LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk Summer 2015

LOCALadk Magazine

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8 Summer 2015 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk Up & Comer: Tate Frantz 10 Year Old Mountain Biker By Tate Frantz I like ski jumping, downhill skiing, nordic skiing, biathalon, rock climbing, ice climbing, hiking, road biking, triathalons, paddleboarding, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, and fishing but mountain biking would probably have to be my favorite. I'm lucky to live in a town where I can do all of these fun things. When I was two and a half, I learned to ride a two-wheeler. I've always loved to mountain bike. As soon as I as got off training wheels I was moun- tain biking. My parents would take me on dirt trails in the woods with rocks and roots. Most of which were in my own backyard. They would also take me to Whiteface Mountain and the Wilmington dirt jumps. I also like to hit jumps just about anywhere. When I was 3 my favorite movie was a DVD of expert mountain bikers in the woods and at competitions. At the end, there was a part that showed all of the crashes. I always walked around the house singing a song I made up, "Painful Bike Crashes." Last year, I had my own painful bike crash. I was hitting a jump off a ramp we have in the yard that I had easily done probably about 100 times be- fore. But this time on the landing, my handlebars turned sideways and I fell and broke my collarbone. Luckily when I started riding again I wasn't afraid, but I did learn to reel it in a little. I like riding at the Loggers Loops because they are fast and flow well. They have jumps and teeter-totters and a few wall rides. The pump track at Whiteface is on the mountain and not in the woods. The course is chal- lenging and fast, has jumps, wall-rides and whoops-de-doos all in a track that makes a loop you can repeat. When I was five I did a downhill mountain bike race-course and won a gold medal. Also in Wilmington is the bike park/dirt jumps. Local guys worked hard to build it and make it happen. I started going when I was around 3. People always asked my dad how old I was, because I guess people thought it was weird to see such a young kid riding there. The jumps there are really big and off the first platform it is really steep, so you go very fast and get a lot of air. Here are some things about mountain biking that might help others get started. A full-face helmet is better because it has more protection on the head and protects your jaw and face. Always have your seat low, it will feel more in control. Shin guards will protect your legs. Gloves are good to protect your hands. I really like my new gloves that have extra Jake Sporn

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