FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NorthStar Development Announces New Youth Program: ProtoStars

Founded in 2013 by Charlie Townsend and Sherry Berde Townsend, NorthStar Development is a junior cycling team supporting riders in road cycling and cyclocross. Historically, the team has served riders ages 10 to 22. Our mission is to introduce young riders to cycling and mentor them to ride and race like pros. NorthStar is based in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, but has members throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota. 

Notable NorthStar alumni include Kelly Catlin (Track World Champion, Olympic Silver Medalist), Alijah Beatty (Multi-time National Junior/U23 National Champion Road and Track), and Nick Carter (2x Cyclocross World Championships participant, Multi-time Junior National Champion Road). 

ProtoStars is a new venture for NorthStar. By definition, ProtoStars are young stars that are still in the process of forming. Accordingly, the ProtoStars program is a non-competitive, skills development program for ages 7–10. Skills sessions are held in a small park, on grass, away from road traffic. Our aim is to prepare athletes for competitive cycling and/or a lifetime of cycling enjoyment. We do this via playful skill sessions, featuring challenges, relays, and games. 

“We are psyched to introduce our NorthStar team to a younger group of kids,” said Charlie Townsend. “Years ago, we started NorthStar as a development team with real opportunities for school-aged kids to bike race at national and international levels. Along the way, we have had the most fun teaching kids to enjoy being outdoors on a bike. ProtoStars will focus on this fun skill-development.”

One of the key tenets of ProtoStars is accessibility and meeting kids where they are at. Athletes are grouped by ability and skills are adjusted to match the athlete’s current level. No one is left behind! We do NOT expect riders to have off-road or racing skills. We also welcome most bike types. Tires should have sufficient tread and width to ride on smooth city park grass. 

ProtoStars’ head coach is Corey Coogan Cisek. Corey is a full time professional coach with a passion for working with young athletes. She is a USA Cycling Level 2 Coach and is SafeSport certified. 

“I am super excited to launch ProtoStars,” said Cisek. “I raced professionally in Europe and lived in Belgium for a time. This allowed me to observe their cycling youth development. I was inspired to watch their playful youth skills sessions. Kids' athletic learning is really fast-tracked pre-puberty; it’s a great time to build bike skills.”

ProtoStars meets Thursdays, May 8–June 26, 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Wabun Picnic Area. For more information and registration, see https://www.northstardevo.org/protostars.