iRide events recently rolled out in Kamloops with experienced cycling coaches Ted Morton and Daniel McCunn. Ted joins iRide after a long history of helping grow cycling as coordinator of Phoenix Centre’s Youth at Risk MTB Camp as well as driving the revitalization of the Kamloops Bike Riders Association.
Ted reports:
“202 kids came out for the Rayleigh Elementary iRide event. A big thanks goes out to the school champion, Ms. Tweed, for all of her help. All the kids were excited on day 1, but the excitement on day 2 was even more as Spoke N’ Motion Bike Shop, run by Paul Berry, gave us the opportunity to use their wooden stunts! There were a lot of good riders at this school with a lot of BMXers keen to showcase their talents and more than half the students even rode to school including a few kindergarteners! It was great to use these experienced riders during some of the classes and a big shout out goes to the ‘Big Buddies’ for helping out the ‘Little Buddies’ in the last two sessions!
“Front wheels were lifted, high fives were given and skids were laid all over the school grounds.”
This week it was students of AE Perry that had the chance to participate, and Daniel McCunn joined Ted on the field. Coordinator and manager of the Yamnuska/Fall Protection Group, a summer MTB camp for youth, Daniel joins iRide with experience at the administrative and interactive level, having also head coached the “Ashes to Dust MTB Camp, a 2 day event for male youth at risk.
Ted and Daniel report:
“It was a fun and safe week at AE Perry with over 130 students participating. The kids had a blast and learned some useful bike skills and Principal Kalhood seemed very happy.”
Following the event, Mr. Kallhood wrote Cycling BC to thank Ben for bringing the program to Kamloops. “Overall, I thought things went really well. Ted and Daniel are very suited to work with children and did their best to make it fun and interesting for the kids.”
Ted went on to report that of the 260 students at AE Perry, approximately half didn’t own a bicycle or a safe helmet, forcing many students to sit out the iRide program. iRide Coordinator Ben Chaddock explains:
“it is really inspiring to see coaches in BC take hold of this program and run the events. I am in search of super coaches, those great with kids who can run a safe and fun iRide program. In Kamloops, I’ve found Ted and Daniel and can now begin the hard work of finding them bicycles and transportation assets that will allow iRide to expand in the Kamloops area.
“I’m getting calls every week from schools who want the iRide program. In fact I’m in the process of scheduling an event for Ted and Daniel in Williams Lake in June. There are no limits to the impact that iRide can have. I just need to find the right people who can support iRide on and off the field.”
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