American mountain bike pilot program in Beechworth has taken off

A NORTH East mountain bike club is excited about a United States-based youth development organisation, with its program using mountain bikes to create cycling communities for young people. Beechworth had been chosen as part of a pilot program as one of five places across the ACT, NSW and Victoria. Participants took off in “Try-It-Out” sessions from the local mountain bike park at Alma Road just over a week ago. Beechworth Chain Gang (BCG) president Lynn Frerichs said the program run by the organisation National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) was a great concept. The event drew young enthusiasts from around the region including Wangaratta and as far as Minyip in Victoria’s Wimmera region, Gippsland and Melbourne. Mark Eedle from Canberra-based Trek, Asia Pacific working with NICA’s project leader Eddie Freyer to bring the program to Australia, said around 30 kids took part with some parents too. “NICA in essence is for young people in school years six to 12, so around 11 or 12 years old through to about 17 but it's also for the parents,” he said. “In America 75 percent of volunteer coaches are parents and today we've had a number of parents join in and do the program.” Mr Freyer runs a program for the state of Idaho - one of NICA’s largest leagues around the United States. Ms Frerichs compared the program to what Auskick has done for football (AFL) and NICA is trying to do similar for mountain biking. “It’s a great program to encourage kids to be embraced in a community of like-minded people working together and having fun on bikes,” she said. “It's also a great fit for our club because once kids finish our junior ride program we start with more development programs. “NICA is the perfect piece of the puzzle that's currently missing.” With Beechworth Chain Gang helping out on Saturday where some members took part too, Ms Frerichs said she had been very happy with the safe and well-designed event. “Every session started with a bike safety check, we did a few games, and then we went on a ride, and raced the section we rode," she said. “It was fun and a good way of layering different skills being learned from games to riding and then racing.” Mr Eedle said people with different levels of mountain bike abilities had enjoyed themselves. He also said Saturday’s event reinforced the NICA program as one that mountain bikers and others have engaged with and supported reflected in the large turnout. “Beechworth has been a great example of when a local bike club understands what NICA all is about and engages with how successful the program can potentially be,” he said. He said the pilot program finishes with a race at Mount Stromlo in Canberra on February 22. Mr Eedle said he hoped for a successful outcome to the pilot program in securing a long-term future for NICA in Australia. Twelve-year-old mountain biker Ruairidh Grigg said the program offered advanced skills. “It's a good thing to try out more options,” he said. Ms Frerich’s son Zachary Hoare said the program offered an inclusive interactive sport that brings people together, not separates them. “It's not all just downhill like most races and is more cross country which is my style,” he said. For more information visit www.nicaausmtb.org.au/try-it-out-events.

American mountain bike pilot program in Beechworth has taken off

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