By Hadlee Larsen

From competing along the mountains to crashing off of logs, the mountain biking team has made, and will continue to make, many amazing impacts and memories. 

With 4 races during the season, the mountain biking team is kept busy on the trails. During the meets there are many divisions going from the advanced kids to the beginners. No matter where you are in skill level there is always a spot for you to practice and race in. 

Taige Christensen, one of the team captains and varsity rider for the team said, “Others should join the team because it is such a good environment and so many awesome people!”

 Riders for Fremont have made better friends with their teammates and even others from different schools. It is a great place to cheer each other on and be supportive of one another. 

Racer Lincoln Harding, who qualified for the state championship, expressed one of his favorite things about being on the team. He said “when we reached the top of the mountain, I could just see all of my progress and it feels really good.” 

As described by one of the coaches Melissa Checketts, the racing is more for you, rather than against the other racers. She states “… the great thing about bike races, you’re only competing really against yourself and your own time and trying to better that time”.  The real objective is to be focusing on bettering and improving yourself. 

Along with focusing on boosting your previous time, they are also trying to win points helping them win the races. The scoring for teams during races are based on the 8 highest scores. 7 highest scoring boys and 2 highest scoring girls. Without girls, racers can only compete individually because the team is not eligible to compete as a whole. Girls are an important and crucial part of the mountain biking team. 

In a male dominated sport, some people can be naturally intimidated to join, but Fremont’s mountain biking team is a very open and welcoming environment to any and all students wanting to be a part of the team and try it out. 

Another one of the coaches, Kristin Harding, also the leader of GRIT (girls riding together) says, “Girls are underrepresented in mountain biking but they are amazing and so I love getting girls on the bike because they’re training with the boys. I just love to see girls be empowered and feel comfortable being equal to a man.” 

The mountain biking team is full of supportive, cheerful riders and coaches who invite and help anyone and everyone. They are an amazing, positive group of riders that have, and will continue to create an uplifting and encouraging environment for everyone.