The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Gravity team, development program
In an effort to tap into the burgeoning interest in mountain biking, the Crested Butte Mountain Sports Team is hammering forward with a variety of plans to improve the overall experience for locals and visitors in the Gunnison Valley on Crested Butte Mountain. Gravity team,
development program
Programs
Starting with the junior programs, the Mountain Sports Team is offering three options for junior riders. This summer, professional downhill racer Kain Leonard and the Mountain Sports Team are offering full technical support for gravity racers—i.e., downhill, mountain cross and dual slalom—competing in the Mountain States Cup series and ultimately headed to the U.S. Nationals.
According to Mountain Sports Team director Drew Cesati, riders for the Mountain Sports Team will have a truck and trailer at every event for pre-race, mid-race and post-race wrenching.
“It’s mainly competition support,” says Cesati.
Leonard will be competing and offering insight to the team members on line choice, tactics and race day preparation.
Currently there are members on the team from Steamboat Springs and the Front Range, with room for eight total.
In addition, the Mountain Sports Team will offer a development program for riders aged 11 years old and up.
“We’ll be working with kids on the fundamentals of riding,” says Cesati.
Woody Lindenmyer will be coaching the development program offering instruction on technique for cross-country-style mountain biking as well as lift-accessed riding.
“Basically we’re building ascending and descending skills, balance and throwing in a nutrition element,” says Lindenmyer. “Lay down a foundation for these kids to build on.”
Cesati looks to see the development program as an opportunity to introduce riders to mountain biking and improve their skills.
“We hope to build that program to support the gravity program in the future,” says Cesati.
The development program will run Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the entire month of July.
Trails
Cesati adds that the resort will be expanding and improving its trail system this summer with better signage and a couple of new trails.
“We’ve been working with the forest service since last fall to improve the trail system here,” says Cesati.
First on the list is a new cross-country trail on the west side. The resort and the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association will be working together to begin work on the trail on National Trails Day on Saturday, June 6.
Work on two new downhill tracks accessed from the Red Lady Express lift will also start in June. One is designed to run almost directly under the lift while another will descend through the Mineral Point area. Both the new cross-country trail and the downhill track below the Red Lady lift will be open in time for the Wildflower Rush June 20-21.
A mountain-cross course is in the works for the Wildflower Rush, starting at the top of Peachtree and finishing at the base of the Silver Queen that will then be open to the public for the remainder of the summer.
The resort and the Adaptive Sports Center are working on a gravity-fed trail accessed off the Red Lady Express. The trail will be 40 inches wide and will be open to hand cyclists as well as mountain bikers.
“We’re working to clean up the overall trail system,” says Cesati. “The public will see a difference.”
And finally, the resort will offer three-hour skills clinics this summer, starting at the beginning of July—think ski school but on bikes.
“It will be the perfect entry-level option,” says Cesati.
To register for the programs, check out the Mountain Sports Team on
skicb.com.
