LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk | Community the students entering the gymnasium and strapping on their helmets. He addresses them for a minute or two on the specifics of the class, and then the students head off to pick up their assigned bicycles. He then sends them off to mess around in the skills park for ten minutes, allowing them to pedal out the 'wow' factor of riding bikes before jumping into any specific teaching techniques. Young swears by the method of teaching beginning riders only one skill at a time. For example, he'll huddle the students together and elaborate on a single technique and strategy for shifting before allowing them to head out and practice on their own. "I won't move on to another skill until I'm confident most of the group is shifting correctly," explains Young. Other skills and games are used to shape the overall abilities of each young rider. Young's favorite is a good old bike race. But toss any thoughts of an all-out youth drag race out the window — Young swears by his "slow race", in which students try to cross the soccer field in the longest amount of time. This exercise emphasizes skills such as balance and control. The activity generally sees students erupt into shrieks of joy and laughter, the typical byproducts of any successful two wheeled adventure. Lessons for life Is there evidence that the program is succeeding? The answer lies first and foremost with the young singletrack shredders themselves. 5th grader Mira Scannel had never ridden a bike before entering Mr. Young's class, and the prospect of learning in front of all her classmates was daunting. "It was scary at first, because I started without training wheels! I always used to fall over on a bike. But I really started to get the hang of it quick—and it was super fun!" Mira exclaims. And asked how supportive her classmates were in the process, she confided, "At first, they were like, 'oh my gosh—Mira has never ridden a bike!' Then five minutes later, I just rode a bike—and I sure showed them!" Classmate Duncan Segger adds, "I think it's just awesome. The neatest thing is that some people really learn how to ride a bike, and some people are pretty good at it already. They can hit the jumps and things, but everybody is pushing one another to get better. We're all learning, and we've found a way to do it together!" From a parents' point of view, Young's method makes complete sense. Having watched all three of her sons grow as young athletes under the tutelage of Matt Young, Jennifer Ledger elaborates, "Mr. Young has a very unique philosophy for his Phys-Ed program: to inspire. It's a simple thing, but not easily done. By incorporating non-traditional sports like Nordic Skiing, Luge, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing and Biathlon 36 LOCALadk Magazine Spring 2013 into the curriculum, and by participating in these sports himself at a recreational and competitive level, he's inspiring kids to try new things regularly." Having taken part in just about every local sporting event out there, students look to Young's example. "The kids just watch him," adds Ledger. "They see him race a 25K Loppet, or a mega race like the Ironman. And when you inspire someone, chances are you'll encourage them, too." Now in its third season, the LPES Elementary School Mountain Bike Project has produced some impressive results. The bikes and helmets themselves are now being shared among several neighboring communities. During the summer months when school isn't in session, the local Lake Placid Outing Club uses the bikes as part of its summer programming. Over 30 youngsters took part last summer in group rides all over the constantlyexpanding network of local trails. The Wilmington Youth Center, conveniently located adjacent to the shiny new pump track and dirt jump park, also has access to the bikes during the latter half of the summer. And during the summer riding sessions, Young explained, new riders are busy learning the finer points of cycling etiquette and safety. "I explain to the students that riding in our town is a privilege, and it's important for young riders to understand that all of us must act as ambassadors of the sport every time we throw our leg over our bike. I think it's an important message everyone who rides a bike in this town needs to hear." Perhaps Young's real wish is that a passion for mountain biking will link youngsters to the Adirondack region. They'll realize what a great opportunities they've got here for lifelong sport, and they might be happy to call this place home again someday. But for the time being, the kids are just psyched to be riding— and to be riding well. 5th grader Jacob Novick sums it up best: "Mountain biking in gym is so fun because you just feel free. You're just out there biking and there's really nothing else to it." The kid's got a point. u

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