FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Minnesota high school students ready for inaugural MTB race season, this weekend!

High school mountain biking has arrived in Minnesota! More than 130 student-athletes from 20 teams, plus their coaches, team managers, parents and league officials, are focused on September 9, at Salem Hills, Inver Grove Heights, for the historic first race of the Minnesota High School Cycling League.

Almost two years in the making, the four-event Minnesota League is part of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), a self-funded non-profit youth development organization that governs high school mountain biking in the United States.

MN League director, Gary Sjoquist, says the most rewarding of all the league's work so far has been bringing newcomers into the sport. "We host 'Try It Out' sessions where youth who have never tried mountain biking are given a bike and helmet to ride on beginner single track trail. Earlier this week, after her first ride, as she got into her mother's car, I overheard a 15-year old say 'Mom - it was awesomely cool.' This is when you know you've created something that impacts youth," said Mr Sjoquist.

With a strong team to handle event production, and a raft of good coaches, volunteers and enthusiastic parents, Mr Sjoquist is confident that September 9 will launch a significant new movement in youth sport for Minnesota.

2012 Minnesota High School Mountain Bike League venues and dates
9/9 Race #1 Salem Hills, Inver Grove Heights, MN
9/23 Race #2 Eastwood Park, Rochester, MN
10/7 Race #3 White Tail Ridge, River Falls, WI
10/28 Race #4 - State Championships: Buck Hill, Burnsville, MN

More race information
League website: www.minnesotamtb.org
League Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MinnesotaMTB

Media Contacts:
Libby Hurley. [email protected] 952.835.4540

About the Minnesota High School Cycling League
The Minnesota High School Cycling League promotes personal development and teamwork through bicycle racing, and encourages the formation of teams at public and private high schools. With the cooperation of local race promoters and our sponsors, the League organizes a first class series of races designed for high school aged riders. The League makes high school racing the easiest route for youth to get involved in the challenging and exciting world of competitive cycling. The MN League is generously supported by local sponsors Penn Cycle, Mt. Borah, HealthPartners Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine, Life Time Fitness, Park Tool Co. and Erik's Bike and Board Shop. Additional support is provided by founding national sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components, as well as SRAM, Trek Bicycles, Jeep, Clif Bar and Co., SIDI, Primal Wear, GU Sports, Maxxis, QBP, Adidas, Kinetic, Fox Racing Shox, CamelBak, Dirt Rag, SIDI, Feedback Sports, Fort Lewis College and Mountain Bike Action. For more information on the MN League, visit minnesotamtb.org.