This riding thing is just bonkers. I had no idea this would be this fun to ride with all these people. Yeah, now I’m good and tired.
Rachel, Grade 7, J.W. Sexsmith Elementary School
I just can’t believe the confidence these kids have after riding with iRide for 3 days. To watch two of my students, that couldn’t even ride a bike, to join the rest of the class in the “get down to the field to do activity” kind of way is just mind blowing. Mr. Biln, Grade 6 Teacher, J.W. Sexsmith Elementary School
Cycling BC’s iRide program continued this week with sessions in Comox, Cranbrook, Chilliwack and Vancouver. After-school iRide Advance programming also started in Lynn Valley, running once a week for 4 weeks. iRide visited St. Mary’s Catholic Independant and Kootenay Christian Academy in Cranbrook, Rosedale Traditional in Chilliwack, J.W. Sexsmith Elementary in Vancouver, Kirkstone Park in Lynn Valley, Maple Bay in the Cowichan Valley and Huband Park in Comox. To date, iRide has coached over 2500 students this spring and more exciting riding opportunities are now in the works after the addition of two new iRide coaches in Vancouver, Anna “Banana” Bradford and Carsinn “Trix” Wilson.
Richard Wooles, cycling coach for multiple Olympic Games and current Cycling BC Senior Director of Sport Development, led an after-school program later in the week at Kirsktone Park in Lynn Valley. The Developmental Escape Velocity Organization (DEVO), one of Canada’s premiere youth development cycling programs has been joining in to help out and connect with kids eager to continue developing as riders. Coach Wes reports:
On Thursday, I had the privilege of co-coaching an iRide advanced class in Lynn Valley’s Kirstone Park. With warmups buzzing us around obstacles on a compact gravel field and leading to a single file Forrest adventure ride. We then split the group of 40 kids into 3 and tackled fun maneuvers such as “Bear” and “Gorilla”. Unannounced to the kids, they acquired the skills to go over Teeter Totter and Whup Tee Whup stunts. Obstacle courses and branches of Lynn Valley’s primo forest trails kept the other groups amply occupied.
Coach Lauren filled us in on her time sharing her love of cycling at Huband Park Elementary:
I think it is safe to say that teachers, students and coaches are pretty stoked to be back enjoying the iRide program, after a hiatus over winter. I was enthusiastically greeted by all the grade 3-5 students of Huband Park Elementary in Courtenay, BC under incredibly sunny skies. Our only concern over the three day program was a bit of potential sunburn!
The students started with the basics on their first day learning about neutral position and balance, and had a blast practicing with games like Bike Limbo. After a couple rounds of Shark Island and Ride the Snake, most students felt ready to corner like a pro! The second day was the Rockstar day, where we set up a bike playground, including teeter totters and A-frames so the students can become masters of straight-line riding, without even realizing it–they are having so much fun! “Best day ever!” squealed a blurry 4th grader as they zoomed by after whizzing over one of the teeter totters. The third session is bursting at the seams with students learning all about gearing, climbing, and descending before utilizing the amazing network of trails that flow right from the school field.
Many of Huband’s students are driven to school, as the school is located in a rural part of town, but after so many students reported to falling in love with biking I am hopeful that many of these students will find a way to make riding a part of their every day. A successful iRide program indeed.
Coach Wes took advantage of the sunny skies t J. W. Sexsmith Elementary in Vancouver:
J.W. Sexsmith Elementary in Vancouver had the pleasure of mid 20’s summer sun evaporating the spring dew off a neighbourhood park for iRide to launch some new coaches into “all hands on deck” with students from grades 4 through 7. These kids burst through a welcoming gate of mature evergreens onto lengthy grass fields, dropping down tiers of grass hills, learning how to climb back and descend down the soft turf again as if carving fresh powder lines first thing on a winters morn. We tracked some single trail compact dirt path around the perimeter of the fields, weaving through cherry trees in full bloom, mixed in with various species and evergreens. The kids rode single track as if their older siblings were ambitious pro’s and they’d followed their wheels many times before. Taking to the filed we exhausted laps of pairs riding challenges, which touch on fundamentals of riding as a solo and in a group.
iRide programs continue this spring into summer and a few openings are still available. iRide is also currently accepting bookings for the 2016-2017 autumn session. To learn more, please visit the iRide page here. To become an iRide newsletter recipient and stay up-to-date on all future iRide events in your area, please go here. If you’re a fan of Cycling BC’s iRide program, check us out on Twitter, Instagram, or Donate to support our programs in your area. To learn more about booking a future event, please contact us at iRide@cyclingbc.net or (604) BC-iRide.
