Lost Sierra Composite Mountain Biking Team raises funds to build racing skills and student access
Plumas County’s student-focused Lost Sierra Composite Mountain Biking Team recently completed a “very successful 2019 season,” according to instructor Dana Ludington, a Quincy Jr./Sr. High School science teacher who founded the program last year to share her love of trails and mountain biking with local youth.
“We had six team members participate in the Nevada Interscholastic Cycling League races,” she said, “while the other 15 team members focused on improving skills and fitness on our local trails and supporting their teammates at the races.”
Ludington also reported Quincy High’s cycling P.E. program was able to get students out on the school’s new fleet of bikes.
“And we are starting up a school mountain bike club at QJSHS this spring to help encourage riders to continue to ride together in the team’s off-season,” she said.
The teacher is an avid mountain biker and passionate advocate for Plumas County’s “world-class trails” and wilderness access. Some would even say outdoor recreation in the Lost Sierra is “epic,” and they are right.
Ludington is a past winner of the famous local “Triple Crown” of regional mountain biking races where she earned best overall time for the Lost and Found Gravel Grinder, Downieville Classic and Grinduro.
In 2019, Ludington took her dedication to mountain biking and applied for a national grant from Specialized Bicycles. She won it and established the “composite team” so that all junior high and high school students could participate, regardless of where they go to school. Team members attend sixth through 10th grade at PUSD schools, Plumas Charter School and some are home schooled.
Currently taking a winter-spring break from practice sessions, the Lost Sierra Composite Mountain Biking Team will start back up in June.
In the meantime, Ludington said the group is concentrating on fundraising to meet its 2020 team needs.
The instructor worked last year to involve local community organizations and businesses. She expressed heartfelt thanks for the substantial support shown by a number of sponsors who helped the students get their competitive mountain biking program off and running.
“Our team will be focusing this year’s fundraising efforts toward the purchase of team loaner bikes so that all kids with or without their own bike have the opportunity to be a part of the team,” Ludington explained.
Another project involves raising money to purchase team jerseys.
“We appreciate all of the support we’ve received from generous Plumas County businesses and groups,” Ludington said. “For 2020, we are looking for local businesses and organizations to be our sponsors and have an opportunity to have their logos on the team jerseys.”
They’re off to a good start.
At the well-attended Groundhog Fever Festival held Feb. 1 in Quincy, courtesy of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce, students and families held a bake sale to raise funds for the team and Ludington offered thanks for all the customers who stopped by for snacks in between their chili-tasting excursions.
“We are very grateful for all of the community support we had at the Groundhog Fever Festival,” she said. “And please keep us in mind as we plan our next fundraiser in May.”
For more information, contact Dana Ludington at [email protected]
