Libby Hurley, [email protected]

The MN High School Cycling League is pleased to announce their outlook for the fall racing season.  (Above photo,  JV Riders Erik Brekke (325) from Eastview and Jackson Melin (335) from Hopkins battle for the lead after the start of the 2013 Mt. Kato race…uphill. Photo Credit: Todd Bauer) The MN League works during the off-season to actively recruit new student-athlete racers and teams to participate. This year’s efforts paid off with seven brand new teams and three composite teams split to form high-school specific teams. Composite teams are intended to be temporary solutions towards building single school-based teams or county-based home-school teams. “We had 26 teams racing in 2013,” said Minnesota League Director Josh Kleve. “We anticipate close to 40 teams will be ready to race this fall. We think we’ll be right around 400-450 student athletes racing.” MN League List of Teams Teams with “M” signifies middle school racers are included on their team. 1. Armstrong Cycle Club | M 2. Apple Valley HS Team | M 3. Austin Composite | M 4. Bloomington Composite | M 5. Burnsville HS Team | M 6. Chaska/Chanhassen | M 7. Cuyuna Lakes Team 8. Duluth Area Team | M 9. Eagan HS Team | M 10. East Metro Area Team 11. Eastview HS Team | M 12. Edina Area Team | M 13. Highland Park Team 14. Hopkins Area Team | M 15. Hutchinson Area Team | M 16. Lakeville HS Team | M 17. Mankato Composite Team | M 18. Maple Grove HS Team 19. Mayo Rochester HS Team 20. Mendota Heights Composite 21. Mpls Southside Composite | M 22. Minnetonka Area Team 23. Osseo HS Team 24. Patrick Henry HS Team 25. Prior Lake HS Team | M 26. Rochester Area Team 27. Rosemount HS Team | M 28. Roseville Area Team | M 29. St. Croix Valley Composite | M 30. Stillwater Area Team | M 31. Twin Cities Academy 32. Washburn HS Team | M 33. Wayzata Team | M 34. White Bear Lake HS Team Teams in Development 1. St. Anthony 2. Waconia 3. Northfield Full Team Details and Contacts The MN League is one of 13 statewide mountain bike racing leagues operating under the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). Based in Berkeley, CA, NICA provides resources and guidance to guide the development of high school mountain bike racing across the U.S. CrankSisters Skill Session Crank Sisters Mountain Bike Try it Out Session on Wed. July 23 is open to GIRLS, no racing experience required. Please note, boys may attend the try it out session schedule on the same day and try out the bikes, but the skills session with Pro MTB Bike Racer Kyia Anderson is for girls only. July CrankSister Session will be lead by Kyia Anderson @kyiabikes at Salem Hills.  Full Details and Directions for CrankSisters Session and Pro Bio. About the Minnesota High School Cycling League The Minnesota High School Cycling League, founded in 2012, serves all Minnesota high school and middle school-aged students, and regardless of ability level, is committed to providing a positive co-ed cycling experience. Each MN League season includes summer camps, a five-race series, wilderness first aid certification courses and a Spring Leaders’ Summit for training and certification of coaches. The MN League exists by virtue of a range of fundraising activities, as well as generous donors, and MN League sponsors including the founding national sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components; as well as establishing NICA sponsors Easton Foundations, SRAM, and Trek Bicycles; major sponsors, Giro, Clif Bar and Company, Primal Wear, Quality Bicycle Products, GU Sports, Cannondale, Kinetic, Maxxis, CamelBak, Feedback Sports, Optic Nerve, Easton, Athletic Event Supply, Fort Lewis College, Fox Racing Shox, Sho-Air, Yakima, Lizard Skins, DeFeet and Ritchey Designs; media partners Mountain Bike Action, Dirt Rag, Switchback and Cyclingnews. MN League specific sponsors include Founding Retailers Penn Cycle and Erik’s Bike and Board Shop, Mt Borah, Life Time Cycle, AAA, Muscle Milk, HealthPartners Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series, Salsa, Peace Coffee Racing, Park Tool, Karma Race Management, Ipsity Marketing, and Valley Bike and Ski. For more information on the MN League, visit minnesotamtb.org.