Rural Missouri - October 2024 - 31

Above: John Peiffer is one of the league staffers who help pull off the five scheduled events for the riders. He serves as the chief race official, which
includes explaining the rules to first-time riders. Above right: Benton County Bobcat rider Tommy holds off another rider as he approaches the
finish line in the 10th grade A race. His team, based in Warsaw, was one of the rural groups that joined the league when it started.
of different trails, meet all kinds of
different people throughout the state,
make new friends, camaraderie. It's
a great organization. We take all
levels, from not knowing how to ride
a bicycle all the way up to the very
experienced. "
The team was hampered at first by
the lack of a local trail. Initially they
trained on the Ozark Trail, but the
kids found it too rough, especially
for beginners. That's when the team
partnered with the city of West Plains
to build a trail on unused land in the
city's Buck Park.
" We built 3.7 miles of trail there
in West Plains, which was kind of
benchmarked after some of the trails
we've raced throughout the state, " the
Mountaineer coach says. " So, we can
prepare the kids properly when they
come to race day. "
Coaches are volunteers and likely
parents of riders. Many parents ride
alongside their kids during practices.
Coaches need not bring experience as
they are well trained through coaching
clinics sponsored by MICL and
NICA. They are also trained in first
aid, a nod to the fact that accidents
can happen on a bike ridden off road.
Entry into the league can be
expensive. Once an athlete gets the
bug, a step up to a true mountain
bike with hydraulic disc brakes,
carbon-fiber frame and front and rear
suspension can set them back more
than $1,000 for a new bike. There are
also team and league fees to consider.
Some teams offer scholarships to
help members get started and lessexpensive
used or loaner bikes show
up frequently.
Chris says the league is filling a
need for kids who likely would otherwise
be sitting on their couches playing
video games.
" We build playgrounds, right? " he
says. " What age are you when you
phase out of a playground? Maybe,
like 3, 4 years old, maybe 5. And
then there's nothing else for kids,
unless they're in organized sports. We
kind of outcast these kids, because
if there's no bike park or there's no
pump track or anything like that,
there's nothing for these kids to do. I
think our program is definitely helping
these kids find a community they
can belong to. "
For more information visit the MICL
website at www.missourimtb.org or
find them on Facebook.
" I think communities
are starting to realize
now that if they
build mountain bike
trails they bring
events. We've been
to Warsaw every year.
You can't get a hotel
room, a campground
space, an Airbnb or
hardly even eat in
a restaurant there
because we sell out
that whole weekend. "
- Chris Mileski,
MICL co-director
OCTOBER 2024 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 31

http://www.missourimtb.org http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Rural Missouri - October 2024

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