Trips for Kids MTB Race

On January 24th Saturday we participated in our first MTB race as a new team ever. It was put on by Trips for Kids a national organization with a branch here in town. They held the event at Emily Grey Middle School and had a great turn out. There were approximately 50 youth riders ranging from 18 month old to 17. The racing was fun, fast and entertaining with plenty of excited fans. El Grupo rode fantastically and really made an impression out there. Every organization and group out there made sure to tell Daniela and I how impressed they were with our team. I also told the kids the same. They were as awesome as you hope. Cheering for everyone, handing out stickers to every kid out there, and helping make sure everyone was having a good time. The racing went great, the kids were the best they could be, and Daniela and I left super proud of a great group of kids.

Thanks Justin!

We had a special guest coach today from Carmichael Training.  Justin has been a long-time pro mountain biker and agreed to come out and give us some tips as we enter the final three weeks before the 24 hour race.  He took us through drills in climbing, descending, efficient riding and much more.  I saw a great deal of improvement and increased confidence in our team riders.  Thanks Justin!  

It's great to be back riding with El Grupo!

-Christian

PS Make sure to enlarge the photo of Connor!

MTB Event Jan. 24th

OK Folks this is something I have been talking about for awhile and well here it comes. This weekend on Saturday we are going to a mountain bike race that is taking place at Emily Grey Middle school. It is right at the base of MT. Lemmon. I will be driving out there and so will Zach, and Nelson so with those cars we should be able to pack everyone in no problem. However I would encourage all parents who want to come and attend to come and have fun. There is more info on the event in this blog just scroll down the page. It is on Saturday and I will need everyone at the Club house no later than 7am. We have to get out there and then set up, stretch and get ready to have fun all by 8am. The event is asking $10 to participate, however if there are El Grupo riders who can not pay this please let me know as there are scholarships available. YOU MUST ASK ME!
Please dont hesitate to call and ask questions
Ignacio
And Yes there will be practice on Sunday starting at 9am Mountain biking as well

Hello 24 Hour Course

This weekend we went to the 24 hour race course for the first time to get a feel for it. Things went well and we learned a lot and yet everything went wrong. We had 2 heavy crashes, 2 flat tires, a broken chain, some super soar knees, and a ton of exhaustion. These are not bad things but certainly not part of a perfect day. Yet I am pleased and excited about the day because we stuck together and made it through. Things got tough and things went wrong yet we stuck together and made it through. I am glad we have a few more practices before the event as they are going to be needed and super beneficial. I am confident that the event is going to go well and am happy that we have a few more practices to get ready. Parents and riders this is going to be a tough one but know that with determination we will make it. Please start to take care of yourselves now to get ready. Always drinking water, getting to bed on time, and please stay away from the junk food.

Ignacio

How Fast you are Matters Not!!!

This is something I told the team the other day. I can care less how fast you are. In fact I would be totally happy to coach the slowest team in the whole world as long as they have the work ethic that this team has. The El Grupo team at this moment is making coaching for me the most fun thing in the whole world. Not one complains. Not one whines. Not one doesn't absolutely work there butts off in parctice. And this why I don't care how fast you are. Every one of the riders is out killing themselves working like crazy to catch their friends, to ride fast, to have fun, and to become strong as heck. That's all I ask for is heart, will, determination, and the willingness to work hard. That's what I coach for. To make kids the strongest kids they can be. Not to make the fastest racer in town. But to make kids as strong as they can be. Now that said as hard as these kids are working the results are going to come. Just like last year some of the EL Grupo riders almost won the Tucson Bicycle Classic Cat 5 group. These kids are going to be super fast. The work they are putting in will make sure of this and they make me proud as heck, and proudest when I see them working together and challenging each other yet always finishing sprints and hill climbs with congradulations to the next. I am proud of this team and am thrilled to be coaching these kids. I look forward to the season to come and can't wait to impress town.

Thanks El Grupo
Ignacio

Jan. 24th MTB Event

TUCSON YOUTH MOUTNAIN BIKING KICK OFF EVENT

Tucson, Arizona January 6, 2009—Attention Parents: Trips for Kids Southern Arizona in conjunction with Epic Rides announces Tucson Youth Mountain Biking. TYMB Kick Off Event will be held on January 24th, 2009 at the Tanque Verde Mountain Biking Trails behind Emily Gray Jr. High. (4201 N. Melpomene Way Tucson, AZ 85749)

Registration will begin at 8am. This event will feature a time trial style race for youth ages 15 and under. Local youth will experience a course specifically designed for their appropriate age/distance. Awards, T-Shirts and SWAG will be presented to all participants.

The Tucson Youth Mountain Bike event will feature an Expo including TMC Safe Kids Tucson on site distributing safety information and bike helmets. XYZ Bicycle will be holding bike check ups and teaching youth about the importance of maintaining their bicycles and a skills clinic for participants to learn technical bike handling skills. The main event is a time trial style race where youngsters, many for their first time, will race a course and experience the thrill of mountain bike competition.

Event registration is $10. Scholarships will be available on an as needed basis. Registration opens at 8am with the Awards Ceremony at approximately 12pm. Mountain Bikers 15 and under are welcome with age groups being 12 and under and 13-15. All participants will need to bring a helmet, bike, and a parent/guardian to complete entry form and release of liability waiver.

Trips for Kids Southern Arizona is a Tucson, Arizona based non-profit organization. Trips for Kids Southern Arizona values healthy lifestyles, the need to protect and appreciate our environment, and empowering youth to take personal responsibility for their lives and the communities in which they live. Our goal is to team up with local agencies to provide positive, fun outdoor experiences utilizing the challenge and joy of Mountain Biking along with community service and educational opportunities to reach disadvantaged youth (ages 10-17) who might not otherwise have these opportunities.

Epic Rides has become world famous for producing events that celebrate the many positive aspects of mountain bicycling. Events such as the Kona Bikes 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, Show Low Bluff Tour of the White Mountains and the Whiskey Off-Road are popular with participants because they offer challenging, fun riding and emphasize the joy inherent in the sport.

Epic Rides believes that every ride should be just as exciting as the first one. That’s why each of our events is more than just an event. It’s a celebration of the bicycle, the outdoors, and the individuals and organizations who make the mountain biking community the coolest group of people on the planet. Trips for Kids Southern Arizona along with Epic Rides believe this philosophy should start early and be open to all youth regardless of income or socioeconomic status. The coolest group of adults on the planet starts with the coolest group of kids on the planet!

Proceeds from the Tucson Youth Mountain Biking Event on January 24th, 2009 will allow Trips for Kids Southern Arizona to provide essential services to Tucson Area at-risk youth.

To arrange an interview with Trips for Kids Southern Arizona Co-Founder Heather Moore, please contact Heather Moore at (520) 749-4542 or via email at tripsforkidsaz@hotmail.com

Practice Schedule Week Jan 12th - 18th

Wed. Practice starting at 3:30pm- 5:30
meeting at the club house
Road ride to build endurance

Friday Practice starting at 4:30pm- 6
meeting at Club House
Sprint practice with Rd bikes

Sunday Practice starting at 8am
meeting at Club House
Mountain bike practice at 24 hour Race Course
please bring some food, we will be gone almose all day and getting home in the late afternoon.

Please call with any questions
Ignacio

Passport Alert!

I need you riders to make this happen. We will talk about it quite a bit today at practice. I really want to get all of you to Hermosillo for Rodeo break so get those Passports.

24 Hour MTB Race

It's coming It's Coming! The most fun racing event of the year!
That's right boys and girls the 24 Hour Race is quickly approaching and I am confident that we are going to be ready as a team. I have been trying very hard to figure how the teams are going to be divided but I have time. What I can tell you though is that we are going to field three teams. All three are going to be of the 5 person co-ed type with 2 of them being compromised strickly of youth riders and 1 being made up of coaches. I have secured our spots in the race with the organizer and sign up sheets will be going home today and I will absolutely need them back tomorrow. We are being granted free entry for the kids but I need to get their paper work in. Much more info is one the way.
Thanks
Ignacio

January 24th Mountain Bike Time Trial Race

The other day when we riding our Mountain bikes out at Fantasy Island I ran into a friend of mine who will be promoting a youth mountain bike race at Emily Grey Middle School where they have 4 mile loop. The event will only be for junior riders 16 and under. It is going to be held on the 24th of January a Saturday. I am really hoping that all El Grupo riders can make the event. It is going to be run as a time trial so every rider is going to have there own space out on the trail to do the best they can. I will have more info on this coming soon, but I wanted to get this on peoples radars so we can mentally start to prepare.
Ignacio

Hell Week Update

Well Christmas break has come and gone and so has Hell Week. I attempted at having them practice so much that they would A) come to end of the week stronger than ever and B) tired and worn out and happy to have a day or two off. Well I succeeded with accomplishing A but I think I miserably failed B. Heck when I gave them a chance at a day off they vetoed me and went on a ride anyway. This team is awesome and I have never been more excited to coach. In fact by the end of the week Daniela was "sick" of hearing me say, "That was the best practice ever." Truly every practice built on the one before it and everyday we were having more fun. These kids worked there hearts out everyday of this last week and not once ever did a rider give up. Not in any circumstance. We rode everyday Monday to Friday and then again on Sunday as a team. Most of the team went on a solo ride on Saturday without a coach and ended up going up the back side of Gates pass 3 times. I have never even asked them to do such a thing. Pretty cool that they put together a practice harder than I would make them do. Maybe I should learn something from this.
As for Hell week we went Mountain biking 4 times and rode riding only twice. We did this because I am trying to get the team ready for the 24 hour MTB race in February a race that last year we won the the division of 5 person co-ed team with a combined age of under 150 years old. I do believe that every rider on the team currently is going to be ready for this event. I find it to be the funnest in town and am really looking forward to it.
I want to thank ever rider for their heart and determination of this last week and parents for getting your children to practice. I can't do it without your support. I will post more later about our greatest week ever.
Ignacio