Youth mountain biking program encourages outdoor rec, stewardship

PALMER — Thanks in large part to the rapid growth and improvement of Matanuska Valley trails, a local youth mountain biking program also is thriving.

Enrollment in SprocKidz, a Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers (VMBAH) summer program, has more than doubled over the last four years, according to coach and former program director Erin Kessler.

In that same amount of time, Government Peak Recreation Area developed from an idea to a destination for quality cross country skiing, running and mountain biking, making outdoor, human-powered recreation that much more accessible for local youth.

“I’ve seen the biking industry here just blow up in the last five years, and it’s just awesome,” Kessler said before a Wednesday SprocKidz ride through the Matanuska Greenbelt.

With a current membership of 90 young cyclists age 8 to 18, SprocKidz requires not only a variety of trail options but also a small arsenal of committed coaches.

Current program director and coach Steven Merritt — who is also a part-time Frontiersman reporter and full-time father of three — said the SprocKidz are usually split into eight groups at the beginning of the year. Each group is allotted at least two adults, usually either both coaches or a lead coach and dedicated parent trail sweep. Each coach, then, is responsible for 10 to 12 bikers twice a week for eight weeks, acting as both supervisor and instructor as necessary. Skill building happens on Mondays, Merritt said, when cyclists learn things like how and when to use the brakes, shift gears and maintain balance on a mountain bike, which is different than a riding a road bike on pavement. Wednesdays are more for fun, giving SprocKidz the opportunity to just go for a ride.

As the summer and the cyclists’ skills progress, less instruction is needed, Merritt said, and more outings become simply rides with friends — it’s never a competition.

“It’s pretty mellow,” he said.

In addition to the formal SprocKidz coaches, Merritt said, parents will often come along for the rides, using the program as an excuse to get out and enjoy the outdoors themselves.

The opposite is also true.

“When the parents do it, the kids usually follow,” he said.

Coach and SprocKidz parent Phil Block — whose 16-year-old daughter, Bella, also coaches a group of SprocKidz now — said he’s gotten just as much back from coaching as he has given.

While working full-time, Block said there was a point where he just didn’t want to go biking at the end of the day, but his kids provided all the motivation he needed.

“You get around the kids and the enthusiasm is contagious,” Block said.

Bella Block said her favorite part of coaching is “watching the kids learn,” which Merritt also said was a fun experience.

“It’s amazing to watch ’em just pick it up like that,” he said, snapping his fingers.

Besides learning and exercising outside, SprocKidz also acts as an avenue to teach young trail users about stewardship, requiring riders to participate in a trail work night once a season. During these events, bikers hopefully realize what it takes to properly maintain a trail, and why it’s necessary, Merritt said.

All of these things combined make SprocKidz a positive program for Valley youth and parents, Block said.

“I’d encourage anyone that is even slightly interested to come out,” he said.

Kessler, who said she didn’t really get into mountain biking until she was in college, also vouched for the value of SprocKidz.

“I wish there had been a program like this when I was growing up,” she said.

The last ride for the 2016 SprocKidz is Wednesday, July 27. Registration for next year’s program opens in April and costs $100 for individual enrollment, plus $25 for each additional child in the same family. Fee includes VMBAH annual membership and a SprocKidz t-shirt. A limited number of rental bikes are available for an additional $100 and must be spoken for at registration.

For more information, visit www.vmbah.org/sprockidz-summer-program/

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.