for the sick tricks performed by the fans of Red Bull Rampage. For those who attend Red Bull Rampage with kids, this is a great opportunity to meet some fellow groms and MTB parents.

Alex Mallen at the MtnRanks Grompage - photo by Steve Lloyd

Alex Mallen boosting at the MTN Ranks Whipoff 2016. Photo by Steven Lloyd. Follow Steven on Instagram at @stevelloydphoto and his website at www.stevelloydphoto.com/.

HERDING CATS WITH ICE CREAM

Our friends from Worldbikeparks.com wanted to get some shots of the groms, so to gather them all together (as it is like herding cats), we decided to initiate an “Unofficial Grompage Ice Cream Social”, which took place just before the main event. Grabbing some ice cream and bowls, we were able to get the kids to sit still for a hot minute before they sent it on the dirt jumps showing some of the heavy hitters in the industry what they were capable of. Needless to say, they turned some heads. People such as professional adventure photographer Steven Lloyd captured some amazing shots. Steve, a father of two sons in this “grom army”, is right on point with photos. This year we were able to bring it together again, and have the kids and the adults show off their stuff at the same time.

This year, we also had some of the companies that sponsor the kids donate some awesome gear for the multitude of groms that show up and strut their stuff. Firstly, a big thanks to Demon United and Zoic Clothing for the grom-sized swag additions! Some sweet body armor was presented to some of the smaller kiddos, who were really stoked! Secondly, just before the event, continuing on the tradition started last year by our friends Natty and Trey from Worldbikeparks.com, we decided to have an ice cream social. Celebrating all the groms who want to get into the sport of freeride mountain biking, and get them all together (and give them a little sugar boost).

Some Of The Pros Showed Up To Cheer On The Groms

Andreu Lacondeguy and his crew at the MtnRanks Grompage

Andreu Lacondeguy watching grom talent from above, wondering who will be nipping at his heels in a few years!. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Nico Vink hanging out with freeride mountain biking kids

Nico Vink hanging out after the boys finish a session. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Pro mountain biker Aaron Chase with a couple of kids

Aaron Chase with the groms. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Aaron Chase about to enjoy a little ice cream in the desert. Red Bull Rampage with kids id cool. Photo by Liz Mallen.

The Groms Were On Fire This Year!

The young shredders are earning their places in the desert among the MTN Ranks Fanpage fans. It was full-on entertainment.

Lots of tricks happening. Photo by Dan LaRiviere.

Pushing bikes to the top of the kickers at the old Rampage site. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Getting a little fatherly advice. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Adjusting a grom's neck brace. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Andreu Lacondeguy in the queue at the MtnRanks Fanpage

Andreu Lacondeguy waiting in line for his turn to rally with the kids. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Andreu poses for a photo with some of his youngest fans. Photo by Ted Bell.

Step-up no hander at the MtnRanks Fanpage

Learning to fly. Photo by Fred LaRiviere.

The groms are setting the bar high. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Whip it – whip it good. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Money talks! Photo by Liz Mallen.

Commencal Development Team rider Dillon Flinders finding some vertical terrain. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Signing the waiver for the MtnRanks Grompage

No sign – no ride. Tricia signing the Fanpage waiver. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Young freerider, Fred Lariviere one-footer

Fred Lariviere showing off one of his signature one-footed moves. Photo by Dan LaRiviere.

A young freeride mountain biker at the 2017 MtnRanks Fanpage

Red Bull Rampage with kids "Yeah- I can do that." Photo by Liz Mallen

Two of the youngest mountain bikers at the event

Two of the youngest shredders in the group, but don't let their size fool you! River and Sam send it!. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Young mountain biker at the old Red Bull Rampage site

Clearing the big step-up like a pro! Photo by Liz Mallen.

A young mountain biker doing a large step-down

Finley Kirschenmann channeling his inner Kurt Sorge. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Basecamp at the MTN Ranks Fanpage Whipoff. Photo by Liz Mallen

Luke Mallen spotting his landing on one of his favorite drops at the old site. Photo by Liz Mallen.

Alex Mallen drops Canadian Bacon at the old Red Bull Rampage site

Alex Mallen drops “Canadian Bacon” Photo by Dan LaRiviere.

These Young Mountain Bikers Are Getting Noticed

Finally, with all of the media surrounding these kids, it is no surprise these kids have caught the eye of a few companies. Under the watchful eye of coach Tyson Henrie, leader of the Outlaw Bike Team, these kids have been invited to be a part of Commencal USA bike Rider Development Team. In addition, they have also caught the eye of several other companies who have shown interest in working with the kids. Demon United, Poc, Magura USA brakes, Kenda Tires, Zoic Clothing, Level 9 and Leatt Protectives to name a few.

Exciting things are ahead for all of them and with the guidance and support from family, friends, coaches and companies, this next generation of grom freeriders are ones to watch.

Thanks to sponsors, family and friends

Outlaw Bike Team

Steve Lloyd Photography

Tricia Kirschenmann

Give these kids a follow on Instagram

Part of the Commencal USA Development Team. Photo by Liz Mallen.

About the Author

Liz McDonald-Mallen hails from the outskirts of Salt Lake City. Liz, husband Tony and her twin boys - Luke and Alex are looking forward to spending the winter on skis and bikes. Follow them on Instagram @thosemallentwins.

Check out our Destinations and Trails page for more fun places to ride and visit!

We’d love to see the fun and games your groms are getting into on their bikes! Share your MTB with kids shenanigans with us on Instagram or Facebook