Big push for finish line
School students take endurance racing lying down
The gauntlet has been thrown down for more Townsville high school students to get on their bikes, or, in this case, aerodynamically shaped trikes, to compete in an eighthour endurance race.
Capable of reaching 40-50km/h, recumbent trikes can be assembled by students for a couple of hundred dollars or bought pre-assembled for up to $26,000.
Public, private and distance education schools from around the state have come together to compete in Queensland Pedal Prix Super Series events for the past 25 years, with 66 teams from 24 schools competing in 2023.
Cheered on by 400 students, parents, teachers, and spectators, 16 teams of eight students jumped off the starting grid of Townsville’s Reid Park racetrack for the second time on Saturday, following last year’s first running of the race.
William Ross State High School students Zara Eddie, 17, and Tayen Harrison, 16, were excited to be among the two local schools enjoying a home track advantage.
A veteran trike racer with four years of experience, Zara enjoys the competitive nature of racing, the teamwork, the “amazing teachers”, and having fun.
She described the racing as exhausting, where you climb out of the trike “dripping with sweat” after pedalling for 20 to 60 minutes.
“Hopefully this year will be our third time winning out of four years that I’ve done it. But the boys do really well considering their competition,” Zara said.
“Some teams are like North Queensland teams, and they go away to different countries (to compete).
“This is just for fun but it’s opened many pathways (to other kinds of racing).”
In his second year of competing, Tayen said it was a great opportunity for a lot of schools to gather together and do one thing.
“I love racing and all types of motor vehicle things. This just gives me a chance to be able to get in touch with that and do it for fun,” he said.
In the future he planned to race other vehicles, such as gokarts.
Faith Christian School executive principal Graeme Johnston said its distance students trained at home using Strava technology before meeting for races, where they forged important social connections.
“The kids have to pass our riders test to do this, so they have to learn how to pass safely and all sorts of things. It’s a good prelude to kids learning how to drive so they have to be out there on the track safely” Mr Johnston said.
He encouraged more Townsville schools to become involved to reap the benefits of a team sport without concussions.
“Fitness is very important. If kids are fit and learn how to co-operate, they do better in school, (and) their results go up if they’re a fit, healthy, competitive person,” he said.
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