Pedal magazine current issue- article on youth programs

[Lister Farrar]

From: Lister <listerfarrar@telus.net>
Date: 17 August, 2013 11:06:44 AM PDT
To: Benjamin Sadavoy <benjamin@pedalmag.com>
Subject: Youth article

Hi Benjamin:
Your fashion 2013 issue arrived yesterday. I have to say I'm very disappointed in the youth cycling programs article. Many of the best bc youth programs are not mentioned, while smaller ones are included.

It completely omitted the Tripleshot cycling club youth program, one of the top youth clubs in bc and producer of several provincial and national team riders (Adam de Vos, Anika Todd, Brenna Pauly (top 10 at Rimouski), Dylan Cunningham, Evan Carey, Alex Grant, etc. in only 5 years of existence.

This mainly masters club devotes half its budget to youth programs, employs a coach primarily to work with youth. Its members organize the greater Victoria school cycling league (10 events, 150 riders this year), the Margaret Jenkins school bike club (110 riders this year), over 12 weeks), and the Tripleshot 3 day in the Axel Merckx youth development series.

The club was one of only two in bc chosen to host Axel Merckx Youth Development Foundation events where 50 riders from 10-16 received three days of coaching and racing in time trial, track and criterium.

The tripleshot youth riders themselves volunteer in the community, coaching at the elementary school bike club, the oak bay bike festival, and as labour at other community road, track, mtb and cyclocross events.

As well, the author overlooked the Axel Merckx foundation itself, where proceeds of a Grand Fondo support youth development.

There is no mention of Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association (WORCA) who have a large youth membership and offer large youth rides and summer camps.

Another obvious and high profile omission is FastTrack, the youth program of the Greater Victoria Velodrome Association coached by Olympic athlete and coach Kurt Innes. More than 50 athletes under 19 receive level 5 coaching two afternoons a week from April to September. It is the largest youth track program in bc by far.

In terms of events, the first ever bc youth road championships with categories u13, u15, u17, u19, hosted by the Vancouver Island Performance Youth Road Squad (VIPYRS) in Comox in early June. More than 65 riders were treated to centre stage over three races, a road race, mass start hill climb up mt Washington, and a criterium.

Bc also has a high school mtb championship with more 250 riders, even in the year after teacher job action cancelled the 2012 edition.

Its hard to imagine what research could possibly have been done for the article. These programs are all sanctioned by cycling bc except the school leagues, and those are a major target for recruitment into licensed racing. It also does a great disservice to the volunteers and parents who thought they were doing good stuff and don't even rate a mention in an article with smaller programs mentioned. It is very discouraging.

You're in cycling
Lister Farrar

[Rolf]

Maybe copy to Cycling BC? They seem to forget there's this big ol' island to the West of Point Grey.

[Lister Farrar]

I did, as well as the contacts for all the programs mentioned.

[David Hill]

Great letter, Lister. Also note that while I can't find (anywhere) the official results of this past weekend's Provincial Track Championships, I noted at LEAST 5 podium finishes in the overall categories, plus at least 3 individual event winners among current and former Tripleshot youth riders in U13, U17 and U19 age groups.

What's really shocking is that Tripleshot was neglected by the FASHION edition of the magazine! Have they not seen the rainbow array of our kits!!!!