Dozens of youth ages 7-17 to participate in the camp to be held at Luther College Thursday, June 18 – Friday June 19, before over 140 youth racers take part in the league’s Decorah races on Saturday, June 20.
(Decorah, IA) – When Luther College’s Vice President of Communications, Bill Smith, suggested the Iowa Scholastic Mountain Bike League hold a camp in Decorah, it made sense. Decorah’s Scholastic League race showcases some of the oldest mountain bike trails in the state, and Decorah was one of just 28 towns to become designated “Trail Towns” by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. In addition, the Decorah Area Mountain Bike Team is over sixty youth strong.
“Bill Smith approached us about a camp a few years ago,” said Melissa Fuhrmann, league board member and one of the coaches for the Decorah Team. “It took some time for us to make it happen, but with the support of groups both locally and around the state, we have a great lineup of activities.”
The camp takes place at Luther, and will include bike skills games, a trailside maintenance course, a healthy bodies off the bike / yoga session with Laree Schoeweiler of Drift Strength and Yoga, a girls’ ride with Jolie Costello of ShredHER in Des Moines, a sustainable trail maintenance and ecology course, and more. Camp goals are to have fun, develop skills, and, most of all, build friendships with riders across the league.
Seven-year-old Ted Hanson of the Decorah team is currently making a list of why he is excited about the camp. “I enjoy the mountain bike team because of the great people I get to ride with and am excited for the fun activities at bike camp with new friends and coaches,” said Hanson.
While registration is closed, members of the community can still get involved. All are invited to join camp participants and their families at “Trail Night in Decorah” on Thursday night, a hiking, biking, and running event hosted by Decorah Park and Rec, Decorah Human Powered Trails, Decorah Run Club, and the Decorah Area Mountain Bike Team.
The final activity of camp is pre-riding the course for Saturday, Decorah’s race day. Decorah’s race event is expected to host over 140 youth riders and is one of five events in the state. While the league runs the races, local trail groups like Decorah Human Powered Trails take care of preparing a safe, fun course for the riders.
“Being in the Driftless Region, the area’s steep bluffs and valleys provide wonderful topography for mountain biking,” said Wes Anderson, one of the Decorah coaches. “We are so proud of Decorah and all the area has to offer from outdoor recreation, to a vibrant downtown for shopping, and wonderful restaurants. Hosting this race gives us an opportunity to welcome kids from all over the state to share our town.”
More Information
- Brecka Putnam, Volunteer
- brecka.putnam@gmail.com
- More Information