Student riders gear up for first round of races next weekend

The Foothill trails are buzzing this time of year with mountain riders.

I caught up with one group of riders that focuses not just on being good athletes, but on being great sportsmen.

For young athletes, there's no better place to start their day than on a mountain trail.

"One of my friends, who's still on the team now, she was like, "Hey, do you like mountain biking?" at the time, I had no idea what that was, I was like oh, I’ll try out for the team and I joined and I started to love it," said Catherine Hubinger, Eagle High School Student.

The Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League is a group that focuses on providing fun and safe mountain biking programs for Idaho’s youth.

"I think it's really cool just because they focus a lot on proper etiquette on the trails with the races and stuff, it's a good environment," said Jake Davies, Eagle High School Student.

Students from grade levels 6-12, all across the state, form teams and ride bikes.

The cycling league works on teaching students not only how to ride, but the value of participation and team support.

"You get to enjoy a cool, fun, activity with friends around you doing the same thing and it's cool cause they all want to support you no matter what your level is," said Davies.

Hubinger says, "There's a bunch of team bonding that goes on, you have a great time because you get to travel with friends."

Each team works hard to prepare for five races leading up the state championship.

Racers get to experience scenery and terrain stretching from Brundage Mountain all the way to Grand Targhee.

“I think the races are cool because you get to go see a lot of cool scenery, it's beautiful, like the view up at Grand Targhee the view is awesome," said Davies.

Groups began practicing routinely in July. The first race is coming up next week, August 23 and 24th at Brundage Mountain in McCall.

Races will run into October with the state championship race scheduled at Bogus Basin on October 11th.

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