Mountainbike coaches and their young stars who have become mentors too are celebrating the 10th anniversary of Krankin’ Kids.
Many of them gathered at Codgers Mountain Bike Park last Friday for a barbeque and, fittingly, a ride as well.
Krankin’ Kids was launched by Māpua’s Emma Bawtree.
“I was a cross-country runner, switched to mountainbiking and starting coaching through my Wheel Woman business. Then a lot of mums asked me, could I coach their kids, and that was the start of it,” says Emma.
She began with up to 30 young riders, that has swelled to 150 in the most recent term and she now has 30 coaches.
“The key goals are to build riding confidence and skills. There are insights into bike maintenance, fitness techniques, etiquette on the trails, basic first aid and track building,” says Emma.
The age limit is between 10 and 15-years-old, but a young Lucas Malham made such an impression that he was invited to join at seven.
“There’s something about riding that feels so free and energizing. I reckon I was pretty lucky to have had access to mountainbike training so young,” says the now 17-year-old.
Representing Waimea College, Lucas won the U20 Enduro and Downhill titles at the recent National Secondary School MTB Champs in Nelson.
Sixteen-year-old schoolmate Harley Heywood was also victorious and is now coaching too.
It was hard to find a leading local competitor, on the podium, who hadn’t been part of the Krankin’ Kids programme.
“That is the legacy of the programme. It is a community that keeps giving back,” says Emma. “I have so much fun on my bike all the time. It was always like my first car,” declares Harley.
Emma says the younger kids love the positivity and belief Harley brings to each coaching session.
They are offered in venues including Kaiteriteri, Richmond, Nelson and Blenheim. And the precocious talent of Lucas lives on too, with kids as young as six able to attend programmes in school and after school, plus weekend and holiday workshops.
While coaches celebrated on Friday, the latest crop of riders took part in the Codgers Kids’ Enduro on Sunday as Krankin’ Kids went full circle.
