Conquering Mount Sutro by Mountain Bike.

The SFUR Summer Mountain Bike Camp  in partnership with the Presidio YMCA, was once again an overwhelming success.  Over 45 youth participants between the ages of 10-14 years old attended the week long camps. Schools from all over the city were represented, such as Brandeis, Claremont, Marina, Presidio, Everett, Aptos, Star of the Sea, Claire Lilienthal, Live Oak and more.

After a day of safety instruction and primary skill building challenges, the action moved to some of the best local riding spots.The smooth and gentle trails of Golden Gate Park, the rolling hills of McLaren Park, the switchbacks of Mount Sutro, and the awesomeness of China Camp Sate Park as a finale. Some of the more adventurous rides started at the top of San Bruno Mountain and wound all the way down via pavement and dirt trail to McLaren Park, while another ride started at  Mount Sutro and rode all the way through Golden Gate Park and back to the Presidio YMCA.

The advanced group rolling San Bruno Mountain towards McLaren Park.

Each days location offered a progressive learning step to the next in order to build strength and confidence along the way. Each location also offered its own unique outdoor experience. The group learned about micro climates like the fogginess of Mount Sutro vs the Sunniness of the Presidio on  the same day. The locations also offered numerous wildlife experiences like Hawks, Deer, Turkey, Snake, Lizard, Birds, Bugs, Gophers, and numerous native and non-native plants.

From the many smiles along the way, we are certain our curriculum was enjoyed by the participants. The first day of the program was spent entirely on black top and structured around teaching the basics of balance, breaking, and shifting followed by a progressive series of skills challenges like a balance beam, small teeter totter, ramp ups, drop offs, tight corners and usually by popular demand some basic wheelie instruction. Learning these  skills in a controlled environment, with appropriate spotters made the transition to the trails much easier. When the action moved to the trails, instructors were able to emphasize lessons as they pertained to upcoming sections of trail, and set up safety spotters on more challenging sections. Individual instruction was targeted where necessary.  The program offered plenty of challenge, and participants were able to learn at their own comfort level.

Enjoying a post ride beach experience at China Camp.

Speaking of our training curriculum. Many thanks need to be given to the Norcal High School Mountain Bike League, whose brilliant approach to teaching basic bike fundamentals was heavily borrowed from. The Norcal League has a coach’s manual, and even offers a coaching clinic every October which SFUR considers mandatory for any youth instructor.

A big shout out to the Instructor Crew of Matt , Mark, Tanya , Lilly, Ted ,  and Dan, with major help from our Volunteers Christy McCain from SFUR, and Zach Moore from the Norcal League.

SF Urban Riders has several awesome Youth Mountain Biking Events coming up in the Fall of 2010. Keep in touch for more details!

Switchback training on Mount Sutro.

Jeremy masters the rocky section of Bayview Trail at China Camp.

The old BMX trail in McLaren Park was a fan favorite.

]]> http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/lead-story/summer-mountain-bike-camp-a-huge-success/feed/ 0 http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/resources/trails-for-kids/ http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/resources/trails-for-kids/#comments Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:20:23 +0000 dcrites http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/?p=763 “It’s like Jurrasic Park!” was an enthusiastic comment overheard from one of the participants in a brand new summer program put on by the Presidio YMCA and SF Urban Riders.  This past week, the YMCA held their bicycle skills class, and for the first time, were able to bring children mountain biking without having to drive to Marin every day.  The four day Youth Mountain Bike Camp did take one day trip to Marin, a grand finale of an outing in China Camp state park.  Yet the fact that 3/4 of a mountain bike camp for children was able to be held within San Francisco city limits exhibits what is possible with the implementation of urban trail systems.  Just imagine what San Francisco could do with a bike park, enhanced trail networks from Twin Peaks to McLaren to Golden Gate park, chances for young and old alike to get out and enjoy some wilderness might not be such a rare occurence.

The YMCA’s Matt Dove and Mark G designed and managed the program, with assistance from SF Urban Riders director Dan Schneider.  Many elements of the YMCA’s programs were inspired by the popular SFUR bike skills events hosted in McLaren and Golden Gate Parks.  The YMCA’s program drew 15 to 20 youth daily to come out and experience riding a bicycle on trails.  The program has taken kids out to explore trails in the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, and of course, our beloved Mt Sutro.

The first day of the bike program was conducted at the YMCA’s presidio location, and served as a mountain bike orientation for the youth in attendance, many of whom had never ridden bicycles off road before.  The instructors presented drills and excercises that illustrated both street safety and basic off road skills.

The first day of real off road riding was hosted by SF Urban Riders, within the trail system of Mt. Sutro.  Participants in the program completed two to three laps, stopping to practice some of the more technically challenging features of the Sutro Trail system.  Young mountain bikers got to build confidence and have fun learning how to pedal through a tight switchback, how to float, rather than rattle over some particular rocky sections, and how to confidently roll off of that one tricky log in the trail.  While enjoying lunch within the serene summit garden, YMCA staff and SF Urban Rider’s Dan Schnieder presented a brief history of the area, as well as lessons on how to properly ride trails and show courtesy to other trail users.   The energy among the kids was decidedly positive, with ‘cool’ being the ubiquitous term to describe the activities.  Attendees were also overheard saying “I’m psyched for the mud…” and “I want to go back into the forest”…

Well said, young ones.  I don’t think that feeling ever changes.