Mountain Biking teams are springing up all across the State of Utah. The Utah High School Cycling League’s mountain bike season is growing daily. Why? Because this sport doesn’t have tryouts or limits on the number of people on a team. Anyone can be a part of the team.
This year’s mountain bike season is now nearly through its regular season.
Panguitch’s mountain bike team consists of 19 individuals. Eric Fawson heads up the coaching staff and puts in many hours of free time for the team. He is assisted by Cody and Callie Ward, Kim Harland, Richard Memory, Adrian Liebrandt and David Frandsen.
This year’s league has expanded to six regions as there are so many more students who are joining the sport. There are four races scheduled on every other Saturday in late August, September and early October.
Related: No Challenge Is Too Big for the Panguitch Mountain Biking Team
Panguitch has had an outstanding individual place in several races: Zoey Fawson, who is ranked number 7 in the state. She said, “Saturday October 1st is our last qualifying race. I think I can do ok. My goal is to get on the Podium.” She has made it to the podium before so we are watching for her to do even better this week.
Students in grades 7-12 are eligible to participate. These individuals have a wide range of skill levels and experience. Although mountain biking is not an officially sanctioned high school sport, Utah’s mountain biking league, which was established in 2011, is now the largest in the country.
Considering Utah’s wide range of trails available to ride and practice on, this is definitely understandable. Utah boasts of nearly 100 teams, ranging in size from a handful of athletes to more than 200 in some areas.
There are more than 7,000 mountain bike riders participating in the State of Utah.
Region Five, which is the region Panguitch participates in, held its first race in Manti. And the second race at Snowbasin Ski Resort, which was followed by a race held in Price.
State Championships will be held in St. George on October 21 and 22.
– The Byway
Feature image caption: Team members of the Panguitch mountain biking team gather before an event in Price on September 16. Courtesy Eric Fawson.