Hitting trails
Mountain bike race coming back to Trenton.
Students in Grades 4-12 from schools throughout Pictou County will be hitting the trails in Trenton Park once again.
Following on the success of last year’s mountain bike races, students will have the opportunity to race again in a series of mountain bike races in the park.
Today marks the first day of the second iteration of a series of mountain bike races, hosted by a committee of teachers in Pictou County and Pictou County Cycle.
“It will happen every Thursday until the end of October. There will be different courses through the trails of Trenton Park, and students will have a set amount of time to complete as many laps of their course as they can,” said Shane Hampton, a phys-ed teacher at North Nova Education Centre and committee member.
Hampton said that each week, students who race gather points for their school based on their completion times. The school with the most team points at the end of the season is declared winner. There will also be awards handed out for the achievements of individual students.
The courses entail a series of trails running through the park, Hampton said, with varying levels of difficulty. While some trails are a little more challenging for the older participants, there are also ones for younger bikers with easier segments.
“It’s as challenging as you want to make it,” said Hampton. “The big thing is getting kids out and being active.”
Although there is a competitive element to the biking races, but Hampton notes, “we’re certainly not trying to turn away any beginner riders. If anyone is interested in biking, they should give it a try.”
He described the event as an all-inclusive co-ed race, and encourages students of any skill level at biking to participate, adding, “we’ve had riders who were brand new to mountain biking and guys that went as far as the Canada Games last summer – and everyone in between.”
There were upwards of 60 riders on one participating group last year, and Hampton hopes to see similar – or greater – turnout, this year. Hampton wants to entice more high school students to the course, noting that many of the high school level participants in the races last year have gone on to college and university.
“This year, participation is kind of dominated by elementary and middle school-aged groups. We had quite a crew of high school kids last year, and we’re trying to re-establish interest, in that age group,” said Hampton. “I’m hopeful that our phys-ed and athletic directors… and teachers across Pictou County have promoted the activity enough.”
Hampton commended Pictou County Cycle for their trail building, saying, “they’re amazing to work with. They set it all up, and we just show up with the kids.”
The bike races will be completely free of charge, and “they just have to get to (Trenton Park) with a parent or a representative from their school,” said Hampton.
The races begin at 4 p.m. at Trenton Park.