We ended our information meeting tonight by telling students: if you’re interested in become a member of the high school mountain biking team, tell us by filling out the form on our website. We’ll get back to you with details on the next steps required to become a member of the team.
The form looks like this and you can find it here.
We had 9 students and their parents show up for our first information meeting tonight at the Northfield High School. I was pleased that Red Wing and Cannon Falls were represented, as well as students from Northfield High School (NHS) and ARTech High School. And I was glad to see Stew Moyer and Cody Larson from Mike’s Bicycle Shop there, too. Thanks to Tom Graupmann, Activities Director at NHS, who graciously provided the AV equipment and helped set it up.
Gary Sjoquist, Founding Chair of the Minnesota High School Cycling League and QBP’s Advocacy Director spoke for about 30 minutes. See his Powerpoint presentation below. Erin Mayberry, Recreation Coordinator for Northfield Community Services spoke briefly about how they work with the NHS lacrosse and ski clubs in Northfield and that that model could work for mountain biking, too.
We talked about how we got involved in the sport and our plans for the summer and fall. Here’s our Powerpoint presentation:
We’re appreciative of Northfield’s media organizations who have been very helpful in drawing attention to Tuesday night’s (May 15) information meeting for area high school students.
Northfield News reporter Jordan Osterman: Northfield high school mountain bike team forming
KYMN News Morning Show host Jeff Johnson: Peter Behm on C.V. Mountain Bike Racing (blog post with streaming audio). Alternate: download/listen to MP3. (Peter Behm is a student at ARTech.)
Northfield Patch reporter Michael Garlitz: Cannon Valley Biking Team Pedaling Toward Starting Line
One point Wigley stresses when talking about forming the team is that the activity is open to girls, as well as boys.
“The big push nationally is to get girls involved,” he said. “And, there is an incentive for having girls on your team. Points earned by girls are worth more, which helps in recruiting.
Can’t make the May 15 meeting? Area student-athletes who are interested can now fill out a form here on the CVMTBT website to be kept informed on next steps on the team’s formation.
We’ll be putting up posters around the area this week, promoting our first information meeting for student-athletes and parents:
WHEN? Tuesday, May 15, 7 pm
WHERE? the Northfield High School cafeteria
Gary Sjoquist, Founding Chair of the Minnesota High School Cycling League and QBP’s Advocacy Director, will be presenting. Head coach Sue Welch and I will be there as well.
The posters will be going up at the Northfield High School, ARTech High School, and area bike shops: FIT to be TRI’d, Mike’s Bicycle Shop, and Milltown Cycles.
Can’t attend? Attach a comment with your questions or use our Contact Us page.
Help spread the word by downloading and printing out this poster (DropBox link) and putting it up in public places.
The QR code in the lower right corner of the poster links to this website.
The Minnesota High School Cycling League held their first Leaders’ Summit last weekend (Head and Assistant Coach licensing).
Gary Sjoquist, QBP’s Advocacy Director, organized and hosted the event at their Bloomington headquarters. Austin McInerny, (NorCal High School Cycling League, Berkeley High School Mountain Bike Team) did the classroom instruction on Saturday. Michael Hayes, Colorado Rocky Mountain School, conducted the skills training (in the classroom and on the bike) on Sunday.
Austin and Michael were impressive instructors: very thorough, great storytellers, well-organized, interesting, and funny. Gary treated us royally with breakfast, lunch and even dinner on Saturday, with ample snacks throughout each day and happy hours at day’s end. The only disappointment: it rained all day Saturday and on and off on Sunday so the end-of-the-day-rides had to be cancelled.
We’re pretty enthused about all this. We will soon host a community info night in Northfield for interested student athletes and parents.
See the album of 27 photos (large slideshow recommended) or SLOW CLICK this small slideshow: