Minnesota High School Cycling League Getting Ready For 2013 Season

After a successful inaugural season, the Minnesota High School Cycling League prepares for 2013 with the addition of new teams & more racing, a series of informational meetings, Leader's Summit, the introduction of the new outreach initiative "Crank Sisters" and a movie night fundraiser.

Twenty teams are now registered for the 2013 season with additional teams forming in Chaska, Cuyuna Lakes, Maple Grove/Osseo, Shakopee and Champlin.  There will be two informational meeting for teams now forming in the Duluth Area on March 22nd & 23rd and another meeting has been scheduled for April 22nd at REI in Roseville.  If you would like to learn more about mountain bike racing, have an interest in becoming a coach or would like to volunteer at upcoming races, please attend one of these meetings.  To learn more visit the Minnesota High School League's Informational Meetings page.  A two day Leader's Summit has been scheduled for April 20-21, 2013 at Quality Bicycle Products in Bloomington for parents and volunteers who would like to become licensed coaches for the Minnesota High School Cycling League.

 Join Us – Let’s Get Girls Racing!
Our new outreach initiative, Crank Sisters, encourages high school girls to become racers and women to become coaches in the MN League. Through networking, knowledge sharing, scholarships, league and fee discounts, and coaching rebates, Crank Sisters will be the channel to overcoming fears, setting goals, and learning how racing and coaching in the MN League is both rewarding and the basis for a healthy lifestyle.

Image Credit:  Minnesota High School Cycling League

One fourth of the racers in 2012 were girls and the Minnesota High School Cycling League would like to see that double.  A Crank Sisters Summit Day has been scheduled for April 20, 2013.  More details and sign up information are coming soon. 

Image Credit:  Minnesota High School Cycling League

Singletrack High Movie Night is a fundraising event for the Minnesota High School Cycling League that will be held April 18, 2013 at the Edina Cinema-3911 W. 50th Street Edina, MN 55424.  Online ticket purchase for this event is recommended due to limited seating, but tickets may also be purchased at the door.

Singletrack High is a wonderful film that depicts what participation in mountain bike racing does for a community and its students. The film follows six athletes from the NorCAL League in the 2012 season.  The film does an excellent job of showcasing what NICA is all about and what the kids who participate in the league get from it. From an inner city kid that finds a means to escape the rough neighborhoods of South Sacramento to a pair of girls breaking into a sport traditionally dominated by boys. The film explores the wide range of positive outcomes from keeping adolescents active on bikes at an age when many are "trading in two wheels for four," as one of the subjects puts it.  "Come see what the MN League is bringing to our Minnesota student-athletes," said MN League Director Gary Sjoquist, "You will not be disappointed, more likely...inspired. See you at the movies on Thurs. April 18!"

Image Credit:  Minnesota High School Cycling League

About the Minnesota High School Cycling League

The Minnesota High School Cycling League, founded in 2011, serves all Minnesota high school-aged students, and regardless of ability level, is committed to providing a positive co-ed cycling experience. New for 2013, the MN League launched Crank Sisters, an outreach program established to recruit girls to race and women to become licensed coaches in the MN League. 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 Sho-Air, Clif Bar and Company, Clif Bar Foundation, Primal Wear, Quality Bicycle Products, GU Sports, Kinetic, Maxxis, CamelBak, Feedback Sports, Fort Lewis College, Fox Racing Shox, and Ritchey Designs; media partners Mountain Bike Action, Dirt Rag, and Cyclingnews. MN League specific sponsors include Founding Retailers Penn Cycle and Erik’s Bike and Board Shop, Mt Borah, Life Time Cycle, HealthPartners Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine, the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series, Park Tool, Ipsity Marketing, Random Bikes, and Valley Bike and Ski. For more information on the MN League, visit minnesotamtb.org.

Image Credit:  Minnesota High School Cycling League

Image Credit:  Minnesota High School Cycling League

Mission Statement
The Minnesota High School Cycling League works to establish and maintain safe, quality high school mountain bike programs. The MN League is responsible for establishing a climate that will:

• Provide students who have the desire to mountain bike with the coaching and camaraderie that will help them achieve both competitive and non-competitive cross-country mountain biking goals in a safe and enjoyable manner;
• Develop an awareness of what it is to be an amateur athlete that is both gracious and respectful to their community;
• Create an environment in which they may discover new friendships and find role models;
• Guide students towards learning new skills and disciplines, and spread the foundations of mountain bike racing across the U.S.;
• Foster a responsible attitude toward the use of trails and wilderness;
• Promote the value of cycling to our community as a mode of transportation and as a life long sport.''

Image Credit:  Minnesota High School Cycling League

If you would like to become a sponsor, make a contribution or volunteer please visit the Support Minnesota page.  Stay updated on the Minnesota High School Cycling League by signing up for League Newsletters, following on Twitter @MinnesotaMTB, or liking on Facebook.