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Looking for a fun experience for your mountain biking kids? The Mallen family recently traveled to the Sea Otter Classic with kids. The young Mallen boys participated in the events and festivities and loved every minute of it.

Sea Otter Overview

California has always been known as a hotspot for outdoor sports – biking foremost among them – and the Sea Otter Classic is no exception. Sea Otter had humble beginnings in the early 90’s with 350 racers. Since then it has rapidly grown in popularity and prestige, and this year boasted nearly 10,000 athletes and over 71,000 fans.

A whole slew of different events and competitions make up the long weekend. Events include include everything from mountain bike racing to slalom and short track racing. Hosted in Monterey County, Sea Otter is a hub for cyclists across a diversity of ages and skill-levels, with everyone from former national and Olympic finalists to some of the more inspiring up-and-coming youngsters in the sport. Most of the events take place on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management) and near Laguna Seca. This area offers some profound vistas that are iconic of California in particular.

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From left-to-right: (1) The Mallen twins are geared up and ready to roll. (2) One of the twins takes a youth-sized eBike through its paces. (3) Cam Zink, a fan favorite for all ages was at the event at the YT Industries booth.

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Meet the Mallens

This was certainly the case for the Mallens. As far as outdoorsy families go, Liz, Tony, Luke, and Alex are a quintessential example of the active lifestyle, and whether it’s Tony acting as inspiration or Liz holding everything together the way only mothers can, their first excursion to the Sea Otter Classic was an adventure in itself.

The twin boys, age nine, have taken naturally to biking, and along with a cohort of friends are part of the Utah Gravity Series. Nevertheless, in their home state the competitive mountain biking is still in its infancy, so when a friend offhandedly suggested the family consider the Sea Otter Classic, it was all the incentive Tony needed. As Liz recalls, she got a text one day from her husband who said he’d signed the boys up for the downhill race. “I thought ‘Wow, okay, we’re going’,” she laughs.

Bumps in the road

Under the tutelage and sponsorship of coaches Tyson Henry from Outlaw Mountain Bike and Mark Kugel from Kugel’s Gravity School, the family set their sights on California. However, shortly before the competition Tony (an avid downhill enthusiast himself) ended up crashing his dirt jumper and suffering a third degree AC separation in his shoulder and a concussion to top things off. Suddenly on her own Liz found herself in the driver’s seat – literally. She became responsible for everything from finding their camping site to registering them in the different events.

One little debacle included getting stuck in a mud bog. Liz was amazed at how helpful everyone was in getting her back on the road, a heavy effort that took them well into the night. “The people here were just so awesome and amazing and friendly and helpful,” she exclaims, recalling the events. Nevertheless it was a huge success overall, and definitely one that sticks in her mind.

Sea Otter Competition for Kids

For the boys themselves the weekend held a lot of challenges and competition. Even in the youth division, practice begins bright and early at 8 in the morning, and with the growing success of the Sea Otter Classic one thing that unexpected visitors might not count on is the lines. This was definitely the case for Alex and Luke, and a lesson they learned very quickly – being there 45 minutes early was essential to make sure you weren’t waiting in the morning sun to get in. Their routine involved waking up at 6:30 and being fully geared up by 6:45. And even then, there was already a line up.

Right off the bat the Utah boys had stiff competition – especially from a hardcore group of ‘Shredder kids’ from Whistler, British Columbia.  Whistler has spawned many world champion contenders, including Jackson Goldstone. But despite the high standards, the Mallens were able to hold their own in both the Dual Slalom and Downhill events against the Canadians. For Saturday’s Dual Slalom, Alex earned a silver medal in the B Group. His brother, Luke almost made the medal round for the A Group. In the Downhill Race, the kids finished 9th and 16th out of a field of 39 riders. This is a testament to the growing talent in Utah. In fact, as Liz can’t help but expound, more than a few brands (from bike companies to gear outfitters) showed some serious interest in the kids.

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From left-to-right: (1) The big day in queue for the downhill races. (2) One of the Mallen boys earned a silver in the Dual Slalom B Group. (3) The line-up during a practice session.

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You won’t get bored!

At the end of the day though, it’s the diversity that really stood out in Liz’s mind. If you’re at all bike-inclined, it’s impossible to be bored, with daily street races that begin at 11 sharp, an Easter egg hunt (or Sea Otter Egg Hunt, as it were), and a variety of spectator matches. In her own words it’s a “whole experience for anyone who is involved with bikes … road, cycle, mountain cross country, BMX, I mean any type of bike you can imagine is here. If you are in love with bikes in general you need to come to Sea Otter.”

Tips for planning your trip

Of course, for those newcomers who are seriously considering the Sea Otter Classic it’s always a good idea to plan ahead – ideally, at least a month. With so much activity going on, being well prepared in terms of organizing your own schedule around what you want to see and – in the Mallen’s case – what you want to participate in is crucial.

The one solid piece of advice that seems to bridge all visitors to Monterey is the absolute necessity of camping. Although there are a number of hotel and accommodation choices available, camping is where it’s at. You can camp right on-site (either in a camper van or tents) to really bring the experience full circle and add a level of immersion you wouldn’t otherwise get. “The one thing I do recommend for families of kids who are racing is to camp,” Liz says wistfully – and on top of the convenience of being able to make it to events on time, camping is also a great opportunity to get to know other families and racers and to become a part of the Sea Otter Classic community. More than that, a participant in the biker culture itself. “It is like Disneyland! Literally! It’s overwhelming!” she adds excitedly.

 

For more ideas about mountain biking adventures with kids, check out our Destinations and Trails page and follow MTBwithKids on Instagram or Facebook

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Story Contributors

The Mallens hail from the outskirts of Salt Lake City. And, they’re eagerly anticipating 2017’s Colorado Freeride Festival. Follow them on Instagram @thosemallentwins. They are bubble-wrapped from head-to-shin with protective gear from Demon United.

 

Jeremy VanSchoonhoven is a former competitive trials rider who has traveled the globe. He now focuses on taking photos instead of making paper thin, above the ground moves. Give him an Instagram follow @jeremyvanschoonhoven.

Crankworx Rotorua with Kids – Crankworx is mountain biking’s version of the Olympics, Superbowl, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest… the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the FIFA and/or Quidditch World Cup. The best thing is that it now happens four-times-a-year from locations around the world. Have you thought about how cool it would be to visit Crankworx Rotorua with kids?

We’re fortunate enough to have a family share their first-hand story from Rotorua, New Zealand – the first stop on the 2017 Crankworx World Tour. Events just a stone’s throw away from the Shire took place from March 24th through April 2nd.

When we reached out to Kidsworx Rotorua to see if there was a family willing to share their story with us, Marcello Ojerio, Kidsworx Activities Manager, replied almost immediately. “I’ve found a family who will help you out… they are all mad keen [mountain] bikers and really embody the Crankworx spirit!”

Meet the Griffins

Claire and James Griffin are the proud parents of 3 young groms ranging in age from 5-8. They made the 4 hour drive from their home south of Rotorua the day before the event started. I was quick to ask Claire how they keep their 3 kids in check during road trips. She said, “We usually drive in the evening and pack an easy dinner like bacon and egg slices as there are no good places with healthy food options between Palmerston North and Rotorua. We leave at about 5pm and eat around 6. Then, the kids usually fall asleep by 7.” When asked if they have movies in the car for this kids, she replied, “Sometimes we get out talking Roald Dahl stories from library… oh and we don’t have devices or a TV for that fact.”

Can you see how this family rolls? Mountain biking together, eating healthy during road trips, books on tape. Many of us are striving to keep up with the Griffins in more ways than one.

Claire told us the main reasons why they come to Crankworx Rotorua with kids. “Our family goes every year because of the [mountain bike] riding with friends we make and reconnect with… racing… and being spectators at the center of mountain biking’s big show.”

The Dodzy Skills Park

At the southwest end of Long Mile road on the edge of the Whakarewarewa Forest – you’ll find the Dodzy Skills Park. This area was built in memory of James “Dodzy” Dodds, a mountain bike enthusiast who was a trail builder and pillar of the Rotorua outdoors community.

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The park features intermediate and advanced jump lines, a see-saw, and other features. The Griffins spent a good deal of time here during the week as it’s a wonderful venue for riders of all abilities to build their skills. The skills park also hosts the widely enjoyed but greatly under-publicized 16″ Dual Slalom World Championships. This event is where professionals and amateurs alike test their talents at the park’s DS track on kid bikes with 16-inch wheels.

The Week’s Photos from Crankworx Rotorua with Kids…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If New Zealand is a bit too far fo you to travel – maybe you’d be up for visiting the Whistler stop of the Crankworx World Tour. Check out Eight Reasons to Visit Whistler During Crankworx.

To see more mountain biking families like this and share your family’s adventures on two wheels, follow MTBwithKids on Instagram or Facebook

Creation of a NICA League – Kathy Mock and her husband Aaron had always been biking enthusiasts. When their young son first took to the trails as a toddler, they started to view the sport differently. Mountain biking became an integral component of not only their family life but also a social outlet. In today’s fast-paced world of electronic games, cell phones, and competition sports, just being able to bike with friends often seems to be a thing of the past. However, Kathy recognized the importance of such outings and was inspired to create a biking club for children who maybe didn’t fit into classic sports. Above all, mountain Biking seemed to be attractive to kids who sought companionship and who also enjoyed the great outdoors.

Creation of Wisconsin Interscholastic Cycling Association

Fueled by the inspiration of her son’s love for biking and the widespread affinity for the sport that was being widely exhibited by his peers, Kathy set out to form a mountain bike club that catered to the local youth. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Cycling Association (WIN) was founded in 2013.

“The club just grew like crazy,” Kathy said. The small informal group quickly burgeoned to 85 students and the interest in the sport only continued to escalate. Parent involvement also flourished.

Getting Involved in NICA

Within a couple of years, the bike club joined the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). Kathy and Don Edberg are Wisconsin’s NICA Founding Chairs. NICA fosters biking programs in schools across the nation. Currently, 12 states feature the program in their schools and over 4,500 students compete. The season kicks off every July and runs through October.

Training and Racing

Biking practice consists of meeting two or three times per week for training rides that vary in distance. The league typically has four to five NICA sanctioned races per year. Kathy has noticed that kids who participate in the school activity also usually meet even more often than required to enjoy the sport with their friends. It is not uncommon for a group of youth to head out in the afternoon or weekends to pedal the Elroy-Sparta Trail just for the sheer joy of the ride.

Youth Involvement in Mountain Biking Continues to Increase

Kathy remains deeply moved by the interest her small biking club spurred in children and how it has grown. Local state youth participation in the biking program increased by a dramatic 40 percent in 2016.  The sport is forecast to continue to grow substantially in 2017.

In Wisconsin, the sport remains a low-pressure activity that anyone of any skill level can participate in, just as Kathy first envisioned when she created her small biking club. Firstly, a student doesn’t have to be a star athlete to join. The focus remains geared towards social enrichment, fun, and the great outdoors. Secondly, kids who often didn’t feel comfortable participating in or even trying out for conventional school sports found a niche with mountain biking. Thirdly, if a child doesn’t feel like pushing himself to the limits but still wants to join in the fun then he is more than welcome to pedal at his own pace without any pressure to win, unlike other school sports. Finally, everyone’s a winner in the sport of mountain biking because it’s ultimately boils down to the rider and his bike.

Mountain Biking is for Everyone!

Specifically, one of the biggest things that Kathy loves about mountain biking is that it remains genderless. Girls compete alongside boys and excel just like their male counterparts. Biking isn’t about physical size or prowess. The playing field is leveled when it comes to mountain biking and girls are just as skilled at the sport as the boys. This helps fuel a lifetime of female confidence in young girls that is rarely achieved with other school sports.

Importantly, the races are about more than just completing the day’s trail ride. They are about friends and family. Families often camp for the weekend at the race locations. There is always an abundance of food and fun for everyone involved. Unlike other school sports that rely on a school funding and a professional coach, what makes mountain biking programs triumphal is the participants and their families. The program’s success cannot happen without volunteers who love the sport and are willing to be active members.

From a small group of enthusiastic kids who loved to hit the trails on their bikes to a flourishing middle and high school sport with thousands of participants, Kathy’s dreams continue to be fulfilled. All she has to do is look at the smiling faces of the kids as they ride to continue to feel inspired.

Want to learn more about NICA? Read Why I Joined a NICA Team

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Visit the website for the Wisconsin High School Cycling League. Photographs for this article were used with permission from Kathy Mock. The photographer is Dave Reich. You can see more of Dave’s photos here.