iRide Vancouver Head Coaches Julian Base and Wes Ochitwa continued coaching events across the Lower Mainland last week with the help of apprentice coaches. World’s Junior Bronze DH medalist, Micayla Gatto; 2015 Track Omnium Silver medalist, Zayne Heyes; and new coaches Colby Johnson, Barb Morris and Nigel Thompson all joined up to help iRide as apprentice coaches. These coaches will work with Julian and Wes over the coming weeks to learn the specific tricks and games that make the iRide program a unique and valuable part of any school physical education curriculum. If you would like to join this crew, please contact Ben Chaddock at Cycling BC to begin the certification process.
As a special trip, Julian Base ventured to Bowen Island with the iRide Sprinter van and a complete iRide fleet. Julian reported that students at Bowen Island Community School were very talented. Over the course of the three day event, Julian had the students riding planks, riding roots and took an adventure on a trail system adjacent to the schoo: “They were all so good I couldn’t drop them! We were all lined up wheel to wheel through this green trail. They were pumped!” Needless to say, some Cycling BC Talent ID cards were awarded.
Wes Ochitwa visited students at Peace Arch, Georges Vanier, and Dogwood, before wrapping up the week with Ben Chaddock at Mt. Lehman. The Abbotsford area school features as one of the final checkpoints for the annual Prospera Valley Gran Fondo. “I remember riding by the school during my winter training in 2014,” reports Ben. “It is nice spot, there has been a school at that location for over 100 years, and it great to provide a program to this community”. Ben will return with apprentice coach Nigel Thompson each Thursday over the coming weeks.
This week marks the first iRide sessions in Kamloops, and with events in Comox rolling out next week, our province-wide schedule is starting to take shape. If you a fan of Cycling BC’s iRide program, check us out on Twitter, Instagram, or visit us at Chimp.net to support our programs.
For event availability and full information on CyclingBC’s iRide Schools and Community Program, please contact ben@cyclingbc.net.
