April 4/14 13:52 pm - BikeJam in Victoria Next Week (B.C.)

Posted by Editoress on 04/4/14
 

BikeJam 2014 hits the road, dirt and track on Tuesday, April 8th, and students from Greater Victoria middle and high schools can try seven different disciplines of bike sports at this third-annual festival of cycling kicking off the School Bike League.

Presented by AFD Petroleum and the local cycling community, and featuring international experts from across the region, BikeJam targets those curious about how many ways there are to have fun on a bike, as well as experienced cyclists. PE teachers seeking field trip options are welcome.

The event is free, but schools must be registered with Lower island School Sports, and parents must sign kids' permission forms to take part!

There are seven stations, including an airbag for jumping, velodrome, bmx, mountain bike, cyclocross, road, and downhill. Coaches include: Olympic coaches Kurt Innes and Dan Proulx, Redbull Rampage free-rider Mark Matthews, former World Cup cross country rider and Island Series cyclocross champion Tom Skinner, National Downhill coach Geoff Pendrel, Olympic road racer Erinne Willock, 3-time National downhill champion Andrew Mitchell, and 2013 Island Cup Downhill second overall Mitch Thacker. Students join groups by grade and leaders take them for 30 minutes of introduction at each station.

Students can attend as an organized school field trip, or as a team for the School Bike League with a school approved adult sponsor. (A team can be as few as one rider.) Registration deadline is April 7th. More information for kids, teachers, coaches and parents can be found at schoolbikeleague.com. Drop off available at 8:45 a.m.; registration opens at 9:15 a.m. and the rotation through the stations starts at 10:00.

"We have 23 schools already registered, which is awesome for the kids and for the development of cycling in Victoria," said Eric Simonson, SBL Commissioner Oak Bay High teacher and avid cyclist. "We've been working to get more schools on board and with so many key sponsors and coaches returning, we're looking to build on the incredible success from 2013."

After BikeJam, students can choose to register for the School Bike League and its friendly competition in 8 different events, every Tuesday, from April 15th to June 2nd.

Last year's champion schools, Oak Bay Senior Secondary and Monterey Middle School, will be looking to defend their titles, however with more schools on board, the challenge is on!