Cycling BC’s iRide Sprockids program creates opportunities for youth to develop their cycling skills in a safe and fun after-school environment led by people from their community who are passionate about cycling including teachers, parents, and youth aged 16+.
As the school season winds down, so do many of the iRide Sprockids after-school programs that have been running in communities throughout the province this spring.
iRide Sprockids after-school program leaders in Parksville, BC, Ben and Victoria Elliott, had this to say at the conclusion of their program, “Our group of riders immediately surpassed our expectations with their enthusiasm and energy. This group of students always started and finished each ride with a smile. We were genuinely sad when our six-week program concluded.”
Maureen Prentice, head coach of the Carnarvon Speedsters p/b iRide Sprockids in Vancouver also put on an after-school program this spring and had a dozen students (9 boys and 3 girls) signed up to participate. Over six weeks, the kids learned cornering, gearing, emergency braking, dismounting, hills, and doing some fun sprints. One parent of a child in the program writes “Ruby raced in her triathlon today and she nailed her bike ride. She come out of the bike first in her heat and was about 100m ahead of the next person. She looked so confident and comfortable on her bike!”
Glen Polson, a professional mountain bike coach with the Sooke Bike Club, had smashing success with his students in the iRide Sprockids program in Parksville, BC. Participants of the program learned how to conduct a helmet and bike check before each ride, learned about gears and cadence, braking, body position, straight line riding, cornering, front wheel lifts and pumping in the pump track. “We got to put all those skills to the test during trail rides and the kids even learned how to change a flat tire!” said Polson. “We were excited to have five rippers in our balance bike program. These little guys were a blast to coach and their skill development amazed me day after day. We practiced mounts & dismounts, car awareness and safety, stopping and starting, descending, walking, striding and gliding on their bikes!”
iRide’s Sprockids program is pleased to see that so many iRide leaders and kids are having such positive experiences in iRide. Program leaders are NCCP qualified, undergo a criminal record check, and receive ongoing mentorship from Cycling BC’s iRide Regional Coordinators.
To start your own iRide Sprockids program in your community, please contact iRide@cyclingbc.net for more information or visit https://cyclingbc.net
/iride/
