There are two primary disciplines of mountain bike racing: extreme and cross-country. Nearly 150 area youth accept the endurance challenge of cross-country racing to participate in the Dubuque Scholastic Mountain Bike Team, a group of students from elementary grades through high school that competes on weekends in the summer.
Scholastic Mountain Bike Racing provides the riders with benefits far beyond a medal on race day. Members form friendships and gain the personal skills that come from being a member of a team, just as they do if playing traditional organized sports.
“What my kids get out of this is resiliency,” said Jennifer Richardson, parent of two riders. “They love it, and they have so much joy. They gain friends, and they’re learning how to be independent. They’re learning that even though they really want to quit, they’re going to drive on and give it their all to cross the finish line.”
Races include four divisions: elementary, middle school, junior varsity, and varsity riders who race between 2.4 to 10 miles on the trails. Practices begin in March, and riders learn technical skills from volunteer coaches, with tips such as when to downshift, how to handle being crowded by other riders, or how to navigate mudslides.
Race season is from Memorial Day through June, with races around the state every weekend against teams from Decorah, the Quad Cities, Des Moines, Mason City, and Muscatine. The Dubuque team is not just part of the Iowa Scholastic Mountain Bike League; they are the reigning champions of it. Although the team was not formed until 2022, the riders have won the state title every year they have entered.
“It’s not just about the top riders. Every racer that crosses that finish line gains points, and teams win based off the overall points. So, every kid that finishes matters,” said Richardson. “And that’s what’s really cool because it’s not just about getting the first place or second place or third place trophy. Every team member counts, and they support each other as a team.”
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