Libby Hurley
The MN High School Cycling League is pleased to announce their renewed advocacy partnership with the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival.
For the past 3 years, the Minnesota High School Cycling League has been a proud supporter and participant in what is fast becoming one of Minnesota’s premiere mountain bike events, the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival. A collaborative fundraiser in Cuyuna Lakes planned by and for the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew and the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce.
The Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival, Fri. June 13 – Sat. June 14, 2014, hosts a number of exciting events such as concerts, a bike parade, a poker ride, a night ride of the Croft mine area, and a non-sanctioned race featuring opportunities for riders of all abilities to get out and stretch the legs early in the season.
The trails will be open for riding the entire weekend and there are plenty of options for lodging accommodations, including camping with trails connecting the campground to the event sites.
For details about the weekend and to register:
Registration Information
Several MN League teams have already affirmed that they will be organizing groups for the weekend to enjoy some off-season skills building and team bonding.
MN League Preps for Fall Season
The MN League, which began in 2012, nearly doubled in size for 2013 and organizers expect growth to continue for season 3 in 2014. “We had 26 teams racing in 2013,” said MN League Director Josh Kleve. “We expect another 8 to 10 teams will join the league for 2014. We think we’ll be right around 350 student athletes racing.”
The MN League is one of 10 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.
For the 2014 Fall racing season, MN League will be adding two new race venues to their schedule. Race 3 on Oct. 5th will take place at the Gamehaven Scout Reservation just south of Rochester. Race 4 will take place in Duluth, with the location yet to be decided. Just as in 2013, new venues are added to the MN League schedule to help drive team development and bring statewide awareness of the high school mountain bike racing program.
New for the 2014 season will be the integration of middle school students. Previously, only high school aged students could participate in NICA mountain bike racing programs. Thanks to a successful Pilot Program hosted by the MN League in 2013, 7th and 8th graders can either join existing teams or launch separate middle school teams for 2014.
Racing will take place in September and October 2014.
About Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival
The Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival is a weekend filled with mountain biking to raise funds for the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce and the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew. 100% of the profits from this event go right back into the community to help maintain and support the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails. The Festival consists all sorts of fun, from a mountain bike race through the world famous Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails, to concerts, to fun for everyone in the family. For more information about AAA’s products and services, visit cuyunalakesmtbfest.com/.
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.
