EASTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL
If you are out near the trails of the Otay Reservoir or the
open hillsides of Mt San Miguel on a weekday afternoon, chances are you may
have seen a group of dedicated high school student athletes on mountain bikes
spinning up the hills on the single-track. We are the Eastlake High School
Mountain Bike Team, one of two high school mountain bike teams in San
Diego County
2013 marks the fourth year for the Eastlake High School
Mountain Bike Team, comprised of boys and girls from freshman to senior. Our
pre-season begins in October, with training consisting of skills clinics for
new members, and purposeful trail rides targeted to improving the endurance and
bike-handling skills of returning members.
Students come from all different backgrounds and levels of
experience. Some have been riding since they can remember, while others have
only just got their first bike, and are learning as they go, encouraged by their
teammates.
Being a part of a mountain bike team is unique, in that
while you are a part of a team and something larger than yourself, the competition
is largely an individual effort. Whereas a football player who is new to the
sport and perhaps at a physical disadvantage would spend time on the bench on
game day, every mountain biker who comes to practice has a chance of competing
on race day. If you as a cyclist know that you have put in the practice house
to go the distance, and you have completed the necessary skills training to
successfully navigate the obstacles on the trail, then you know your race is
largely about eating properly and hydrating well in the days before the race,
mentally preparing yourself for the race, mentally preparing yourself for any
unexpected setbacks such as a flat tire or a crash, and putting it all together
on race day so that you start and finish your race well.
If you are interested in learning more about the Eastlake
Cycle Team and how you can be a part of the growing movement of enthusiast
mountain bikers who want to see the sport grow (e.g., be a ride leader!) and see more young people on
mountain bikes, we encourage you to contact us via this blog, through Eastlake High School, the SoCal League, or our Facebook page. And if you see a group of high school students riding together around Eastlake ,
wave hello and feel free to cheer us on!
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/EastlakeHSMTB
