New last fall, youth rider Sam (17) has embraced all aspects of the program, from 'cross in the fall, to winter track, to mtb. He started on the Burnaby track in December in one of our one-day camps, attended the Teams of BC nationals prep camps, then raced the January Western Challenge track meet in the youth ability mini-meet Saturday afternoon. After shopping for a second hand track bike on his own, he progressed this weekend to race the Barebones meet in the adult C category, making his own arrangements to get there.
He approached me about riding the youth portion also, to help make up numbers. When it appeared TS rider Moss (just turned 11) was younger than the rest who attended, Sam enthusiastically accepted the role of peer coach, dropping back with her, and teaching her to tell him how fast to go, then working up to surges to try to catch faster riders. Moss went from tears in the first race to confidently instructing her pacer.
Pretty good story already eh? They both got home late Saturday night, but got up early and tackled the Island Cup mountain bike race Sunday morning in Parksville, Moss's first ever mtb race. After enquiring about medical evacuation plans for when, not if, she crashed, she went on to place 3rd in beginner women, ahead of a 37 year old. Sam had his best finish, 5th in intermediate men.
#spiritoftripleshot
Here's a photo of Sam drafting Moss, and getting ready to try to jump onto the approaching field. (The teamwork was better than the photography...
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