August 24/07 7:14 am - Forest City Velodrome & Coach Chris.ca/Ted Velikonja Cycling Team Announce DEVO Program

Posted by Editoress on 08/24/07
 

Forest City Velodrome DEVO Program
Courtesy Chris Helwig

The Forest City Velodrome and the Coach Chris.ca/Ted Velikonja Cycling Team are very pleased to announce a new DEVO program for 2008. This will be a joint venture to find and integrate up and coming athletes into a structured training and development program to produce Track, Road and MTB racers.

The program is geared towards youth age 14-17 in Southwestern Ontario. The program includes professionally supervised and monitored sessions at the Forest City Velodrome, FCV track bikes provided, road training on closed courses, group strength training sessions, fully subsidized coaching, free team clothing and in some cases subsidized road bicycles.

Rob Good from the Forest City Velodrome "is very excited about the opportunity to bring along the next generation of champions, It's been a goal of Albert Coulier and I to see one of our young riders progress to the National Team to represent Canada Internationally. This partnership with the Coach Chris.ca/Ted Velikonja Team will bring many athletes into cycling that otherwise would have taken up another sport." The DEVO program at the FCV will encourage young riders from across Ontario to experience the thrill of riding on the boards at the Forest City Velodrome.‰

Chris Helwig and Rob Good started planning a DEVO program in early 2007. Both are highly motivated to bring as many young riders into the sport of cycling and help these riders achieve their maximum potential. Rob and Chris saw the success of the Ottawa Bicycle Club Program that has brought over a dozen cadets and juniors to the track and wanted to increase the number of cadet and junior athletes competing in Southwestern Ontario.

The program will be lucky enough to have input and guidance from former World Champion Gord Singleton. Gord is not only a world class rider, he also has a great amount of coaching knowledge and expertise. The DEVO program is extremely lucky to have Gord's help in achieving the goals of the program.

Applications are now being accepted for the program. Preference will be given to athletes that will be between 14-17 as of December 31st 2008. Previous cycling experience is not a pre requisite. Those interested in applying should express their interest in an email to Chris Helwig chris@coachchris.ca Include your date of birth, athletic background and reason for wanting to join the program. Each successful applicant will take part in a two month trial with the program to make sure they like the program and training.

The program is made possible by the generous sponsorship and support of Ted Velikonja an Investment Advisor at CIBC Wood Gundy, Forest City Velodrome, Coach Chris.ca, Casco, All Seasons Sports, Projectcore.com Inc. and Goldwell Professional Hair Care. There are sponsorship opportunities available for the 2008 program. Interested companies can email Chris Helwig for more information.

For more information on the Forest City Velodrome and its program's please visit www.forestcityvelodrome.ca